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The Aligned Life

Jenn Stevens | Spiritual Life + Business Coach

How To Be More Positive: 5 Mindset Techniques

by: Jenn

How To Be More Positive: 5 Mindset Techniques

Do negative thoughts rule your brain…and seemingly your life?

Sometimes it seems like we have no choice but to listen to the negative soundtrack in our mind.


But the more you feed the negative thoughts, the more intense they get. Meaning that once your brain sets off down the road of negativity it can be very hard to get back on track!



So you’re not imagining things! Sometimes it’s very difficult indeed to have a more positive mindset.

But it also isn’t your fault! Our brains are simply creatures of habit. We all think about 60,000 thoughts a day–but 90% of those thoughts are the exact same thoughts we had yesterday…and the day before that…and the day before that. It’s like our brains get stuck on a certain signal–and once they tune into that signal it’s very difficult to turn away–even if those thoughts are untrue and negative in nature.

However, even though our biology is stacked against us, it’s not all bad news! While your brain might love to run rampant in negativity, you can still train it to become more positive. Your physical body would seemingly love you to eat fats and sugars all day long but we know better than to give into those urges. It’s the same thing when it comes to your mindset.

Our brain might prefer a certain (negative) way of doing things but there are action steps we can take to regain control and feel happier. Or in other words, you don’t have to be stuck with the crappy thinking your brain defaults to.

Practicing positivity is a habit that will make you happier and more productive over the long run. While it’s not always easy, it is always worth it to put in the effort. So to help you on your positivity journey, today I’m sharing five mindset techniques to get you started.


How To Be More Positive: 5 Mindset Techniques


How To Be More Positive: Mindset Technique #1:

Know Your Brain Is Doing A Job


Your brain is hard-wired to look for negativity. Which means all those stressed out negative thoughts area really just your brain trying to keep you safe. It’s simple biology, not a defect on your part.

Our ancestors developed a keen sense of danger as a survival mechanism! Constantly scanning the world for impending danger was obviously beneficial for the human race. But our modern lives seldom have any real danger anymore–yet our brain is still on the lookout! Only these days it’s there’s not much to look for.

Knowing that fact does not mean that your brain will suddenly leave you in peace! Unfortunately, it’s still going to do its job. But you can learn how to disengage with those thoughts.

For example, when your brain starts going down a negative path (ie. “My boyfriend is late from work! Omg he’s obviously not thinking about me. He must not love me anymore!” etc.) you can see those thoughts for what they are–and thank your brain for trying to protect you. (“Oh I see you negative thoughts! Ok thank you brain for always looking out for me!”) Then go back to being open to something other than the terrible-ness your brain wants you to believe.

Our first reactive thoughts are often coming from our worst fears and beliefs! Sometimes you need to stop and take a moment to realize what’s really going on.


How To Be More Positive: Mindset Technique #2:

Thoughts Aren’t Facts


We’re just so smart aren’t we? Our ego mind just loves to play this game and it gives us constant proof of just how smart we are. That means when our brain is telling us something–no matter how negative it is!–we take it as fact, even though it probably isn’t.

While our brain loves to present our thoughts as being very factual, they’re actually 95% just our interpretations of the world. That means they’re just our stories. They’re open to interpretation–and they’re definitely able to be seen in a different (more positive) light.

So when your negative thoughts are telling you you’re stupid or the situation is hopeless, take a pause and try to come back to reality. What are the actual facts of the situation versus what your brain is trying to tell you? Simply being able to see the difference between the two can give you control back over your own narrative.


How To Be More Positive: Mindset Technique #3:

Minimize Your Triggers


As you move through your week, pay attention to what triggers your negativity the most. That might be watching or reading the news, something an ignoramus relative posted on Facebook or even a conversation with someone in real life. But if it something has the power to color your mood for the rest of the day, it’s important to become aware of it.

Most of the time we can’t completely eliminate the trigger itself. We can’t cut off every person who rubs us the wrong way and bury our head in the sand about world events. But you can limit your time spent watching the news or with a certain person. The world might be in a state of upheaval right now but that doesn’t mean that you have to strap yourself in for a front-row view for hours every day! Nor do you have to put up with people who don’t respect you, even if they are family members.

This one’s really all about setting boundaries to preserve your own happiness. So please just know that just because you’ve always done something one way, you don’t have to keep going. If something triggers your negative emotional soundtrack, then it’s in your best interests to make a permanent–more positive–change. Knowing what’s good for you and what isn’t is key to creating your own happiness.


How To Be More Positive: Mindset Technique #4:

Choose What Feels Better


Some of our habitual negative thoughts are absolutely abusive–and sometimes they’ve been around for so long we don’t even realize it.

For example, I used to feel very insecure about the dark circles under my eyes. Every time I’d look in a mirror I’d focus straight in on them and berate myself for looking too “old” or “tired”. But it’s a funny thing: when I’d mention my dark circle problem to people in real life, everyone would look at me with surprise: “What dark circles?” ????

If the rest of the world can’t see what you’re talking about, that’s a pretty good sign that your brain is making mountains out of molehills! But even so, it’s hard to disengage with those repetitive negative thoughts.

