Hey Sweet Thang,

It is a rainy Monday morning and I love when it rains and storms but mostly when I can be in my bed watching movies and cuddling! But since it is Monday I have to work, no complaints there! I have been taking the bus for the past three weeks and I really enjoy it, the FREE entertainment and the joy of not having to drive. Today though it’s raining and as I walk three-four blocks to the bus stop, the only thing I could think about is WORMS.

Let me tell you, I cannot stand worms and bugs for that matter but worms are slimy, creepy and crawly. I shiver at the thought of them. So as I was walking, I just had a huge conversation in my head of why I could not stand them, the fact that I will freak out when they are around and I even was arguing my point on how whomever does not know what goes on in my body when approached by worms.

This thinking lasted about eight minutes, I made it to the bus stop without seeing any worms. I was standing and waiting for the bus and let me tell you, I felt something crawling on my foot. I looked down and there was a worm. Out of all the bugs in the world it was a worm. I would have been fine with an ant but it was a WORM! I freaked out and just laughed at myself thinking this would happen.

If I could think about something so hard in eight minutes and I attracted what I was thinking about and it was a gross result, just think about the endless possibilities if I would have thought hard on my dreams and goals. So this is my new challenge!

I’ve talked to many different people from all walks of life and the ones with the negative attitude and “woe is me” mindset, I don’t stay around long. Thinking and spoken words affect behavior and that stuff is contagious. Ever been around someone and their conversation was not on the positive end and you left feeling worse off than them? No no no, let me be around dreamers of positivity life is too short to dwell on everything that is going wrong. You know what I have noticed, the same people that say “FML” or something like that, they are always having problems.

Positive thinking is how you live, what you think will really play out in your life. I am generally a happy and positive person even when bad things happen that are out of my control. When those things happen I allow myself to feel the pain and emotions that go along with it but I cannot stay in that state too long, I have to get back to thinking that this situation is only temporary and I have work to do. I have a friend that I confide in and she always says I love how positive you always are. I am like I have to, life is too beautiful to stay in a negative state.

Some people really have a hard time thinking positive for many reasons but if you want to turn that around there are ways to get back on the positive side.

Here are a few ways to begin thinking in a more positive way:

Creating Visuals/Vision Board– People make these but throw them away or do not pay much attention to it. The key is to be reminded of the positive on a daily basis. In fact, you need to see it often  through out the day so that it stays on the forefront of your mind.

Forget what others think or say to you that might affect you in a negative way– People always have something to say, they may be your enemy or best friend but you have to create a filter for things coming into your mind so that you keep the good and toss out the bad.

For every negative thought you have you have to counter it– Do not let that thought be the last thing on your mind. Turn it into something positive. It reminds me of an interview when they ask for the things that are your weak skills. The rule is to say your weakness and turn it into a strength by saying that you are working on it or flipping it. For example, sometimes I take a long time on a project but that is because I am very detailed and want to make sure it is good before submitting it.

Meditating on the good– There is so much negativity going on in the world which really should have us so depressed but there is so much more good that it is hard to share with the world. So find the good in life, yourself, in the news etc. Share it with the world. Find words and affirmations to post around your house and when ever you walk by read it out loud or when you are doing laundry repeat them in your mind.

Change your circle– Maybe the people you hang around often are not offering an environment that is conducive to thinking positive. Earlier I stated that thoughts and words are contagious so you have to be careful who you let near your mind it can be very dangerous. Find like-minded people to hang around and you can even find a mentor. You can also rotate the tables and help them out as well. Everytime people say something negative you input positive and get them to change their thinking.

30 seconds of Laughter– Feeling a little down take a moment and just laugh hysterically. In fact, look in the mirror and just laugh at yourself. Make funny faces, dance crazy, whatever. People take life too seriously and forget to laugh or even smile. It is scientific that if you laugh more you feel better. “I believe that if people can get more laughter in their lives, they are a lot better off,” says Steve Wilson, MA, CSP, a psychologist and laugh therapist. “They might be healthier too.” (http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/give-your-body-boost-with-laughter) So take a moment and just laugh.

Well those are just some ideas to change your thinking. What are some ways that have been helpful to you? Please share!

Here are some good links to readings that will help as well:

1. List of 10 Positive Thinking Books.

2. 15 Power of Positive Thinking Quotes.

3. Good Reads List of Books. 

4. The 10 Best Self Help Books You Probably Have Never Heard Of.

Stay Sweet,

Cicely