Do you find yourself seeing the bad in every situation or complaining more often than usual? First, let me tell you: GOOD JOB! You have taken the first step in shifting your thoughts.
Awareness!
It takes a lot of strength and awareness to understand how you process information and how it may come across to others. It also shows you want to change. Transformation isn’t easy, but it is worth it.
Here are the 3 key steps needed to shift your thoughts from negative to positive.
1.) Awareness
Awareness can take place at any time. It can be a loved one telling you, “Do you think you are being a bit negative?” or it can be a view you had of a situation that you later reflected. It doesn’t matter how you became aware, only that you are. Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself:
- Did I contribute to the conversation in a positive way?
- Am I viewing the situation worse than it is?
- Is there something good in the situation and I am not acknowledging it or only see the negative?
- Do my friends and family avoid conversations with me?
- Am I contributing joy to myself and others or hardship when I share my thoughts?
Part of awareness is asking yourself the hard questions.
2.) Process
Becoming aware that you are a negative person can be a lot to process. However, it shows that you want to improve if you are reading this post. Write down the emotions you are going through at this time. Writing gives you a different set of lenses than leaving it in your head does. Write down how you feel, a moment a negative thought comes into your head, what led to that thought, what happened after you acknowledged it, and so forth.
Avoid dwelling and do the process.
Dwelling is sitting in your emotions.
Processing is breaking something down.
3.) I Get To
When a negative thought arises, write it down, then write something positive about it across from it. Change “I have to” to “I GET TO”. “Have to” makes the act seem like a chore, while “I GET TO” reminds you it is a blessing!
You know what this does?
CANCELS IT OUT!
It is easy to say, “It sucks I have to go to work today” instead of “I GET TO GO TO WORK TODAY”
At some point, you prayed for what you got. At some point, you looked forward to it.
LETS BRING THAT BACK BECAUSE YOU CAN!
You GET TO cook food. Why? Because you have groceries.
You GET TO go to work. Why? Because you are employed.
You GET TO talk to your friends. Why? Because they are alive and want to speak with you.
You GET TO clean your home. Why? Because you have a home.
You GET TO do a lot of things because the Lord blessed you with it.
The Results
Shifting your thoughts is a result worth exploring and managing. You are the master of your thoughts. Your thoughts decide how you view life. Why not view life as a gift everyday like it is a million bucks?