How
Positive Thinking Really Can Change Your Life
Ever notice that when you're feeling crappy, the whole world seems hostile and unfair?
("That guy totally cut me off! Screw him!") But when you're in a good
mood, the whole world appears friendly and wonderful, and nothing can bring you
down? ("Sure, go ahead, you must be in a hurry!")
Here's the truth: The world is no different
on those days. You are different.
It all comes down to something called the Law
of Attraction, a theory popularized by Rhonda Byrne's 2006 book The Secret (and,
well, Oprah). Basically, it says: "What we think about, we bring about."
It’s the idea that we can attract anything we want into our lives by
visualizing our desired results, using affirmations, expecting good things to
happen, being appreciative, and taking inspired action.
If you're seeing visions of Tarot cards,
healing crystals, and incense, bear with me! I'll admit that this
"law" may sound New Age-y and mystical, but there are actually
specific, concrete steps we can take in order to bring positive results into our
lives. Consider this the practical guide to The Law of Attraction.
How You Think Determines How You Feel
The most critical thing to understand is that your
thoughts matter. Your thoughts create your feelings, your feelings create
your actions, and your actions create your life. They're all interconnected, no
exceptions.
Your thoughts create your feelings, your feelings create your actions,
and your actions create your life.
Think about this way: If you're an athlete
running onto the field or a corporate professional about to present to a team
of people, which thoughts do you imagine will produce a better outcome?
"I'm not ready for this! I just want to get this over with!" Or:
"I've been preparing for this, and my moment to shine is here. Bring it!"
The No. 1 thing you can do: Focus on thoughts
that make you feel empowered, confident, and capable. How you think in any
moment determines how you feel and act in any situation—on a first date, in a
job interview, or when you take on any new challenge. Follow these six tips to
start activating the right thoughts, right now.
6 Steps to Attract What You Want
1. Clarify your desires.
It doesn't need to be January 1 to write down
your goals. You can
start today. Ask yourself: By this time next year, what would you have liked to
achieve? Find one hour and some peace and quiet, and have fun with this
exercise. Your goal could be "earn 20 percent more," "visit a
country I've never been to," or "start my food blog and reach 1,000
followers." The more specific you can be, the better. Review these goals
often and see how they cause an immediate shift in how you feel. Allow this to
propel you forward to action.
2. Cultivate an "attitude of gratitude."
Next time you can't sleep, have to wait in a
long line, or find your mind wandering toward thoughts about your ex or unfair
boss, use that as a trigger to create a mental list of things you're thankful for—include the little things! See if
you can get to 100. Yes, 100!
Some of my recent gratitude nuggets include
an unexpected text from an old friend, skinny margaritas, a really committed
new client, thrift shopping, inspirational podcasts, funny things my nephews
say, the Whole Foods pizza bar, fall fashion to look forward to, having only a
one-minute wait for the subway, and my husband's never-failing sense of humor.
Even writing them down now gives me a boost!
Gratitude unlocks our positive vibes through the
improved filter it gives us on the world. This filter allows us to see how good
things really are and opens up our mind to possibility. Trust me—if you want to
be happier, this will be way more useful than wasting time thinking about
people who don’t deserve your precious energy.
3. Observe your self-talk.
How you talk
to yourself is important because you are
the one listening. The mistake a lot of us make is that we focus on what we don't want.
Instead of saying, "I'm tired of being sick," say, "I'm glad to
feel better each day." Rather than dwell on your crappy salary, say,
"I am open to new opportunities to make money." Notice how they feel
different? If you do this consistently, you'll attract different results too.
Create five new statements that make sense
for you. If you're going through a rough breakup, it might be, "I love myself.
I approve of myself." If you're struggling to lose weight, try "I
love my healthy body and I treat it that way. I feel good about myself."
If you are struggling with your job, repeat, "New work opportunities are
on the way."
These become your affirmations. Repeat them every morning. Save them as random alarms on your phone to
appear throughout the day. Say them just as you are falling asleep at night.
4. Focus on the good.
Annoyed with your S.O.? Rather than dwell on
how they're always late or grumpy in the mornings, think about what they do
well. Do they get along with your parents or cook an amazing Sunday brunch?
Focus on those qualities instead.
Instead of feeling irritated by your boss's micromanaging, remember he's cool with you working from home or how he gave you
increased responsibilities this year. When you focus on the good, you welcome more good.
Try focusing on only the positive and be vocal about it for 24 hours. See how
people respond!
5. Visualize your dreams.
Dying to visit Croatia? Get stronger through
a new workout? Fall in love by the end of the year? With Pinterest at your disposal, you can create a virtual vision board (in minutes!) of images that motivate and inspire you. Allow yourself to
feel moved by the images and be open to including ones that stir some
unexpected interest in you.
I host vision board events where people are
often surprised by what comes up for them. (One woman, newly married, said,
"This is going to be a baby board!" To the contrary, she left with a
vision board filled with images of Morocco, Asia, bustling markets, and
exotic-looking islands. She wanted to travel and explore, not to settle down as
a mom just yet.)
Images enable us to activate our true
longings, not what we think we "should want." In this respect it can
also help you pinpoint your goals. Remember to look at your vision board often
and add to it. As with your goals, let the images remind you about what matters
to you and to fuel your energy and passion for making it happen.
6. Get busy!
All of the above should lead you to a place
of inspiration—the "real" you that's guided by your intuition (not by
external influences or incessant mental chatter). When you're clear about your
desires, talk to yourself in an empowering way, focus on what's working in your
life, and visualize what you want, you can't help but feel moved to take
action. And that's the final step in achieving what you desire.
Make a commitment to take one action every single day that will drive
you towards your goals and vision. By this time next year, you’ll be amazed how
those 365 actions add up.
You'll send an email to that person you'd
love to work for. You’ll think of new ways to meet prospective dates. You'll
research chefs who inspire you to start your blog. You'll notice a new barre
studio near your apartment that you hadn't seen before. Make a commitment to
take one action every single day that will drive you towards your goals and
vision. By this time next year, you'll be amazed how those 365 actions add up.
The Takeaway
The world does not change, you change. Only
you can allow the flow of opportunity into your life. Only you can remove the
negative blocks in your mind that prevent you from getting what you want. It's
all up to you, my friend. That is the real, awesome, beautiful secret!
https://greatist.com/connect/law-of-attraction?utm_source=CM&utm_medium=email&utm_content=story5_title&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter_2017-06-21_testB_20160817
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