How to Shift From a Negative to a Positive Mindset

Learning to shift and grow from a conditioned negative mindset to a positive one is a process that can add value and meaning to your life. A part of this process is the willingness to open your perspective, improve your self-awareness, navigate the discomfort of the unknown, and learn new ideas from the environment and people around you. Depending on the roots and causes of how negativity affects your perspective, habits, and daily routines can help you to understand what, in turn, will lead the process of shifting and developing a productive and uplifting positive attitude.

Building Perspective

Self-awareness, like any developmental process, takes conscious effort. Whether that effort is through learning mindfulness techniques to center your attention to the present or traveling to open your scope of reality and living, there is a level of “doing” to influence the change and fulfillment you desire. Growth comes with movement (physical, mental and emotional) and attention.

Positive Self-Talk 

You are the most important person in your life. What you think affects how you feel, act, and interact with others. Because thinking happens in your head or brain, negativity, as well as positivity, affects your mental health. The messages you send to your brain become reality and habit. What you tell yourself becomes your perception, perspective, and truth. 

Growing your perspective and making a conscious effort to develop a positive mindset through self-talk is a powerful first step to approaching change in how you think. Affirmations, manifestations, and mantras are examples of intentional phrasing you can use in your self-talk to catalyst the shift from a negative to a positive mindset.   

Examples of affirmations, manifestations, and mantras for positivity include:

• I choose peace.
• I am deserving of rest.
• I am in control of my life.
• I manifest change and abundance and welcome growth.
• What I set my mind to will get done.
• Today is a good day.
• It’s okay for me to make mistakes.
• I feel empowered when I ask for help.
• I am ready to start the day.

Mindfulness

Along with empowering and uplifting self-talk to help boost a positive perspective, is focusing on and acknowledging how and what you feel and what your thoughts are in the present moment. Mindfulness techniques or awareness of your environment and body in each moment prevent your mind from excessively ruminating on your past and future self. Mindfulness breathing focuses your attention on your breath and bodily sensations, mindfulness walking focuses your mind on your environment and movement, and mindfulness eating/drinking draws your attention to what you are consuming. The more mindful you are, the easier self-awareness becomes.

Community and Learning

Challenging negative thoughts on your own can be difficult. When negativity becomes a habit and initial response when approached with discomfort, the urge to shift or change is stunted. It’s okay to use the resources around you to help grow a more positive perspective when negativity seems “natural” and “normal.”

Some resources that can help in the process of developing a positive mindset or perspective can be:  

1. Therapy and getting to know yourself better.
2. Hiring a life coach.
3. Joining support groups.
4. Reading self-help books.
5. Learning a new craft or skill.
6. Meeting new people and making new friends that are a good influence.
7. Traveling and learning about different cultures.
8. Following uplifting, empowering, and motivational pages on social media.
9. Reading uplifting, empowering, and motivational blogs or magazines.
10. Growing your spirituality.

Prioritizing Growth and Development

The more you welcome and encourage the idea of positivity into your perspective, the more positivity will become accessible. Prioritize growing, healing, shifting, and developing.

Note: Approaching and accessing positivity does not always mean life will be good. Positivity can mean being realistic and taking one step at a time. The goal is to work with yourself and find what works best for you so you can be more gentle with yourself and your expectations.

Try it!

How do you practice positivity in your daily life? If you find positivity challenging, what can you do to incorporate positivity into your daily schedule?

Nina is a Latina from Brooklyn, NY who struggles with depression and anxiety.  She finds refuge and healing through her writing since she graduated from college in 2016.  Nina writes to spread awareness and hope to those who struggle with their mental health silently. She also strives to motivate and encourage self-acceptance.  She enjoys creating creative and uplifting content on her blog SparklyWarTanks.com where she shares her experiences, notes, poems, quotes, and articles

You can find her on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.