I am a big believer that when you create a positive outlook
on life and yourself, you produce the ability to accomplish almost anything you
desire to achieve. This concept of
optimistic thinking takes consistent mental conditioning. Our brain is a powerful muscle and
building a strong belief system in our daily life and ourselves is
possible. But just like we need
weight training to build stronger muscles in the body, we need mind
conditioning to build a strong and positive brain. Below are strategies to work on daily to create optimism in
your life.
1.
Start your day with something positive. The best thing you can do when you
first wake up is to fill your brain with positivity. In the morning, our mind is fresh and ready to take on the
day. The worse thing you can do is
watch or read about everything negative happening in our world. This is a mistake many people
make. I encourage you to find an
inspirational story or video that will set you up for a successful day. Filling your mind with optimism is the
first step of reprogramming this thought process. (try the video below)
2.
Be aware of your thoughts. “Change your thoughts and you change your
world”. When I work with
people on their nutritional habits, the first thing I have them do is write
down all of their food. This is
such a critical component as it creates awareness for the individual of what
and how much is going into their body.
It’s the same thing with our thoughts. We must first be aware before we can make a change. What is the first thought when you hit
that alarm in the morning? Is it,
“Ugh, I just want to go back to sleep?”
Or “Let’s take charge and
create success today.” What is the
thought when you look in the mirror? Is it, “I’m fat, I hate the way my body looks.” Or “I am proud of the way my body
looks. I am working hard with my
fitness and nutrition routine and I will continue to push myself.” Get that thought in the head and
quickly change it if it is a negative one. You will see the benefit it will have on your day-to-day
life.
3.
Eat healthy and workout. Your body and mind work together. Optimizing the significance of each day
runs parallel with taking care of your body. That is why eating high quality foods and daily exercise are
a must. When you feel good
physically you will feel even better mentally. You will be more apt to battle through tough times and hard days
when you are physically strong and resilient.
4.
Surround yourself with optimism. You have to take a close look at
everything in your life. Who do
you surround yourself with? What
music do you listen to? What type
of TV shows do you watch? What do
you put into your body? Trying
your best to eliminate negativity will set you up to be successful. This is easier said than done because
of the society we live in. Turn on
the television right now and crime is happening, people are arguing over
politics, TV shows are vulgar and offensive and it’s everywhere. This
negativity can destroy any seed of hope that we may otherwise have in striving
for our goals. Do your best to put
yourself in a position of consistent optimism. Your mental state will become toxic if negativity is always
in your life. Exchanging negative
thoughts and actions to positive ones will get you from being uninspired and
de-motivated, to feeling uplifted and driven to greater self growth.
