According to a Psychology Today article, "As far as your brain (goes), every thought releases brain chemicals. Being focused on negative thoughts effectively saps the brain of its positive forcefulness, slows it down, and can go as far as dimming your brain's ability to function, even
creating depression. On the flip side, thinking positive, happy, hopeful, optimistic, joyful thoughts decreases cortisol and produces serotonin, which creates a sense of well-being. This helps your brain function at peak capacity." Here is the link to the rest of the article:
If you have been to my business Facebook page you will see some postings from a site called Power of Positivity. Another site is called Positive Energy+. There are many others, but with everyone looking at their phones on a constant basis, I am happy to see that these types of sites are becoming popular. Here is an example of one of the postings:
If you connect with one of these sites, you allow yourself to be reminded to think of the good and how to be yourself and not be someone else. Pick a positive thought or image and use that as your inspiration each day for how you treat others and how you see the world. Working on one thing a day can make a huge difference at the end of a month. Imagine what it can do in a year. Wow!
I challenge you to take a regular occurring situation in your life, like your work environment, and put a positive spin on it. For example, if you know you are going to hit 20 minutes of traffic in this one spot every day, change the way you approach that spot. Can I change the commute? Probably not. What can I change? I can change my perspective. Knowing that you will hit that traffic spot, prepare for it in a positive way. Instead of getting mad and upset, think of using that time to do some breathing exercises to get ready for the day (with your eyes open of course) or prepare your favorite music to be playing on Spotify or Itunes at that time. Rocking to your favorite song (for me it's Keith Urban's Never Comin Down) can definitely take the edge off.
If you are a reader, or an audio book listener, consider making it a goal to read about positivity every day. Make that book your coffee table book for the month. If you are married, consider reading a positive book together and discussing it. Go to Amazon and search on positive thinking and many books will come up. See what suits you...but do something.
Sometimes clients will tell me that they feel they were born negative thinkers. You were also born not knowing how to tie your shoes or understanding the rules of driving, but I'll bet you managed to learn how to do those things, right? You can learn and retrain your brain to be positive as well.
It's a new year with new possibilities. If you had some negative experiences and disappointments last year, believe in your strengths. Believe in your ability to change your perspective if you put some effort in to that change. Let me know if you or someone you know needs help with that change.
Stay well.
