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There are times throughout life when stress causes people to feel overwhelmed and incapable of overcoming the challenges presented. It is normal to experience these feelings at different times; however, adopting an attitude of “I can't” rather than “I can” may become an ongoing problem that starts to influence every facet of your livelihood. Soon your motivation and your productivity diminish until you only have negative thoughts and behaviors. When this happens, it is a clear sign that it is time to turn things around. To do this will take the help of positivity. Shifting your outlook from negative to positive helps you begin to see the greater possibilities in your life. However, you might be wondering how you can generate some positive momentum.
Exercise Gratefulness
You can begin to influence positivity in your life by taking the time to look around you and appreciate what you have. Things to appreciate can include the bed you wake up in, the house or apartment you live in, or the people you have in your life. Whatever it is, it is essential never to forget how far you have come. Take the time to write out five things that you are grateful for in your life. Doing this will help your mind focus on your life's positive aspects and, therefore, motivate you to continue positive momentum throughout your day.
Each new day offers new possibilities. Therefore, beginning each day by saying that “today will be great” is also an effective way to shift your mind toward a positive outlook. It can start with brewing coffee and taking time each morning to lay out the day's goals. Such a practice helps you ease into the day and create structure. Moving at a careful pace will not only allow you to focus and clarify what you want to accomplish but will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.
Identify Negative Thoughts
Sometimes you may not realize how many negative thoughts are moving around your brain. Negative thoughts influence your perceptions and therefore become actions. When this happens, it is time to address your negative thinking patterns. Using meditation and mindfulness to sit with your thoughts helps you identify your negative thoughts and habits.
When you can locate your negative thoughts, you can understand how they affect you emotionally when making decisions. When you can understand the two and their relationship, you can then challenge your negative thought patterns and replace each thought with something positive. For example, you might list all of your negative thoughts; then, you can look at that thought and situation using a positive perspective.
Set Your Priorities
Most people start becoming burned out when they take on too much work. Work overload is the cause of much undue stress. Instead of feeling stuck or overwhelmed by the workload, try to create a schedule for everything you need to do and prioritize. Concentrate on the higher priority tasks first, including work responsibilities, parenting responsibilities, and self-care. Buying a planner may help with setting your priorities. This way, you can physically see what you need to do and the most important thing to get done in your day. Implementing time for you in your busy day is essential in maintaining peace and a positive attitude.
You can also help reinforce your priorities by setting goals. Setting goals helps with self-motivation and accountability. Remember to be reasonable about your workload and your expectations. When you can move at a pace you can handle, not only do you build self-confidence in being able to achieve these goals, but eventually, you will be able to take on more work. It is essential to start small; a goal can be to wake up and make the bed. These small achievements help move you through the day with a more positive attitude.
Maintain Support
It is important to remember that you are never alone. Reaching out to friends, family, and peers from support encourages you to speak your feelings in a safe and comfortable environment. Your support system can help alleviate and even motivate you to transition into a positive mindset. Sometimes understanding that others are also dealing with stress and sometimes feel overwhelmed can help you know that your situation is not unique. You might also work with a friend or peer to hold each other accountable to work through your challenges and achieve a positive mindset.
Remember, while negativity is powerful in preventing you from excelling, positivity is just as powerful in helping you elevate your life to its highest potential. If you have been living in negative thinking patterns that are holding you back and harm the quality of your life, it may be time to seek help. At START UP Recovery, our focus is on provoking transformation from within so that you can act to realize your ambitions and goals thoroughly. We deliver leading-edge entrepreneurial resources in a safe and structured luxury recovery environment designed to transform lives, starting with rebuilding one's relationship with self. Success begins with managing mental and physical health, which is why START UP Recovery is a great place to begin your journey to success. With a staff of diverse and motivated professionals, you can be confident that you will be getting the best opportunity to take back your health and career. The journey to success begins with taking the first step. To learn more, reach out to us at START UP Recovery today by calling (310) 773-3809.