Mental hеаlth hаѕ bесоmе a very іmроrtаnt іѕѕuе in rесеnt years. We have ѕееn that the еffесtѕ of mental іllnеѕѕ саn reach out to аlmоѕt every аѕресt of our lives and аffесt our livelihoods, rеlаtіоnѕhірѕ, and ѕосіаl lіvеѕ.
Positive thinking can help you cultivate a strong, resilient mind that will strengthen your mental health. It’s not about ignoring reality or making light of your problems. It simply means your approach to life – both good and bad – is reframed in an optimistic way. Let’s take a look at how some negative thoughts can occur.
Getting caught up in the negatives
Do you overlook the good things about a situation and just focus on the negatives? For example. You enjoy a fun dinner with friends, but the restaurant gets your bill wrong at the end. You leave feeling annoyed and frustrated, forgetting about the good time, all because of one mistake.
Blaming yourself
Do you tend to take the blame for something bad or disappointing that happens, even though it’s out of your control? For example, a friend declines an invitation from you as they are busy, but you assume it’s because they don’t want to spend time with you. Predicting disaster
Do you have one set back and then continuously expect the worst to happen. For example, your car won’t start in the morning, making you late for work. You then immediately think the rest of the day is doomed.
Black-and-white thinking
Do you think everything has to be good or bad without no middle ground? For example, you got excellent feedback on a report, but after noticing a small error, you ignore the feedback, and the report is now ‘bad’.
How to practice positive thinking
One of the most powerful things you can do in these situations is to reframe them. Think rationally about the situation and when you notice a negative thought ask yourself: Is it in my control? Can I do anything to change it? If not, let go. If you can change it, look at it as an opportunity to learn and grow. For example, that dinner with your friends. Focus on the great time you had catching up with friends. That report with the small error? Remind yourself of the excellent feedback and make a note to double check for errors in future reports.
Positive thinking can also be cultivated in other ways:
- Smiling more can help boost your mood.
- Keeping a gratitude journal to focus on the positive moments.
- Visualise what success looks like in various parts of your life.
- Think about your strengths and how you’ll use them in new ways daily.
Your negative thoughts won’t go away overnight, but with kindness and practice, you can build a more positive outlook. Remember, it’s not overlooking the facts, it’s including and focusing on the good or how you can use it as a positive opportunity.
If you feel like you’ve lost sight of what will make you happy, talk to a friend, family member or health professional who will understand and help.
Learn more about this topic in Mental Well-being.
