The Power In A Mindset Shift

I’ve always believed that we are what we think about. Where we are in our lives and our current situation is the sum of our thoughts and our actions. 

It’s not an unknown fact. There are hundreds of quotes from philosophers, men, and women before me who have all said the same thing before. 

I always thought that it would be easy to just think about something until it becomes who you are.

But I realize now that having a mindset shift and choosing to intentionally reframe your focus and what you think about may be more difficult than it may seem.

We all grow up in different living conditions, experience different things, and go through unique experiences in life. For some people, they grow up in very negative and toxic environments. It could be their parents, siblings, loved ones, or negative media, that are flooding our brains with these negative comments and talk. 

Choosing a mindset shift and intentionally deciding what you want to think about and focus on may be a lot harder for some people. 

It’s easier to fall into the default mode and think about what we are lacking. For example, we can turn on the TV and see that there’s an amazing vacuum cleaner we need in our life. Or we could scroll through social media and see 

Shifting your mindset to focus on the positive things going on in your life can help enhance your mental health, increase your happiness, improve your sleep, and lower your stress hormones. Having a lot of stress hormones in your body can have negative effects on your health for a long time. 

The power of positive thinking is a well-known concept, but it’s often easier said than done. When life gets tough, it can be hard to focus on the good things. But if you can make a conscious effort to shift your mindset, you’ll be amazed at how much of a difference it can make.

In this blog post, I will share with you how to shift your mindset. 

1. Reframe Your Thoughts

When you catch yourself thinking something negative, try to reframe it in a more positive light. For example, instead of thinking “I’m so tired,” try thinking “I’m grateful for this opportunity to rest.”

There are many ways that you can reframe your thoughts. Every negative comment or complaint can be rephrased more positively. Although it may not change your current circumstance, it can make it easier to get through with a more positive outlook on it.

When you put a positive spin on a negative situation, you are looking for an opportunity to make it more positive. 

For example, if you have a long commute that you dislike driving, instead of saying, “I hate this commute.” You could reframe your thoughts think about the positive aspects and say, “I have more time to listen to an audiobook or learn something from a podcast.” It doesn’t change the amount of time of your commute and it doesn’t change the fact that you still need to commute to work. However, it does provide another perspective. 

2. Focus On The Positive

Make a conscious effort to notice the good things in your life, both big and small. This could be anything from the beautiful weather to the kindness of a stranger.

When we shift our focus away from the negative situation that we may be going through and focus on the positive, it will shed light on the fact that there’s still some silver lining to be grateful for. It allows us to remain positive and hopeful as we try to get through tough times. 

Some examples of focusing on the positive during a tough situation can be:

The house is such a mess! –> I have a safe home to live in.

I have to make dinner. –> I get to prepare a delicious meal for me and my family. 

I am so stressed out right now. –> I am grateful to be alive. 

3. Practice Gratitude

Taking the time to appreciate the good things in your life can help you focus on the positive and feel more content with your life. You can practice gratitude and be thankful for all the big and small things in your life. It can be as simple as enjoying a nice day with good weather to having a safe and secure home to live in.

There are many ways that you can practice gratitude. You can practice gratitude by simply saying thank you after a kind gesture is shown, saying a prayer, or writing in a gratitude journal. 

Starting a gratitude journal and consistently writing in it has many benefits such as improving your mental health, improving the quality of your sleep, strengthening your relationship with other people, and reducing your stress. If you want to learn how to get started, read more about it here. 

4. Help Others

One of the best ways to boost your happiness is to help others. When you focus on helping others, it takes your mind off of your problems and makes you feel good about yourself.

Helping others can also make you appreciate what you have in life. For example, when I help others out.

Sometimes you may think that you’re the only one struggling with something but when you help others, you may realize that you’re not the only one struggling. And that there is also someone else going through it too. 

5. Take Care Of Yourself

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. When you take care of your physical and mental health, you’ll be better able to focus on the positive.

Positive thinking isn’t always easy, but it’s worth the effort. When you shift your mindset to focus on the good things in your life, you’ll be happier, healthier, and more successful.

Let me know in the comments below how you’ve been able to reframe a negative situation into a more positive one. I would love to hear from you!