Social media is full of people posting content on having a positive mindset, adopting a ‘can-do attitude’ for their day or week ahead and using the hashtag #PMA – Positive Mental Attitude. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all over this too and love to put out a positive quote or something that I feel will inspire the reader.

However, all this is well and good to write about in an Instagram caption but how do you go about actually adopting a positive mindset…? 

Let’s start at the beginning…

What exactly IS a Positive Mindset?

A positive mindset is an optimistic attitude and viewpoint… but also not an unrealistic one. 

Someone with a positive mindset expects good things to happen in their life. They’re willing to work toward those things, are grateful for what they already have and believe in an abundance of positive steps, approaches and goal-setting… oh, and goal getting! It’s a happy but hard-working state of mind to be in, and a tricky one.

When we’re going through a rough patch or suffering from poor mental health, it’s easy to find yourself bombarded with negative thoughts; which of course lead to negative feelings such as stress, anxiety and exhaustion. 

As your mind begins to get overwhelmed with negativity, often you feel as though you’re unable to do as much (physically, mentally, professionally and spiritually) and you tend to take a ‘flight rather than fight’ response. 

This in turn leads to us not achieving what we want to – so in order to turn events around, we need to transform our thinking to a more can-do attitude. 

Follow these positive thinking tips to embark on your new positive mindset journey:

Tip 1: Practice Gratitude

Focusing on the good things you already have in your life can help foster an attitude of positivity and gratitude that stabilises and grounds you. Look around you and consider just how lucky you already are. Nothing is too small to be appreciated, and when you start to consider the little things, your whole mindset can shift. 

If it helps, try keeping a gratitude journal and write down three positive things about your day before you go to bed. Even if it’s just ‘I got my work done’, ‘I didn’t cry today’ and ‘I made a great cup of coffee’, this affirms positivity within your day. Gratitude journaling is one of the most popular positive thinking tips, and rightfully so – it really does work!

Tip 2: Spend Time With The Right People

You only live once, and the people you choose to surround yourself with can truly make or break your mood. Confidence in women is often knocked by the opinions and perceived opinions of others, yet ask yourself – what benefit do you reap from the input of those around you?

If you find that you’re spending time with people who don’t motivate, encourage or inspire you, consider cutting down your exposure to them. Find your tribe, and make sure the people you choose to spend time with leave you feeling content, empowered, ready to do better, and get better.

If you need a little more support in the area of peer groups then check out this podcast. It talks about the importance of having the right people around you. Those that you spend the majority of your time with, have a huge impact on how your life plays out. 

Tip 3: Make Affirmations

A positive mindset is cemented by truly believing in yourself and what you can, and will, achieve. Practice positive self-talk and be kind to not just those around you but yourself too. Start your goals and objectives with “I am” and “I will”, and manifest change in your life by knowing you deserve it. 

Tip 4: Identify Problem Areas

There will be areas of your life that impact negatively on your mood and your feelings, so sit down and identify exactly what those areas are; it may be work, a certain person’s attitude toward you or a particular task you don’t enjoy. 

If you can manage or shift the area, do so, but if not, look at ways you can shift your reaction/s to it. Once you can ease some of this burden, your thinking on it can be re-shaped and re-framed in a much more positive manner.

Tip 5: Start The Day The Right Way 

You’ve heard the phrase ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’, because mornings are important! Starting your day on a positive note can help you maintain a positive mindset for the whole day. Take a walk (‘fake’ a commute if you work from home and walk around the block!), have a coffee watching the sunrise, stretch out in some yoga poses or make a positive affirmation for your goals. Whatever you pick, take your time and enjoy it; and recall this feeling throughout the day as you need it.

Positive thinking leads to positive outcomes… you’ve got this so now’s the time to get to work!