“There are only two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle, the other is though everything is.”
– Albert Einstein
Thankfulness is a choice, as is kindness.
How you talk to yourself directly impacts your physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Would you thrive in an environment with someone constantly yelling and berating you for every little mistake?
No?
Then why would that kind of hostile environment encourage growth if you treat yourself that way?
(Hint: it doesn’t.)
Positive self-imagery is one of the most critical factors determining whether you succeed or fail in your wellness journey. It expands your physical, intellectual, and social capabilities to create a future full of confidence and positivity.
How to Retrain Your Brain to Focus on Positivity
We co-create our lives and consciously or subconsciously draw into our lives what we fear or believe. Do you have a positive outlook on life? Or a negative one?
You can challenge yourself while still being positive. It is possible to identify flaws and decide to change them without beating yourself up in the process.
Once you start blaming yourself, making excuses, and fixating on how much work you still need, that negativity can quickly become a dark vortex that sucks away all of your motivation.
How will you keep the negative thoughts at bay? Here are a few tips for maintaining a positive self-image:
- Focus on short-term goals. If you try to look too far into the future, it is easy to feel lost and overwhelmed. But small steps add up quickly and have a cumulative effect on your progress! Instead of staring up at the top of a long staircase, focus on making it up the next step. Then the next one. Before you know it, you’ll be halfway up the stairs looking back on your progress.
- Be conscious of your thoughts. When you catch yourself dwelling on negative thoughts, proactively redirect your mind to a more positive perspective. The more you do this, the easier it will be for your brain to default to a positive outlook. Our brains thrive on patterns and repetition, so begin training yours to find a silver lining and prioritize positivity automatically.
- Evaluate your stumbles (but don’t dwell on them for too long). Nobody’s health journey is perfect. Regressions are natural and expected. Rather than putting yourself down for setbacks, give yourself grace. Examine what went wrong and adjust your plan to set yourself back on course with your future vision. Doing this will help you grow to avoid stumbling into the same pitfalls again.
- Begin and end your day on a positive note. I challenge you to try this and see how your mindset evolves. When you wake up, think of at least one good thing you are looking forward to in the day. Even the simple act of writing down your vision or making a checklist to form new habits has power that can lead to change. If you cannot think of anything positive, plan to make something good happen. Promise yourself a walk on your lunch break, or cook your favorite dinner. When you go to bed, take an extra moment to think about the highlights of your day and what you are grateful for.
Be Kind to Yourself
Having a positive self-image does not mean you are a narcissist. Self-love is the secret to living a healthy, happy life.
Give yourself permission to be kind to yourself and prioritize your wellness in a way that works for you.
Nobody else is going to make your dreams come true. You are the one who can take the reins and steer into the path that will bring you joy. That first step starts with embracing a positive self-image full of compassion and forgiveness. From there, your entire outlook on life will change for the better.
Are you ready to prioritize your health and happiness? I’d love to chat with you about your goals! Schedule a free consultation.