THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

“What do we mean by Positive Thinking? Positive Thinking is a concept which all women should employ throughout their existence. Despite the fact that we are confronted by a mix of both positives and negatives, it is important to identify mechanisms that can assist in arriving at possible solutions. Positive thinking begins with self-talk.

You may ask, what is self-talk? Self-talk is the continuous stream of unspoken thoughts that permeate in our minds on a daily basis, which can be either negative or positive. If the thoughts are negative, our dispositions more than likely would be influenced accordingly, and by the same token, if they are positive, there would be positive outcomes.

Have you ever noticed the exuberance and glow on the faces of women who think and act positively? The result of positive thinking becomes more obvious, as it characterizes their being! Despite how difficult their circumstances, negative thoughts rarely enter their minds!

NEGATIVE THINkING vs POSITIVE THINkING

Because of our psychological and social psyche, it seems easier to have a negative attitude rather than a positive one! Our inner being draws us naturally towards the negative side, and because this occurrence is so prevalent, the impact of some of the support systems available, such as reading books, attending seminars, listening to motivational tapes, etc., are sometimes nil or minimal. After we’ve utilized some of these, we feel awesome and there appears to be some level of improvement… but then challenging situations arise . These may influence the return of negative self-talk if not properly managed.

This is the negative equation: negative attitudes negative thoughts negative behavior!

Researchers throughout the world continue to explore the effects of positive thinking in the context of the positive impact it has on one’s health. Some of these include:

• An increased life span.

• Reduced levels of depression and distress.

• Better mental and physical well-being.

• Minimizes the risk of death, particularly heart disease.

• Better coping skills and strategies to deal with hardships and other stressful situations.

Being a positive thinker is not about ignoring reality in lieu of aspirational thoughts; it is more about taking a proactive approach to your life. Instead of feeling hopeless or overwhelmed, positive thinking allows you to tackle life’s challenges by seeking effective ways to resolve conflict and arrive at creative solutions to problems. It may not be easy, but given the positive impact that positive thinking has on women’s mental, emotional and physical health, it will be worth it! Positive thinking takes continuous practice. It involves a life-long commitment, and a willingness to challenge negative thoughts and make positive changes.

TIPS fOR A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Surround yourself with positive people. This helps tremendously, as positive people will provide the support you need just at the time when you may be focusing on negative thoughts. Change the tone of your thoughts from negative to positive. For example, instead of thinking that “we would have a difficult time adjusting to our new home” think “we may face some challenges adjusting, but we would overcome.”

Don’t play the victim. You must take responsibility for your life and your actions! Help someone – shift the attention away from you and extend a helping hand to someone else. Remember that no-one is perfect; allow yourself to move forward. Don’t dwell on mistakes; learn from them and move on.

Lastly, take time to pray about the situation!

You can’t change by yourself… but you can spend time with your Maker who is able to help you. Do what you can and let God do the rest! Also remember, that positive minds equal positive lives, and by the same token negative minds equal negative lives.

ADRIANA SANDRINE RATTAN With Women in Mind