Because we’ve learned to focus on what’s wrong, on the negative, it’s essential to practice positive thinking. But how do we go about it? Where do we start? Here are 3 advice to bringing the positive back into our daily lives.

1 – We haven’t learned to think positively, we’ve learned to focus on the negative.

Indeed, our minds naturally tend to focus on the negative, because we need to protect ourselves from it, but we’ve also learned to see only that.

Just look at what the newspapers tell us about the world around us, or listen to our conversations: all we talk about is what’s wrong, what’s frightening and stressing us.

In other words, we’ve learned to complain and moan as soon as something bad happens to us.

We’re told: look how hard life is.

Obviously, life isn’t easy. The very idea of death is hard to accept.

And yet, that’s the way life is.

Yes, life isn’t easy, but life is beautiful.

And that’s what we forget, because we’re so focused on the negative.

We only see death, when there’s also life, birth and love.

We only see stress, when there are also dozens of little moments of joy in our day.

What if it were time to change things?

2 – You can learn to practice positive thinking

Yes, we can learn to think positively. We can learn to focus on what’s going right in our lives and even in the world.

Now, this doesn’t mean we have to pretend everything’s fine and ignore our problems and the world’s problems.

In fact, it means not giving them all the space. No more, no less.

Because positive thinking isn’t about inventing a world in which everything’s fine, not at all.

Positive thinking means choosing not to let the negative devour you.

It’s about taking a simple step aside to breathe and reconnect with the joy of living.

But how do you practice positive thinking?

The good news is that scientific studies have shown that the mind needs 50% positive thoughts to feel happiness and well-being.

In other words, it’s not about having positive thoughts and even positive emotions all the time, it’s about having them half the time.

That’s why it’s perfectly feasible.

But where to start? Here’s how to practice positive thinking in 5 simple steps:

Create a little notebook of positive thoughts.
Every Sunday, write down at least 7 new ones.
Every day, choose one and write it down on at least 3 post-it notes.
Stick the post-it notes: one on the bedside table, one on the fridge and one on your desk.
Set 3 alarms on your phone: morning, noon and night, and repeat the day’s positive thought to yourself at least 10 times.
Personally, I do this every day and it helps me focus on what’s going well in my life, and even in life in general. It does me a lot of good.

3 – Don’t turn away from the world, look at it with kindness and curiosity

Too often, when nothing goes right in our lives, when we feel surrounded by problems and bad news, we think the world has turned away from us.

In fact, we think we’re down on our luck, and sometimes even that fate is out to get us.

In other words, we feel helpless, sad and even angry, because we think it’s unfair.

But I’ve learned something that has changed everything in my life and, above all, in the way I deal with life’s bad news and surprises.

In fact, when we believe that the world, life and happiness are turning away from us, it’s we who have turned away from them.

It’s our eyes that keep focusing on what’s wrong, to the point where we forget everything that’s right.

For example: the sun continuing to shine, nature continuing to bloom again in spring, birds singing, children laughing in innocence.

In other words, we lose sight of the magic all around us.

I’ve learned that we can’t control times of misfortune. They just happen. It happens to everyone, every day.

But we can choose to look at our lives and the world around us with curiosity and kindness.

We can choose to see the magic all around us and practice positive thinking.

Indeed, it’s a choice. Happiness is a choice.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Change your negative thoughts: 6 positive habits
Discover How to stay positive: 50 quotes

I recommend this inspiring book:

Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky

Mind Over Mood is a practical guide to positive thinking that focuses on the link between thoughts and emotions. The book offers cognitive and behavioral strategies for modifying negative thought patterns and fostering a more positive, constructive state of mind. By offering applicable techniques, it enables us to take control of our thoughts and, consequently, improve our emotional well-being, making it a valuable resource for those seeking to cultivate a positive outlook on life.

The authors are very present in the book and you feel as if you’ve been to a counseling session after doing the exercises.
I’d recommend it to anyone looking to change their mood, outlook and ability to cope with difficulties.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself