Having a Positive Mental Attitude

Long for a positive mental attitude? It can be hard work. When you have a lot on your mind, a lot to do and life is feeling tough, you can feel as if the whole world is against you. You might feel that all you are trying to do is survive the hours/weeks/days.

It’s easy for everyone to tell you to ‘cheer up’ or that ‘it will be ok’.  Not so easy to believe it.  

Milla has faith in positive affirmations.  Defined as ‘positive statements that can help you to stop negative thoughts’, these are the things that you tell yourself that might well help you to tackle the difficult things that you have to face, whatever they are.

There is some science that backs up the use of positive affirmations.  Telling yourself that good things can happen and giving yourself some encouragement, can open the neural pathways of your brain. This makes you happier and more positive.  The more that you repeat these, the more your brain will learn to be more positive. It becomes slower to fear those things that come to test us.  

Even if you doubt that this can possibly true, why not try it?  It is just as easy to think a positive thought as a negative one.  Next time you find the voice in your head saying, ‘I can’t do this’, change it.  Here are a few positive statements to get you started.  

I am safe and I am in a safe place.

This is one of Em’s personal favourites.  It is useful to remember that if you are feeling threatened (maybe at work or when finding yourself in a situation that might become confrontational) that you are not about to be eaten by a sabre-toothed tiger.

I can do it – there is always a way!

This is Milla’s own creation!  There is a time in everyone’s life (well mostly everyone) when they tell themselves they can’t do something. This is either because they don’t know how or they find themselves dealing with something that they see no solution to.  By changing this to ‘I can do it – there is always a way’, you are confirming to your brain that whilst you can’t do something now, you will look for the answer.  

I’m grateful for the things I have.

When you are low, struggling, worried and anxious, it is easy to forget the good things that you do have in life.  That can be as simple as your family, your friends, a good book to read, a fiver in your wallet to get you a coffee.  Focus on what you have got, not what you don’t have – yet!

I’m doing a good job.

Work can be overwhelming.  Everyone wants you to do something and everything is urgent.  The focus is always on what you have still got to do.  But what about the things you have done?  Ok, so you have a lot to get through. However, it is really important to remember what you have achieved – and shout about that to yourself!

I’m going to solve this one bit at a time.

Problems that are big and insurmountable can feel impossible to deal with.  The challenge can feel way too much.  Instead, look at how you can break it down, so you can resolve it bit by bit.  Telling yourself that you are going to deal with what’s bothering you in smaller pieces can help to stop the anxiety that you have and make you feel more in control.

You don’t have to follow these; they are just ideas.  Do some research to find more or make up your own.  The important thing is to make them believable, realistic and most importantly to practise them.