“Your positive action combined with a positive thought results in success.” Shiv Khera

It’s not always easy to stay positive, especially in times of crisis. When things go wrong, it’s easy to let negative thoughts take over, which ultimately affects our emotional well-being. We have a choice in our daily routine: whether we focus on positive or negative thoughts. One of the worst things we can do to ourselves is to hinder our own potential with a negative outlook. Being positive can have a significant impact on all aspects of your life, from developing relationships to improving your health. By practicing positive attitudes every day, we can transform dark times into blessings.

Here are some tips to guide you in using a positive mindset to protect yourself:

Reflection

The fear of failure can be paralyzing when it occurs, leading us to inaction. This self-sabotage can manifest as procrastination, perfectionism, anxiety, reluctance to try new things, and a lack of self-esteem or confidence.

Meditation

Meditation is a powerful tool and a testament to the power of the mind. The benefits of meditation are varied: staying positive, balancing emotions, reducing stress, aiding introspection, and boosting productivity. A quick YouTube search for "guided meditation" will give you many free options if you'd like to try it out. There are also meditation apps on the market, such as Headspace, Calm, and Aura, which are great options if you want to remind yourself of a specific goal or move closer to achieving it.

Gratitude

One way to focus on daily positivity is to create a gratitude journal; writing is a great way to reflect on all the things we are grateful for. Simply expressing gratitude to ourselves and others is a helpful exercise for staying grounded and positive during challenging times. By keeping a gratitude journal, you position yourself each day to have a sharper mind, thus influencing your thought patterns. This doesn't mean you have the same thoughts every day, but rather that you think with the same perspective and that your thoughts reflect the same quality as your mindset. The quality of your thought pattern is responsible for the quality of all your individual thoughts.

Keeping a daily journal couldn't be simpler. Each evening, jot down a few points under the following headings.

• Things you can be grateful for today
• Review the day's events and list all the things you can be grateful for: Long-term things in life for which you can say, "I am grateful."

Taking Care of Yourself

Self-care can be anything that benefits your mental and emotional health. But the most obvious options, like a massage or a manicure, aren't always the easiest to do. To make self-care a regular part of your life, you need to set aside a little time to do the things you enjoy. Here are a few easy wins:

• Take a bubble bath with a book or a gift set and a glass of your favorite drink.
• Don't miss your favorite exercise class or go for a run.
• Put on your headphones and listen to an artist you like.
• Take a pen, a paintbrush, or a pencil and write, draw, or paint.
• Set a specific date to go for a walk, have coffee, or lunch with a friend.

It may seem obvious, but time is a crucial way to cultivate positive thinking. We are often our own worst critic; however, we must learn to be kinder to ourselves. Treat yourself as you would like to be treated by others.

Don't Give Up

We all experience setbacks, and sometimes the option to give up rather than push forward can seem even more appealing. We've used the exercise example below, but you can adapt it and apply it to any task you're facing.

We all know the many benefits of exercise, which can combat stress, increase your energy levels, improve your sleep, and boost your immune system. So here are some ways to keep your exercise routine on track and consistent.

• Sign up for online exercise classes. There are many great free channels that allow you to do quick and easy workouts at home. One of them is Joe Wicks (aka The Body Coach), whose YouTube channel offers many quality classes that you can enjoy every day.
• Schedule time. Fit your workouts into your busy schedule by writing them down on a calendar. You'll soon find that you might have 30 minutes to spare to close your bedroom door and do your workout.
• Find a workout buddy. One of the most motivating ways to exercise regularly is to be held accountable by a friend, colleague, or partner. Make a plan with them and stick to it.
• Substitute for your workout. If you're unable to do your workout one day (let's face it, it will happen from time to time), try substituting it with a short walk, a brisk bike ride, or a yoga session. Every little gesture counts!

A Positive Mindset

Sometimes it’s impossible to stop or control negative thoughts, and pushing them away can make things worse. It’s important to open up your thoughts and not keep them bottled up inside. Try talking to a loved one or writing down your feelings. Sharing your feelings can help dispel negativity.

It may seem obvious, but surrounding yourself with positive people is a free way to help you instantly feel more positive. Look at the people who already inspire you—your mother, your best friends, your partner—and think about what you admire about them. Do they share their happiness? Are they there for you when times are tough? The more positive people you place in your life, the more you’ll see the world differently.

Be Optimistic

When life throws you curveballs and throws you curveballs, it's not always easy to be optimistic. But through positive self-talk in the form of mantras and positive affirmations, you can guide yourself toward a more optimistic mindset each day.

1. Start with the words "I am."
2. Use the present tense.
3. State it in the positive. Affirm what you want, not what you don't want.
4. Be brief.
5. Be specific.
6. Include an action verb.
7. Include at least one word describing a dynamic emotion or feeling.
8. Make affirmations for yourself, not for others.

Set Expectations

Positive thinking goes hand in hand with smart goal setting. When you start planning your goals, it’s important to write down the ideal situation, determine its importance, develop specific objectives, a target date for achieving them, and take small steps to accomplish them.

Step 1: Dream big and filter it with reality. The size of the goal doesn’t matter, but the possibility of achieving it does.

Step 2: Think about why you want to achieve your goal, the benefits it will have for your health or lifestyle, and what you need to do to get there.

Step 3: Break down your goal(s) into smaller steps that are specific, measurable, and time-bound.

Step 4: Write down your goals and place them where you’ll see them to increase your chances of achieving them.