You would be hard pressed to find someone who has not been told that positive thinking can change one’s life. From hearing the glass is half full as opposed to half empty to imagining your success in order to be successful, the power of positivity is everywhere.
Are you skeptical about whether positive thinking can change your attitude or your life? Then read on and find out more about what it is and how it can help you!
The Power Of Positivity
What do you think of when you hear the phrase “the power of positive thinking”? Do you picture some kooky motivational speaker at a business meeting? Or maybe it conjures up images of new age hippies? Whatever the case, you are not alone. Lots of people dismiss positive thinking as a meaningless gimmick that will not generate happiness or success. Well, perhaps it’s time to reconsider your stance on the power of positivity to see if it can actually work to improve your life!
Basically, the power of positive thinking is all about your mental attitude – it requires a mental adjustment so that you picture yourself succeeding, imagine yourself at the top in your social life and in your work life, and with the added confidence and improved attitude, your chances of success will greatly increase.
Applying The Power Of Positive Thinking To Your Life
Positive thinking is not just a frame of mind that you can turn on or off at will. Instead, the power of positive thinking is about making a life change so that positive thinking governs your mental attitude. Obviously, this is not going to come easy to all people. It requires hard work and the will power to adopt a new way of looking at the world.
Don’t think that you will just wake up to a new life and a new attitude tomorrow. Rather, start small and try to improve on certain areas of your life at first and then over time you will notice a change in your overall worldview.
How The Power Of Positivity Can Improve Your Health And Fitness
Sports psychology is a science dedicated to understanding the mental and emotional features of sports and physical performance. Much of succeeding in sports involves visualizing your success and this is where positive thinking can make the most impact in improving your health and fitness regime.
You’ve heard basketball coaches telling their players to visualize the ball going through the hoop. Likewise, when you are at the gym about to lift that weight you struggle with every week, visualize yourself lifting it. If you doubt yourself, you will be tense and will not be able to perform up to your full potential. Plus, when you are under stress and low in confidence while working out, you aren’t going to have the mental strength required to perform tasks such as weight lifting or endurance running.
Too often people forget that the mental aspect of working out is just as important as the physical aspect. You need mental fortitude to get through even an easy day at the gym. Plus, when you are feeling unmotivated, positive thinking can get you into the mood you need to get in to get to the gym.
To stay motivated, picture yourself doing each routine at the gym, and again at the end of your session. Short term goals are important so visualizing in this way will help you get motivated to the gym. But keep in mind that long term goals are also important, so if you have a specific goal in mind – let’s say of losing 25 lbs – then picture yourself at the very end of the this journey, having lost 25 lbs!
To put positive thinking into practice, tell yourself that you are doing great. Don’t concentrate on the negative aspects of the workout. For example, don’t compare yourself to the person next to you who is running faster than you on the treadmill.
Don’t count calories while you are at the gym, trying to figure out if you worked off that beer you had last night. Instead, tell yourself that you are having a great day and that you are going through the routine of another great workout.
Positive Thinking Tips
When you feel like quitting, tell yourself that you’ve done your workout routine many times before and you can get through it again. When you are tired and feel like you can’t possibly finish the full 30 minutes on the elliptical machine, tell yourself that the worst part of it is over and that only the easiest part is left.
And if you are ever afraid of working out or starting a jogging routine because you are afraid that you are going to embarrass yourself, tell yourself that every day you should do something that you don’t want to do in order to make yourself a stronger person.
Using Positive Language To Change Your Life
Some people have inspiring posters on their walls; others live by maxims on their desks urging them to keep going or to try harder. This may seem silly to some people, but positive language reinforcements through such things is very important and an excellent way to stay motivated.
Take, for example, a friend of mine who bought a necklace with the words “Inspire” written on the locket. This kept her motivated to set goals in her business life and with respect to her health and fitness.