Have you ever been shocked when you really stopped to listen to one of your thoughts? Yesterday, I caught one that was horrifying. “I stink at this template,” is what I thought while evaluating my design for a project. Wow! Not a thought of empowerment to say the least. Why was I talking to myself this way?According to the National Science Foundation, our brains produce as many as 50,000 thoughts a day. It is estimated that of those thoughts, about 95% were the same as yesterday and 85% are negative. These negative thoughts automatically happen unless we train them differently. We are told that our thoughts influence our actions. And our actions are what produce results in our lives. How can we change our negative thoughts into positive ones so we can live into our fullest potential?

Following are practices that can help cultivate positive thoughts.

First, be aware of your thoughts. Notice when negative ones appear. Challenge them with 3-5 options relative to the negative. Using my previous example, “I stink at this template,” I would challenge it with other options. One might be, “That’s not the quality I want, but with more time and practice I can master this skill and make a higher quality template.” The more time and attention yoiu give to positive thoughts, the more likely your actions and results will reflect them.

Next, practice gratitude daily. When you wake up in the morning, write down three things that you are thankful for in your life. This sets up your day in an inspiring way and trains your conscious mind to begin focusing on empowering thoughts right from the start. Also, if something happens in your day that initiates a negative response, think about what you’re grateful for instead. For example, let’s say you get stuck in traffic on your way to work. Rather than reacting negatively and allowing your thoughts to get out of control, respond with gratitude for having a car and job. And be grateful for all of the people that contribute to your  incredible life.

Also, create positive mantras that help you build positive self-talk. Put them on post-it notes and place them all around your spaces. This will help you create the habit of cultivating positive thoughts and self-talk. Some examples are, “I am capable”, “I share my happiness with those around me”, “My body is my vehicle in life; I choose to fill it with goodness”, “I love challenges and what I learn by overcoming them” and “Each step is taking me to where I want to be.” In addition to nurturing positive thoughts, this practice helps increase your confidence, attracts what your heart desires, and produces a healthier lifestyle with extraordinary results.

Lastly, savor what went well today and think about why. Keep a journal by your bed and write about all the things that made it an incredible day. Record how you and others contributed to it being great. You will end up with an inspiring book of short stories highlighting your life. And your sub-conscious will absorb all of these positive thoughts while you are sleeping.

Daily negative thoughts are automatic unless we train them differently. Follow the practices above to cultivate empowering thoughts, actions and results.

Love, Heather​