Positive thinking

A good definition of a positive thought is one that supports you in being and achieving your best - thoughts that increase your self esteem, increase happiness, and support the achievement of your goals, desires, and dreams.

We are constantly judging, interpreting and commenting on the world, ourselves and other people. However, most of us are not aware that much of this inner dialogue is holding us back from reaching our highest potential. Don't fall into the trap of assuming that your automatic thoughts are serving your interests.

Consider the following example.

A woman has started an exercise and diet program. She is enthused and follows the program to the letter. In a few weeks, she begins to see results and is encouraged by her progress. One afternoon, she opens the refrigerator to find a piece of chocolate cake. Immediately and without her being aware, her inner dialogue whispers:

"That cake will taste great. I exercised today and I've earned a reward. I deserve it. Its not that much. "

She eats the cake but even before she is done, her inner dialogue scolds:
"I have no control. I'll have to work much harder now. This fitness stuff is too hard. My diet isn't working. Its not worth continuing. I am doomed to be out of shape."

Her negative thoughts have cost her twice! Her fitness goal was undermined and then her self esteem and confidence were damaged. This is one small example of hundreds and maybe even thousands of times in a single day when we behave in ways that don't align with the goal of a happy, successful life.

In silent, subtle ways we sabotage ourselves and our dreams - we avoid a person or situation, we give it less than our best shot, we give up too early, we assume someone is reacting negatively to us, etc. Its clear that negative thoughts hurt our chances for success. Without consciously implementing positive thinking programming, our results will probably remain unchanged over the years.


The first step in positive affirmation training is developing an awareness of your internal dialogue. When you do, you may be surprised at what you find: I can't do it, I never finish anything, Its too hard. These are just a few examples of common, everyday negative thinking patterns. You will need to exert some effort, especially at first, to identify these negative thoughts as they occur. The trick is to become good at noticing them. Make a commitment today to carry a notebook with you for a few hours and capture as many automatic negative thoughts as you can. Even in this short period of time, you will begin to see some re-occurring patterns.
Once you are aware of your inner dialogue, it's easy to view negative thoughts as a plague that must be eliminated! Actually, these thoughts are a natural function of the mind to protect you from pain such as failure or embarrassment. The goal of affirmation training is not to eliminate your inner dialogue, as if that were even possible! The goal is to manage and improve this automatic dialogue. It’s possible to create habitual positive thoughts that support you instead of defeat you.

How do you do it? The same way your current dialogue got installed - repetition. With enough practice of positive affirmations, your thoughts, feelings and behaviors will support you instead of hindering you. Positive thinking training, like a workout session at a gym, is not a cure but rather a process. Think of it as a healthy habit that you will gladly practice for your entire life. It is not difficult and does not take a lot of time but it does take repetition and consistency.
When do you know you have it? There comes a point in your training when a negative thought arises and it occurs simply as an invitation. You experience it not as a command, but as a choice. You then have the freedom to make the choice that serves your highest good. With affirmation training, positive thoughts occur naturally and you are able to behave in a way that supports you and your goals.

Going back to the example above, lets look at some healthy self talk that would produce a much different result:

"I love feeling and looking fit. That cake doesn't taste as good as being fit feels. I'm proud of my efforts and discipline. I look good now and I intend to look even better in the future. Staying fit is possible for me."

She chooses to not eat the cake. Now she benefits twice - she is proud of her decision and her fitness goal is intact. Now she really does deserve a reward - a healthy one!

The road to thinking positive begins by observing and studying your own inner dialogue and practicing writing, listening, and speaking positive affirmations. You'll be glad you did.