The Power of Positive Thinking and Affirmations

In today's fast-paced world, stress management is an essential skill for individuals to learn. It is one of my pillars of health. The others being:

A regulated nervous system

Daily movement

Nutrition

Good quality sleep

Spiritual health

Stress management will help you if you are struggling with overwhelming feelings and a lack of balance. That said, it will also help you thrive and be able to achieve more success in your life. Success being whatever it is you are aiming for. More sleep, financial freedom, to be a better partner or work collague or train for a sporting event. The list is endless.

The good news is, there a simple practices you can do to benefit yourself. They don’t take long and if done consistently can pay dividends when improving you health. One such powerful tool is the practice of positive thinking and affirmations.

Positive thinking…

Positive thinking is a mental approach characterised by focusing on and emphasising constructive and optimistic thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. It involves interpreting situations in a favorable light, finding silver linings, and maintaining a hopeful outlook even in challenging circumstances. Positive thinking does not deny the existence of difficulties or obstacles but rather seeks to reframe them in a way that promotes resilience, problem-solving, and personal growth. This mindset can lead to improved emotional well-being, increased resilience, and a greater sense of empowerment and satisfaction in life. I

I know what you are thinking… easier said than done. The more you practise this way of thinking, the more it becomes your default. We are humans though and far from perfect. So the times that positive thinking doesn’t come to save the day, remember to take a breath. The fact that you are aware that you aren’t thinking positively in that moment is a big win.

When we adopt a positive mindset, we activate the power of our thoughts, emotions, and actions to create positive outcomes. By training ourselves to think positively, we can transform stress into opportunities for personal growth and self-improvement.

Affirmations

Affirmations, on the other hand, are positive statements that we repeat to ourselves daily, reinforcing our desired beliefs and goals. They act as powerful tools to rewire our thoughts and reprogram our subconscious mind. By regularly affirming statements like "I am calm and centered," "I am capable of handling any challenge," or "I attract peace and positivity into my life," we empower ourselves to overcome stress and build resilience.

Here is a list of Affirmations.

The beauty of affirmations lies in their simplicity and accessibility. They can be practiced anytime and anywhere, whether silently in our minds or spoken out loud. By consciously choosing positive affirmations that resonate with us personally, we can create a powerful self-care ritual that supports our holistic well-being.

A good time to do them is first thing in the morning. Before checking in with the world. This means not reaching for your phone the moment you wake up. Set a specific time in the morning that is for you. It really does set the tone for the day.

Set an intention for the day

Say some affirmations that resonate with you

Take 10 deep breaths

Say three things that you are grateful for

You could do all that in less than 5 minutes. It doesn’t take long to encorpate good habits into your day. Would spending more than 5 minutes be more beneficial? Yes, more than likely. On the days you don’t have as much time, 5 minutes is better than nothing. If you are new to morning routines, start small to not overwhelm yourself. Little and often will make a big difference. The act of giving yourself just that little bit of time to check in with yourself before your day can make a world of difference to how the rest of your days pans out.

Conclusion

Incorporating positive thinking and affirmations into our daily lives requires consistent practice and dedication. It may take time to rewire our thought patterns and develop a positive mindset. However, with patience and perseverance, we can cultivate a more optimistic outlook and better manage stress.