Last time we spoke, I talked about positivity beginning with an affirmation, something that affirms who you are and who you want to be.
I would love to hear how you’re doing with the challenge I proposed. Click here to read Positivity Starts with an Affirmation
Affirmations as a practice have been around for years. They are all about changing the way you look at the world around you and honor the person with whom you have the longest-standing relationship in your life – YOU!
Changing the way you relate to yourself changes the way you relate to the world, and that’s called your lifestyle. Hopefully I gave you enough information about affirmations so you began to see you do not have to be oppressed by the negativity that is so pervasive in today’s world. Hopefully, you began to realize just how much your wellness quotient is affected by your positive (or negative) thoughts, words and actions.
You might say you want to make changes but then also say it seems too difficult.
There was a time in my life when I would (and did!) say exactly the same things. Change is one of the most difficult things you face in your lifetime. Even positive and wonderful change can be difficult and stressful. However, I can tell you from personal experience, change is not fatal, it’s just inevitable.
Changing behaviors doesn’t happen over night or with the flip of a switch. Changing behaviors takes time and effort, and part of the process requires you to shift the way you think about and approach change. This is called a paradigm shift, and it means there is a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.
Let’s think about this for just a minute.
If you think change is something scary, to be feared or too difficult, guess what? It will be! No matter how hard you work at making a change in behavior, no matter how much time and effort you put into making the change, it will never be sustainable because you approach it as being scary, fearful and difficult.
But, if you shift your thinking and approach changing a behavior as a new adventure, an opportunity to grow, and embrace what can be, your chances of success increase exponentially. Changing your behavior now becomes a welcomed friend.
- For true behavior change to occur, you have to acknowledge that change:
- is not easy, but it might be necessary to have what you want in your life
- takes time and effort; only you can make it happen
- is only sustainable when you embrace there might be a better solution than what you’ve previously tried
- is a process that has to be honored for different results to be obtained
Attracting more positivity in your life can make all the difference in your health and well being. Warning: living in a positive state does not mean nothing bad ever happens in your world. It does mean that you are intentional about being positive in your thoughts, positive with your words, and positive in your behaviors.
In order to attract more positivity, you need to identify and break some bad habits that may exist and replace them with good habits that attract more positivity into your life.
Here are a few simple practices to help bring positivity into focus in your life:
- Make a daily gratitude journal. Every day, write down at least three things for which you are grateful. This is a wonderful way to focus your intentions on positive things in your life and increase your wellness quotient. Studies show that feelings of gratitude produce mental and physical health benefits, including relieved depressive symptoms.
- Nourish your body and soul. Nourishment comes from more than just the foods you eat; it also comes from the thoughts, images and messages you encounter all day long. Nourish your body with healthy foods, but also nourish it with healthy information – food for your soul, if you will. How? Turn off the 24/7 news cycle, limit screen time, and scroll past anything that has a negative impact on your thoughts and feelings.
- Be mindful and fully present. We are easily distracted by our devices, social media posts, and to do lists. Take five or ten minutes each day to meditate and just be. Take a walk in nature and notice all the things around you. Have a real, honest, heart-felt conversation with a loved one. Being mindful and present takes practice, but the results are out of this world.
- Practice kindness. When you practice kindness at every opportunity, you will open your world to a whole new level of positivity. Watch how people respond to you when you smile or thank them for working or tell them to have a nice day. It’s amazing what a little kindness can do in someone’s life – especially yours!
- Spend time improving yourself daily. Carve out a time each day (preferably first thing in the morning) and do things that help you focus on positivity. Practice your daily affirmations. Read a book and learn something new. Create a workout routine and get moving. Spend time in prayer or meditation. Rather than just go through the day, be intentional about your self-care journey.
No matter how positivity you think your life is, you can never have too much positivity. One of my affirmations is I am a work in progress, so no matter what the challenge might be I have to work to stay focused and keep things in perspective. Some days, that’s not always easy because there are others who influence my day and life. But having something to work towards, having a goal to be the best version of me I can be every day, helps me stay grounded and attracting positivity, even when negative things happen.
What behaviors do you need to change to attract more positivity into your life? What daily practices can you implement that might just make your world a better place to be? I’d love to hear how you’re doing and how your affirmations are attracting more positivity into your life. Until then, stay positive, be safe and be well…