So don’t try to do it all in one go! Instead of going from negative to positive, go for a neutral statement first. Instead of thinking “I’m so ugly” think “I have a body/face/etc.” That might not seem like it’s enough but it’s a massive improvement over the negative thought. The neutral thought moves the inner conversation out of self-abuse territory. So whenever you notice the painful thoughts surfacing, do what you can to redirect your thoughts to something more neutral.

With more practice you can move the thoughts into positive territory! But neutral territory is a great improvement over negativity.


How To Be More Positive: Mindset Technique #5:

Choose Gratitude


It’s a fact of life: if you only look at what’s missing from your life, of course you’re always going to feel lack and scarcity! However, this can be tricky for us manifesting go-getters. While it’s cool to have goals and plans for our future, it’s also important to acknowledge how far we’ve already come.

Again, this is all just a matter of habit. Right now, your brain is probably not making it a habit to look to your past for your victories and gifts. But you can start creating gratitude as a habit right now! It’s time to start a gratitude practice. Put in in your schedule or make it part of your morning routine. Then take a few minutes to think or write about something you’re grateful for.

Even if you do this for just a few minutes a day, it can make a massive difference! And yes, it might feel weird and awkward at first but that’s just a sign that you really need this work. But keep going with it! The more you practice gratitude, the easier it will come to you.




So tell me: what tip are you going to use first to create a more positive mindset? How are you going to make a plan to conquer your own negative thinking?




Just remember, you don’t have to be stuck with your out-of-the-box way of thinking! Changing your mindset is really just like going to the gym for your brain. You’ve got to put some consistent effort into keeping things right and tight to reap the biggest results.



Jenn Stevens | The Aligned Life




PS Looking for more? You might also want to check out this post about how to get rid of negative thoughts or this one about 10 ways to finally feel good.




Did you find this post useful or inspiring? Then save this pin to your Personal Development board on Pinterest!


How To Be More Positive: 5 Mindset Techniques

How To Be More Positive: 5 Mindset Techniques
How To Be More Positive: 5 Mindset Techniques

Filed Under: Mindset, Self Work Tagged With: be more positive, positive mindset, positivity

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Hey there Goalgetter! I’m Jenn – Bestselling Author | Spiritual Life & Business Coach | Creator of The Aligned Life and I teach you how to mind hack your way to your manifestation dreams!

 

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You're never lost, my darling!And things have ne You're never lost, my darling!And things have never gone wrong.Even when things don't LOOK the way you want them to, always remember:There is magic in this moment--and EVERY moment.So lock it in & double tap to AFFIRM it:I trust that I am right where I am mean to be! ✨✨
Right now, your SOUL is calling for your magic.S Right now, your SOUL is calling for your magic.So are you ready to answer the call?I know life doesn't seem so magical at times.And I also know that when you're down or feeling defeated it's REALLY EASY to forget one simple thing.The magic is IN you.And it always has been!Every time we tell ourselves that we're not strong enoughOr good enough or smart enoughOr that we need someone or something ELSE to swoop in and "fix" usWe're opting out of using OUR power.But none of that stuff means that you AREN'T magic.It simply means that you've FORGOTTEN and fallen out of touch.But every day brings us a new opportunity to connect with our TRUTH.So what are YOU going to do with your magic today?How can YOU decide to change your life for the better, even if only by the tiniest degree?If you feel like sharing, drop me a comment below!And if you need a little help unlocking your magic, then reach out! I'm looking for a few special souls who are ready to undo their old ways of being so they can BLOSSOM into their dream life. Is that you? Send me a DM to learn more!
The present creates the past.Or, in other words, The present creates the past.Or, in other words, your STORY about the who, the what, the why IS the only thing that matters.Mindset work won't change the facts of course.It's not going to go back in time to change things or make other people suddenly see the light.(Damnit!)But it can change the person you BECAME because of what happened.Sometimes we close ourselves off to our own miracles because we're clinging so hard to those old stories.When we think that because the past is set in stone, our stories have to stay the same too.I get it though! I used to be SHOCKINGLY ATTACHED to my sob story, firmly stuck in victim mode.All the time DREAMING about where I wanted to go--and confused as to why I wasn't there yet.Fortunately (after a lot of STRUGGLE) I opened my mind to change, massive shifts and MIRACLES.That's why I can tell you that getting stuck in wishing things were different cuts us off from both our power in the present and our ability to process.So know this my beautiful soul: the only liberation we need is our own.When you get brave enough to finally DO that, your whole world really will change.(& PS if you need a little help creating your own miracle, I have a few coaching spots open! Wanna learn more about how to apply this powerful work to your life? Send me a DM & let's chat!)
And now for a quick message from your Higher Self: And now for a quick message from your Higher Self:Love yourself enough to LET IT GOBreathe deep & have a happy Sunday my beautiful babes!
You are magic itself.And your desires have meani You are magic itself.And your desires have meaning for the WORLD.So if you really KNEW that you were here to feel happy and do the things that bring you joy, what would you be doing differently?If you’re like me, it’s too easy to forget our true divine nature.It’s too easy to believe our worries and limitations more than we trust ourselves and this beautiful journey.But if you could trust your magic for just a moment, what would change?If you knew your dreams where a matter of WHEN not if, how would this moment be different?All the magic you ever needed is IN you already. All you need to do right now is TUNE into it!
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with love + miracles ✨
~ Jenn

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