With a bit of practice and focus, you can effectively rejuvenate your brain with positive energy. Let’s delve deeper into this topic on goodheathplan.com!
Whether you’re aware of it or not, past negative life experiences often influence our subsequent decisions. The brain absorbs lessons from challenging situations, traumatic memories, and enduring experiences.
Positive energy is crucial for the brain
Naturally, the brain strives to protect us by steering clear of recurring negative encounters. However, dwelling on the negative can impede your ability to discover positivity and lead a happier life.
The key to success lies in recognizing and navigating tough times each time they arise. This demands inner strength to navigate life’s ups and downs. The more positive energy you exude, the greater your chances of achieving success and enduring happiness.
If you haven’t taken the time to tune into your thoughts, give it a try. On average, our brains generate nearly 70,000 distinct thoughts daily.
The truth is, the brain continues to cogitate whether we’re conscious of it or not. By dedicating about 10 minutes to monitor your thoughts, you’ll be astonished to uncover the extent of your negative thinking.
We often engage in various forms of negativity, from “Why do I have to work on such a beautiful day?” to “My sister hasn’t called; I hope she’s okay.” In essence, we tend to indulge in negative thinking patterns unknowingly.
The power of positive thinking has long been studied, discussed, and documented. But how can we curb negative thinking when we aren’t even aware of it?
The solution: Exercise your brain. The brain will naturally think as it does, but the good news is that we can train ourselves to adopt a more positive mindset. Here are nine strategies to ensure you harness your daily quota of 70,000 thoughts for maximum positivity.
Method 1: Focus on What Brings You Joy
One way to train your brain to think positively is by proactively and consistently directing your attention toward things that evoke happiness. Dedicate a notebook to this practice and each morning, use it to jot down five things that inspire joy.
During this exercise, try to approach it from various angles. Consider social interactions that bring you happiness, aspects of your environment that inspire you, or qualities within yourself that make you feel confident and proud.
When your thoughts revolve around pleasurable experiences, your brain reinforces itself and generates more neural connections associated with pleasure. Consequently, you’ll discover more enjoyment in life.
Method 2: Nourish Your Body and Mind
Research has demonstrated that taking care of our physical and mental well-being significantly impacts our happiness and facilitates more positive thinking in our brains. Specifically, include foods known to promote mental health and overall well-being, such as bananas, eggs, raspberries, and salmon.
Engaging in just 20 minutes of daily exercise releases endorphins, natural mood enhancers, improving your overall mood. Additionally, consider incorporating spiritual practices like yoga or meditation into your routine. Our minds passively receive thoughts and emotions, lacking the capacity to judge whether they are good or bad.
Another simple mental exercise involves setting your phone to ring three times a day. When it rings, take a moment to pause and breathe. This practice helps maintain mental balance and infuses positive elements into your life.
Engaging in sports for approximately 20 minutes each day, along with incorporating yoga or meditation, can enhance mood and nurture the brain.
Method 3: Release Inner Negative Energy
Allowing yourself to hold onto negativity can lead to a persistent habit of cynicism that permeates your life and influences your decision-making. It acts as a stepping stone towards falling into a cycle of doubt and distrust. Building success becomes exceedingly challenging, if not impossible, when negativity becomes your anchor.
The initial step involves shedding negative energies and embracing positive affirmations. Take charge of your mind and steer it towards positive energies. You can begin by actively redirecting your thoughts towards things that bring you happiness regularly. Don’t allow negativity to restrict your inner potential and dampen your spirits.
Experiment with different approaches to thinking. When you feel tired, stressed, or distracted, take a moment to calm your mind. Slow down.
Take deep breaths and expel negative thoughts from your mind. Focus on inhaling fresh air, preparing yourself to kickstart an active life.
Method 4: Retrain Your Brain to Flip Negative to Positive
Even if your subconscious has spent years fixating on the negative, it’s possible to retrain your brain to perceive and concentrate on the positive. This concept helps us regain focus and channel our thoughts to discover “sparkles” even in the most negative situations.
Begin by developing an awareness of your thought patterns. Pay closer attention to the train of thought. Ask questions like: Does your mind dwell on negative outcomes incessantly? Are you trapped in a never-ending cycle of doubt?
You’ll soon realize that negative thoughts won’t aid your journey to success. Achieving a balanced mindset is crucial for making informed decisions about which opportunities to pursue or pass on.
