how to turn a negative into a positive

(  ♥)

 

Today's post was written by Diana Raab, author of eight books, including Healing with Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey, which came out this year. After 25 years as a medical and self-help writer, she’s directed her creative energy towards nonfiction and memoir writing and today she's written a wonderful post about how you can turn a negative in your life into a positive. As a two-time cancer survivor, Diana knows a thing or two about battling the negative and I'm pleased to say that her advice is spot-on for helping anyone transform what's negative into positive. 

 

My father taught me to always look at the glass half full rather than half empty. This really helped shape me into an optimistic person. I am a two-time cancer survivor and the key to my survival and ongoing good health is my ability to turn a negative into a positive. Instead of allowing this situation to tear me down, I allowed it to rivet me and make me stronger.

Whether it’s cancer, a stressful job, money woes, family or social pressures, turning negatives into positives is the best way to take control of your health. Doing this can help you lead a life with less worry. For me, journaling has helped me survive difficult times. I have had a passion for journaling since the age of ten when my mother gave me a journal to help me cope with the death of my grandmother. The art of journal-keeping can help you make sense of your predicaments and it also helps to dispel the negative energy which might be harbored inside of you.

Another way to turn negatives into positives is to incorporate deep breathing and yoga into your life. Taking deep breaths using your diaphragm will help calm you down so that you can work through your problems with more vitality and focus. My cousin has a mantra which I truly believe in: “From all bad comes good.” In other words there are positive lessons to be learned from the challenging things that happen in our lives.

 

We are all deeply affected by those who surround us—both their aura and allure affects our own feelings and behavior. Those who are negative not only drain our energy but their negativity can easily rub off on us. That’s why it is  important to surround yourself with those who think positively, especially if you have a tendency to be overwhelmed by negative thoughts. Remember that how we think and what we are thinking affects how we feel. As Louise L. Hay wrote in her book, The Power is Within You, “The thoughts we choose to think are the tools we use to paint the canvas of our lives.” A mere negative thought can trigger a memory, light up an old wound, and send a person down a negative spiral of low self-esteem.

 

If you find that you are overwhelmed with negative thoughts try to stop that flow by replacing each negative thought with a positive one. Another idea is to visit YouBliss. It’s all about sharing positive thoughts. Anyone can create and add content and also send stories to others. It’s a site that will cheer you up. Just yesterday I added a post that said, “Live every moment as if it were your last.” In summary, here are some tips to turn negatives into positives:

How To Turn Negatives Into Positives

 Avoid ultimatums

 

Think through obstacles

 

Speak positively

 

Reach out to those who think positively

 

Focus on what you are good at

 

Force or encourage yourself to smile and/or laugh

 

Engage in activities that decrease stress

 

Journal positive thoughts

 

Practice deep breathing and yoga

 

Replace a negative thought with a positive one

 

Diana Raab, author of this post, reminds us that: "The most important thing is commit to yourself to thinking positive. Eventually, with practice, it will happen!" And I couldn't agree with her more. She is an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled with negativity and she is a true example of how someone -- no matter how hard things get -- can truly look at the world through a positive lens. Want to learn more about the inspiration that is Diana Raab? Check her out online on her website, her blog, her Facebook page, or her Twitter page. 

Comments

[Marthe]

I've always been thinking negatively. I guess it was a habit I learned from my parents.

But I'm on the right track, trying to change the way I think. It's a slow turn, but it's already working. I feel happier than ever.

Thank you for this post, I need small reminders that I'm doing the right thing and keeping the change fresh in my mind.

[HappinessandWisdom]

We've found it very helpful to think in neutral terms. Positive and negative are simply labels. Without labels, an event is, what it is. Then, choice kicks-in -- is this something we enjoy, don;t enjoy, want to do, don't want to do, etc. This has been very freeing for us.

[positively present]

Marthe - I used to think negatively too and it did me absolutely no good. As you know, it's very, very hard to change the way you think (especially when it's been engrained in you for a long time!), but it's possible and it's amazing when you make the choice to be positive. I'm glad this post helped to remind you that you're on the right track. It did the same for me!

H&W - I agree that neutral terms are one of the best ways to combat internal struggles of the mind. When we label things (as so many of us do), we limit ourselves. I like the idea of thinking of things in a neutral way and then choosing how to react to them from an less biased perspective. Great point!

[Nic's Notebook]

Oh my goodness, I am so glad I came across this site! I have struggled with depression for many years caused mainly, I think, by my negative thinking and low self-esteem. I am a big fan of Louise Hay I have several of her audios. I am going to subscribe to your blog now as I need it in my life!!! x

[positively present]

Nic - So glad you found Positively Present too! Like you, I was in a pretty bad spot when I started the blog and I've come a long way since then, mostly as a result of thinking positively. Thanks for subscribing. I hope my content continues to inspire you!