Everyone tells you to think positive, but no one tells you how. “Positive thinking” is not always easy. Negative thoughts can creep into our mind, and jump out our mouths, when we least expect them. The trick isn’t to fight them, but to manage them so they don’t paralyze you.

1. Identify the “naysay” thought triggers. When you have a negative thought (“This will never work . . . I’m a total failure”) stop and ask yourself what’s bringing it on. You may be tired or stressed out, or worse you may be affected by someone else’s perspective. If you can locate the cause, the thought itself won’t have as much power over you.
2. Focus on the now rather than what was. You don’t have to be a philosopher to realize that worrying about the past or the future isn’t very productive. When you start chastising yourself for past mistakes, or seeing disaster around every corner, stop and take a breath and ask yourself what you can do right now to succeed. Giving yourself something to do will distract you from destructive thoughts.
3. Replace negative thoughts with a positive thought. If you find yourself plagued by a recurrent worry, train yourself to think of something else.  When you catch yourself in a negative thought, immediately with a positive thought. Say it out loud or think it to yourself and drive the negativite thought or thoughts away so you are free to move forward with a good thought.  
4. Read a book that uplifts you. I love the books that come from author Debbie Macomber. No matter how serious or somber issues are, there is always light at the end of the Macomber’s tunnel. If you have never read a Debbie Macomber novel, start with Twenty Wishes. This book part of the author’sBlossom Street series. A blurb from booklist on the Amazon site about Twenty Wishes. “…One of them brings up the idea of making a list of wishes: things they’ve secretly wanted to accomplish but never did. However hesitant they might be at first, as the women complete their lists, they begin to embrace the idea of making each wish a fact…”.

 Twenty Wishes (Blossom Street) is available from Amazon.  Visit Debbie Macomber