Next, train your brain to recognize positive cues. Instead of scrutinizing every situation for negatives, teach your brain to steer your thoughts towards seeking positive indicators.
A simple way to stay motivated is to identify three positive things each day. Create a daily list of three good things that happened to you, and analyze why they occurred. Concentrate on small daily accomplishments to boost your motivation.
You need to maintain a balanced mind to redirect negative thoughts into positive achievements.
Method 5: Transform Negative Thinking Through Art
When you become aware of being trapped in a perpetual cycle of negative thoughts, it’s time to break free by changing your perspective.
Ask yourself, what’s the opposite of negative thinking? If you were to veer 180 degrees away from these opposing thoughts, where would it lead you? Redirect your thoughts towards positive possibilities. Practice visualizing favorable outcomes and contemplate the necessary steps to achieve them.
Whenever you feel yourself slipping into negativity or anxiety, acknowledge that it’s your negative thinking holding you back from making positive life choices. Explore ways to reframe your thoughts in a more positive context. Cultivate confidence and assertiveness to replace negative thinking patterns.
Recognizing that your mind tends to revert to its old patterns, remind yourself that you are in the process of reformation. As you establish the habit of leaning towards positivity, your brain becomes more responsive and seems to undergo a positive reprogramming.
Method 6: Follow Your Passion
One of the most effective ways to maintain a positive mindset is by ensuring you’re engaged in activities you are passionate about. If your job or habits lead to feelings of guilt or divert you from your life’s goals, consider making changes.
List three activities you’re passionate about and three positive changes you aspire to make. Compare them with your current lifestyle to assess their alignment.
Aligning with your true passions is a significant part of the “journey toward the positive.” Trust us; it will make everything more manageable!
Engaging in activities you love is an effective way to keep your mind refreshed and healthy.
Method 7: Create a Cycle of Joy
When we treat others kindly, aiming to uplift our loved ones’ spirits, we simultaneously enhance our own happiness. Even the smallest acts, such as making others laugh, can bring joy to you. Engaging in acts of kindness has a profound effect on breaking the cycle of negativity.
For instance, you might find yourself anxious about an upcoming meeting or stressed after a recent interaction with a friend or colleague. In such situations, where your thoughts tend to gravitate towards worry, try doing something kind for others instead.
You’ll discover that taking a moment to buy someone a coffee or assist a stranger can give you an uplift. It’s a small source of happiness. Utilize these positive emotions to steer your thoughts towards a brighter outlook.
Method 8: Infuse Positivity into the Present Moment
As you work on reprogramming your brain for positivity, it’s essential to infuse positivity into your daily life, focusing on embracing a compassionate view of the present moment.
Not tomorrow or next week, but right now. You can achieve this by training your mind, specifically by being mindful of your thoughts and emotions in the present moment. It involves acknowledging your emotions, understanding what your body is experiencing, and recognizing your inner thoughts, all without judgment.
Once you gain a deeper understanding of your mind’s patterns, you will no longer allow your subconscious to dictate your choices. You’re teaching your brain to identify when it’s in a negative state and to promptly steer it towards a positive direction. This enables you to channel your thoughts and concentrate on a more balanced and positive approach.
To guide your thoughts, try composing a list of self-inquiry questions that can usher positive energy into the present moment. Here are a few examples:
- What am I currently grateful for?
- How can I bring joy to myself in this moment?
- What steps can I take to cultivate empathy and gratitude?
- How can I surprise or bring happiness to others?
Once you become accustomed to regularly checking in with yourself and redirecting your thoughts toward positive energy, it will become second nature.
Method 9: Compile a Gratitude List
Expressing gratitude for life is a means to steer yourself towards positive energies.
Take a moment on a day off to sit down with a piece of paper and jot down five things you’re grateful for. “It’s scorching hot outside, but thankfully I have a reliable air conditioner,” “The book I’m reading is truly enjoyable!”… Believe it or not, all these little things deserve your gratitude. Creating a list of things you’re thankful for can uplift your mood and help you stay attuned to the positive energy in your life.
Johnny Jacks was born in 1985 in Texas, USA. He is the founder of Good Health Plan and is passionate about helping people improve their health and physical well-being. With over a decade of experience working in the healthcare industry, he currently works at Goodheathplan.com – a blog that shares knowledge on beauty and health.