Is your glass half empty or half full?
Acknowledge Your Strengths:
I have found that one of the best self-talk activities to try out is to make a list of things that you are good at. We tend to focus on our weaknesses in general, so it is important that we know our strengths as well.
So, to develop your positive self-talk, it is necessary for you to know how to talk gently about yourself, even brag a little bit! Why do your friends like you? What good things would your parents or teachers say about you? What are you good at? Why is it important for you to get up in the mornings? What are you thankful for?
If you think about this, you may be surprised that before you know it, you will notice a change in your self confidence and the overall way that you talk about yourself.
Realize your successes and give yourself a pat on the back, because no one else will do it for you.
5. Think Positive
There are two quotations that come to mind. The first one is:
“Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are” and the second one:
"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Now, those are two interesting thoughts, aren’t they? Just think about it for a while. What do those statements mean to you? Have a look around you at your friends, at your network, who do you spend most of your time with and how do they make you feel? Our emotions and behaviours can be contagious, so if you spend most of your time around people who tend to focus on mistakes and failures then there is a very good chance that those feelings and behaviours will rub off on you as well.
Your support system is paramount. Start to surround yourself with people who are positive: people who support you and motivate you. You cannot avoid some challenges and setbacks, but you can create that positive environment which includes family and friends that will lift you up when those times get rough. It is all about those positive vibes.
There is plenty of research out there that shows having friends is paramount to our mental well-being, but you also need the right kind of friendships.
6. Do What You love:
It is easy for us to get caught up in the daily stresses of life. Many of us tend to worry about the future and we forget to focus on the now, which does NOT help our positive self-talk. You know, things will usually work out, and if you keep making up negative scenarios and situations, it will be hard for you to stay in a good mood and perform at your best.
You need to let go of and forget about the things that you cannot change, just relax, and take time to reset. Figure out what makes you happy. What is that one thing you do that gets you in your bubble? If exercising is what takes your mind off things and gets you in a more positive mood, do it! Now I am not saying to try and go to the gym every day; but just taking the time to go for a 10-15 minute -walk in the park or a short jog is a good start. Just to get those endorphins working.
When you realize that you are focusing too much on things you cannot control, take a step back and reset!
7. Keep a Journal
This may seem easier said than done, but as I have just mentioned, stop worrying about things that are out of your control. It is what it is. We all need to learn from your mistakes and move on. If you are struggling with seeing the positives in a bad situation, then I challenge you to start a highlight journal.
So, at the end of each day, write down at least three things that went well. It may be that you have the worst day ever – you missed your bus to work, the place where you go to lunch has run out of your favourite sandwich, because you missed your bus to work you have to stay and work you have to stay late to make up the time, and just to top it off your card got stuck in the cash machine.
So, what could you write I your highlight journal at the end of that day?! You will have to dig deep for this one. Because, sometimes it is the little things that matter. Maybe you arrived home and there was a delicious meal waiting for you, or on your way to the sandwich shop you met an old friend who you had not seen for a while and arranged to meet up,
Bad things will happen from time to time, but there is absolutely NOTHING we can do about it, so brush it aside and move on with making those positive changes in your life.
