Train Your Brain To Be Positive In 4 Steps

The average person has an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 thoughts each day. Here is one more thing to think about: are your thoughts positive or negative? Both thought patterns can have a significant impact. A pattern of negative thoughts can easily snowball and lead to a higher risk for mental disorders, chronic stress and more. Your brain will train itself to create certain neural pathways. Meaning when you have a negative thought, your brain is being trained to have more negative thoughts and alternately having positive thoughts trains your brain to have more positive thoughts. Both positivity and negativity can greatly affect our daily lives, the key is choosing positivity.

Four tips to train your brain with positive thinking pathways:

1. Recognize a negative thought or pattern

Be aware of what thoughts come to you. Common ways we create negative thoughts are by thinking in black and white and nothing in between. Instead, choose to see the positive side, avoid assuming the worst outcome is going to happen.

2. Acknowledge or challenge the thought

Take time to reflect on the negative thought. Evaluate why it is negative and whether it is accurate or logical.

3. Take a break

After you acknowledge a negative thought, allow yourself a short amount of time to think about it and then move on with your day. Avoid dwelling on the thought and if it reoccurs, rework it to be positive.

4. Release judgment

Although not easy to do, releasing yourself of judgement can help you feel better and focused on the positive side.