Positive thinking: How to remain capable of action in every situation in life

Reading time 6 minutes

Looking around the world, at first glance there don't seem to be many occasions for positive thinking. Crises and uncertainty generate fears both globally and in private. This gives rise to a feeling of powerlessness. Positive thinking can help you to shake off this feeling of powerlessness and to take your happiness (again) into your own hands.

Why positive thinking can change your life

Negative attracts negative: Surely you have heard this old folk saying, which contains a lot of truth. However, it is the same with a positive attitude. If you assume that something good will happen to you and that you will be successful, you will face your daily challenges in a completely different way. You automatically act more courageously and confidently, which increases your chances of success.

Positive thinking contributes to the fact that you no longer feel helpless in negative situations, but look for solutions. This increases your sense of self-efficacy. Put simply, positive thinking helps you take life a little easier. You gain confidence in your ability to solve problems on your own.

Your social life will also change. People who think positively seem more likeable than sourpusses. Making friends or finding a partner is much easier for people who think positively. Moreover, positive thinking even improves your health in the long run, which is shown by current studies is occupied.

Can you learn positive thinking?

The good news is: Yes, positive thinking can be learned. Because only you decide how you judge situations. So, instead of seeing catastrophes everywhere, you should look at supposedly negative events as challenges. It may sound a bit trite, but it is true and should be internalized: Every crisis is an opportunity.

what is positive thinking

5 simple steps to change your mindset and become more positive

You now know that positive thinking can basically be learned. But how? The following 5 steps can support you in this process.

Step 1: Create a positive environment for yourself

Pessimism is contagious. If you are surrounded by people who always see everything in black, there is a great danger that you will be carried away by the negative mood. The first thing to do is to define the sources of pessimism: Is it perhaps a certain colleague or a friend who is constantly pestering you with their doom and gloom?

Once you have identified the source, there are two options: If it's someone close to you, you should talk to them and point out their behavior. If they are distant acquaintances or colleagues, you should reduce contact to a minimum. In your free time, only spend time with people who are good for your soul.

Step 2: Self-care and discipline

Raise yourself to shape your life according to your desires. This already starts on a small scale: Make sure your home is tidy, take care of your appearance and live as healthy as possible. All these aspects provide you with long-term inner satisfaction, which in turn forms the basis for an optimistic attitude towards life.

Step 3: Do not put yourself under pressure

Positive thinking cannot be forced. Give your worries and fears space instead of desperately trying to stop them. The latter doesn't work anyway. Listen to your fears and look at them from an emotional distance: are they rational or are there old blockages and Beliefs behind it?

Step 4: Make decisions

If you want to learn to think positively in the long term, you have to make decisions. Indecision and too many alternatives lead to you getting caught up in negative thought spirals. If you have to make a decision in the future, make your choice as quickly as possible. In this way, you will learn to Thought carousel before it has really picked up speed.

Step 5: Refrain from comparisons

Comparison with other people is the arch enemy of positive thinking. There will always be someone who outperforms you in some respect. Become aware of your strengths and work continuously to achieve your personal goals. What others think of it or what they have achieved in possibly less time is irrelevant.

If you want to compare yourself, then only compare yourself to a previous version of yourself. At what point were you a few years ago and what have you already accomplished?

How do I influence my thoughts?

Positive thinking is not about glossing over problems or denying them. Rather, it's about changing your perspective. Doubts and fears are part of life. This also makes sense, because negative emotions point out grievances and thus prevent you from making wrong decisions.

However, you can influence your thoughts positively by first accepting the situation. The less pressure you put on yourself to change a situation quickly, the better. Instead of focusing on the annoyance, you shift your attention to the possible solutions and the opportunities that can arise from the respective crisis.

Positive thinking in everyday life: 8 tips and tricks to be more optimistic

If something doesn't go according to plan right away, a thousand possible negative consequences immediately come to mind. However, this robs you of energy that you could use much more productively elsewhere. The following eight tips and tricks should help you to be more optimistic in everyday life.

1. meditation

Those who rest within themselves are less susceptible to negative thoughts. Meditation can help you start the day with a balanced feeling in the morning and calm down better in the evening. Guided meditations are particularly suitable for beginners.

2. smile

Researchers have found out that the facial expression of a smile alone releases happiness hormones. There doesn't even have to be a reason for this, since the brain can't distinguish between a spontaneous and a posed smile.

3. news detox

News is often fodder for pessimism. If you want to think more optimistically, you should therefore reduce your news consumption. If you inform yourself about world events once a day, this is perfectly sufficient.

4. gratitude diary

Keep the positive experiences of your day present by writing them down in a gratitude journal in the evening. Whenever you are overcome by dark thoughts, you can take your happiness book at hand.

5. communicate your limits

It is virtually impossible to acquire a positive attitude if your personal boundaries are always being crossed by other people. Stand up for your needs and clearly express what you do not want.

6. look for Inspiration

Sayings about happiness can bring a smile to your face and inspire you. Maybe you even want to beautify your apartment with your favorite saying as a decorative picture or wall tattoo?

7. no rush in the morning

If the morning has already been stressful, most likely the whole day will be. Therefore, pay special attention to a relaxed morning routine. If in doubt, get up a little earlier for this.

8. leave the victim role

Why always me? If you wallow in your misery, you will never learn positive thinking. Realize that you alone make the decisions in your life. If you are suffering from a situation, take action and change something.

How positive thinking can improve your relationships

You have certainly experienced it yourself: people who always think negatively are not particularly pleasant contemporaries. If you are busy looking for problems everywhere, don't be surprised if this puts a strain on your partnership. Positive thinking, on the other hand, creates harmony: you are balanced inside and your partner feels good in your company.

Furthermore, it is obvious that communication within the partnership is improved by positive thinking. Or would you like to exchange ideas with someone who only paints out disasters? If you yourself have internalized a positive basic attitude toward life, you can also be a support for your partner. This is especially true in times of crisis.

Positive thinking as the key to professional success

Have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? If you assume that another applicant will get the coveted job, chances are very good that you will be right. Without meaning to, you are broadcasting your negative attitude, which can ruin many a chance for you in a professional context.

If, on the other hand, you think positively, you also radiate this. You look much more reliable to potential employers or customers. Or would you entrust an important project to someone who expects to fail anyway? It is even true that positive thinking and professional success are linked. scientifically proven.

Conclusion: Unleash your full potential through positive thinking

If you always doubt yourself and constantly assume the worst, you slow down your own chances of success. Positive thinking, on the other hand, can help you reach your full potential. The good news is that positive thinking can be learned. All it takes is a little self-discipline and motivation.

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Reviewed by Dr. med. Stefan Frädrich

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