Shift To The Positive In 3 Simple Steps

Are you constantly battling negative thoughts?

Would you like to feel more positive?

It is possible to shift your negative thinking and mood with a simple process backed by science, which will help you feel good! There are small changes you can make so you feel good about yourself and achieve an overall sense of wellbeing.

We are wired to remember anything and everything that is painful, thanks to our ancient, highly effective warning system, which is the fight or flight response, that keeps us safe and alive. This system is essential when it comes to survival, but not when it comes to feeling good on a day-to-day basis.

We are not wired to remember positive experiences as easily as negative ones. We are all good at having experiences, but many of our day-to-day experiences are fleeting. Very often, we don’t even recall the positive parts of our days after a little time has passed.

So, the question is, how can we change our nervous system to feel more positive? The method is known as experience dependent plasticity. Experience dependent plasticity is the continuing process of creating and re-organizing neuron connections in your brain, depending on your life experiences.

Simple Steps to Become More Positive  

One way to influence your neurons in a positive direction is to access positive memories. By immersing yourself in a positive memory, you “re-experience the event” contained in the memory. Your senses are re-engaged, and your emotions are re-experienced. This process helps reduce negative feelings and introduces calm and feelings of warmth.

What if you were to add positive affirmations to this positive state you’ve created?

A positive affirmation or self-talk is an optimistic statement we create that resonates for us. It is more effective if it’s in the present tense and includes an optimistic future.

It’s helpful to state affirmations in the positive, as the brain may be confused with a statement that includes a negative word. For example, an affirmation like “I am not going to fail” is not as effective as “I am going to be successful.”

Make sure your affirmations are specific and brief, and use action and feeling words. Stating your positive affirmation keeps your attention in a powerful place, and your brain can create new circuits in response.

How to Shift to the Positive

When you are experiencing negative thoughts and feelings, try this 3-step process to make a positive shift:

Step 1: Think of a recent positive memory and expand it by remembering it through each of your senses.

You can ask yourself these questions:

1.     Where are you?

2.     What do you see?

If there is another person with you, focus on his or her face. What do you see?

1. Try to get a sense of the positive feelings the other person was experiencing.
2. What are they wearing?
3. What are they doing?
4. How does the other person in the memory feel?
5. What is that like for you that other people think or feel this way about you?

1. What do you hear?
2. From the other person?
3. In the environment?
4. What can you smell?
5. Does your memory involve any tastes?
6. Can you touch anything in your memory? How does it feel to do that?
7. What is the strongest and most positive part of the memory? Let the feeling expand in you. Sit with the feeling and enjoy it for a few moments.

Step 2: Be mindful and notice this positive emotional shift.

Savor it for a few minutes.

Step 3: State a positive affirmation and hold it in your attention for a moment.

Finally, practice, practice, practice!

Repetition is key. Through repetition, the brain lays down neural connections, becoming more efficient. If you spend time practicing, you will be able to shift your thinking and become more positive.