The Power of Positive Thinking

I got this email today from an inspirational message list that I subscribe to.  This one really resonated with me.

"Our thoughts determine our actions, and when our thoughts are negative, our successes are few. What we hold in our mind is certain to be reflected in the day's activities. And we are capable of fueling our thoughts positively, if we choose to.

Positive self-assessment and uplifting pep talks can become habitual if our desire to live up to our potential is great enough. The expectations we privately harbor, be they small or far-reaching, will set the pace for the progress we make today, and every day.

We can greet a challenge with eager anticipation when we've grown accustomed to believing in our capability for success. First, we must expect to handle, with poise, whatever confronts us."

I'm a firm believer in the power of positive thinking.  Our thoughts are like magnets - they draw in the same energy that they put forth.  If you think, "I'm gonna have a crappy day today", chances are that lots of crappy things will happen to you.  If you think, "Wow, what a great day, I feel fabulous!" you will probably have a fabulous day.  Like attracts like.

I never used to believe in this stuff.  I thought it was all a bunch of BS.  I used to be a very angry person, full of fear.  Consequently, I drew bad things into my life.  People were mean, things didn't go well at work, I'd spill something on a brand-new blouse.  Somewhere along the way, I don't know when or how, I started looking at life differently.  Maybe it was the weight loss and increased self-esteem and self-confidence that brought about a change of heart.  I'd wake up in the morning and think of all the things I'd do that day, and instead of feeling discouraged and grumpy, I'd feel enthusiastic and energetic.  I started noticing that when I woke up in a foul mood, I'd have a crappy day.  When I woke up feeling energized, I'd have a great day.  So I decided to take it one step further.  I started giving myself pep talks in the shower as I was getting ready for work.  Not the rah-rah, Stuart Smalley kind of crap, but things like, "I feel good today, I have lots of positive energy.  I think I'll go out of my way to help someone when they least expect it, and I'm gonna do something nice for myself too."  Before I knew what was happening, the negative self-talk inside my head slowly turned around into positive thoughts.  Instead of thinking, "I'm too stupid to figure that out," I started turning it around into, "No, I'm not stupid.  I've only done this once before, I can't be expected to be a genius or an expert overnight.  I need to do this a few times before I get comfortable with it."  Eventually, the negative self-talk went away almost entirely.  I still have self-defeating thoughts, but I'm quick to recognize them and turn them around right away.  The results are a night-and-day difference in my life.  I'm calmer, I'm happier, I don't snap at people, and I don't hate myself.  I'm a better person to be around, and people like me and are (usually) nicer to me. My life is brighter and I have hope, where before I saw only darkness and despair, and turned to self-destructive things like overeating.  I'm happy to say that when the self-defeating thoughts faded away, so did my self-destructive urges.  Life can throw curveballs at me, but I'm better at coping with them now.  I don't blame it all on myself anymore.  It works - it really does.  Even with a Negative Nellie type person like I used to be!