Virtually every self-help book on the market has one thing in common – expressing the importance of being positive to increase your happiness and well-being. The concept of “being positive” is not a recent one, many religious and spiritual scriptures from ancient times also mention the importance and benefits of being positive. This has more relevance to those especially on the spiritual path.
We all have experienced at least once if not many times the power of negative emotions. Whether it is about a bad hair day or a bad day at office, a nasty fight with partner or traffic jams, we all have been their done that, and have felt the inertia of it too. Negative energy perpetuated by negative thinking is like a chewing gum stuck to the shoe sole, it not only makes walking difficult but also spoils the shoe. This sticky gum of negative thinking if not removed in time can make life situations “sticky” indeed. So then, what to do?
Let’s get this fact straight, If you’re happy and positive, you’ll find life easier than if you’re miserable. If we accept this statement the whole exercise towards warding off negativity will be easy. On the other hand to mention a few benefits, there have also been many studies done on the power of positive thought and the conclusions show a mass amount of health benefits, without having to take medication! Positive thinking has been proven to reduce stress, help people live longer, improve overall well-being and increase immunity against colds and infections.
All of us can re-think our approach to life and become more positive. It is a vital necessity that we fill up our mind with Positive Thoughts. Being positive is a matter of choice. When something upsets us, there is a split-second when we can opt to be miserable about it, or not. It’s just a question of getting our heads round it. It’s a matter of choice, and we need to become aware of that choice which lies in our head and hand. The ancient science of Tantra accepts the mind as an important tool for spiritual growth, and recommends that an individual soul start the spiritual work with pure thought & attitude, “suddha vikalpa”. Lord Krishna says in Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad-Gita ‘Uddhareth atman atmaanam’. We are responsible for our actions and we need to raise ourselves by our own efforts. The apostle Paul does not say that all things are good, but he does say that all things work together for good. Thus, pathway to freedom from negativity begins when we willfully accept our situation and face the problem of negativity without making excuses for it. It’s again a choice.
When we allow our selves to become immersed in positive thinking, we start to see it affect other aspects of our life. Thought is vibratory energy, when we start thinking positively our whole body and being starts resonating in a different frequency. People start feeling comfortable and at ease being near us and this in turn makes them feel happy. We become a vortex of positive energy. We find ourselves actively thinking about other’s love and happiness and this contribution to their positive experiences has a huge affect on our eternal happiness as well.
I have compiled a few tips on being and staying positive. Personally I find positive quotes or songs a quick way to elevate my thoughts. There is nothing like a good book of loving, motivational quotes to have around, to grab one quote and let it bring us to a more positive state at any time or a happy upbeat tune in which the whole being can bathe.
Hints and tips on becoming more positive
Be Determined to be Positive
Train yourself to notice when you are happy and try to collect five happy moments every single day .Become conscious of your daily thoughts and when a negative thought enters your mind, quickly turn it around. This is a method mentioned in the 2000 year old Patanjali Yoga sutra, it is called “Pratipaksha Bhavana”. Instead of “I don’t think I can do that,” think “I love a new challenge and will conquer this one” or “I can do this no matter how hard it is.” Instead of “I’ll do this later,” think “By getting this done now I can have it accomplished.” Eliminate words like “can’t” from your vocabulary and replace them with “can”.
Remove Yourself from Negative Influences
Your environment begins to reflect who you are after time. Thus if you have friends or coworkers you hang out with who are always griping about their job, boss, or life then begin to slowly weed out that group of people and seek out those who are positive and don’t talk about others behind their back. When you replace a negative environment with a positive one, you make huge strides in improving your lifestyle.
Learn to Meditate
Meditating allows you to connect to the deeper source of silence and peace, lower stress, become more focused, and stay positive. It’s a very positive and powerful medium. By taking just 15 minutes a day to meditate, you’ll find yourself handling time and stress much better. You’ll also gain a more positive outlook on life.
Spread Your Positiveness to Others
Put your new positive thinking lifestyle into action. Take time out to write down the top 10 things you love about your partner / colleague / friend and give that list to him/her. When you experience good customer service, take time to write a note or email expressing your gratitude. Practice spreading your positiveness to others and it will not only grow but come back to you many times over.
Realize your Value
Last but not the least, realize that you are valuable and you are someone with immense potential to change and make a change. When you realize your self-worth you will be in a better frame of mind to take care of your body and mind. Get active, as physical activity releases happy chemicals in our brains. Eat healthily, drink plenty of water and get sufficient sleep. It’s hard to feel positive if you aren’t treating your body with care and respect.
