Good thoughts

Source: Photo by Caroline Veronez on Unsplash Have you ever had a really intense dream that felt so real, even after you woke up? For example, I’ve had Have you ever wondered why that is? Why is it so hard for our thoughts to catch up to our emotions? It’s because our emotions are very powerful. Sometimes the only way we can bring ourselves out of the emotions attached to our dreams is to adjust our thinking. Meaning, we’ll have to tell ourselves it was only a dream, that it didn’t actually happen. The power our thoughts have over our feelings bleeds into our everyday lives, too. Life is not always consistent. There are times when it’s easy to make life go well for ourselves, while other times it can feel really difficult. You’ve maybe even found yourself in the same situation at different points in your life and each time you handled it differently. This is because our thoughts have a lot of power over how we feel, and ultimately how we act. This is where things can get a little tricky. When reality happens, we think that there is only one way of interpreting it and there is little room for negotiation. It feels black and white to us—X happened and as a result, I feel Y. But, as we move through life and collect experiences, we may find holes in this way of thinking. Let’s look at an example. You wake up with a headache one morning. The average person will most likely try to make their headache go away. They may try drinking water, taking an Advil, or stretching their body...

Whatever the case, you are looking for some positive daily affirmations to recite for your mental health. Well, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at the benefits of positive mental health affirmations, the best way to add them into your daily life, along with 25 inspiring affirmations to get you started. What Are Daily Affirmations? Daily affirmations are short, written statements that are meant to give your self-esteem a positive boost. People often use mental health affirmation during times in life where they’re dealing with difficult circumstances or when they are experiencing more negative self-talk than usual. 25 Positive Daily Affirmations Positive self-affirmations are usually short, simple statements that you come up with on your own, based on your own needs and emotions. But self-affirmations have a more universal application too, and it’s okay to use more generalized, pre-written affirmations if you feel that they apply well to you. • I am a • I have done difficult things in the past, and I can do them again • I have experienced challenges in the past, and I am more resilient because of this • I am allowed to feel upset, angry, and sad sometimes—that’s part of being human • My personal boundaries are important and I’m allowed to express my needs to others • “No” is a complete sentence and I don’t have to explain or justify my boundaries • I am allowed to feel good and to experience pleasure in life • I am worthy of receiving good things and of accomplishin...

What does it mean to think positively? Why is thinking positively important? And how do we learn to do it? In this article, we’ll address these questions while providing resources to help you cultivate the ability to think more positively. With these insights, you’ll better understand how to swap out negative thoughts for positive ones, grow your wellbeing, and even improve your physical health. Before we continue, we thought you might like to This Article Contains: • • • • • • • • • What Is Positive Thinking in Psychology? Broadly speaking, positive thinking can be thought of as positive cognitions. This distinguishes positive thinking from emotions, behaviors, and longer term outcomes like wellbeing or depression. In the research on positive thinking, an agreed-upon definition is still evolving. For example, Caprara and Steca (2005) suggested that Indeed, these concepts may involve positive thinking, but they are also often thought of as positive outcomes that might result from engaging in positive-thinking strategies. Others have been more precise about what positive thinking involves. Bekhet and Zauszniewski (2013) outlined eight key skills that contribute to positive thinking that can be recalled easily using the acronym THINKING: • Transforming negative thoughts into positive thoughts • Highlighting positive aspects of the situation • Interrupting pessimistic thoughts by using relaxation techniques and distraction • Noting the need to practice positive thinking • Kno...

Positive thinking does not necessarily mean avoiding difficult situations. Instead, positive thinking means making the most of potential obstacles, trying to see the best in other people, and viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light. Some researchers, including positive psychologist Your • Optimistic explanatory style: People with an optimistic explanatory style tend to give themselves credit when good things happen and typically blame outside forces for bad outcomes. They also tend to see negative events as temporary and atypical. • Pessimistic explanatory style: People with a pessimistic explanatory style often blame themselves when bad things happen, but fail to give themselves adequate credit for successful outcomes. They also have a tendency to view negative events as expected and lasting. As you can imagine, blaming yourself for events outside of your control or viewing these unfortunate events as a persistent part of your life can have a detrimental impact on your state of mind. Positive thinkers are more apt to use an optimistic explanatory style, but the way in which people attribute events can also vary depending upon the exact situation. For example, a person who is generally a positive thinker might use a more pessimistic explanatory style in particularly challenging situations, such as at work or at school. While there are many factors that determine whether a person has a positive outlook, the way that they explain the events of their life, kno...