Positive thinking is a great way to feel confident, excited, and happy. Taking on each day with a positive attitude has a powerful effect on mental health. Anxiety, depression, stress, and other psychological challenges all benefit from discovering a new and more positive attitude towards daily life.

Obtaining that positive attitude can be a challenge. Attitudes are formed through years of experiences. That is why learning to reframe the mind to think more positively requires several lifestyle changes and a commitment to creating this new mindset.

Tips to Think More Positively

Becoming a positive thinker does not happen overnight. It takes a lot of dedication and time. There are many strategies that can be effective, and we can talk about them in our therapy sessions. Some of the ideas that you can take home with you include.

• Fake Positivity – Negativity is fueled by negative habits. Breaking those habits can be advantageous for creating a positive energy. That’s why faking positivity can be so effective. For example, if you walk into a coffee shop in Kansas City and the barista asks you how your day is going, instead of saying “fine” you say “I’m great, how are you?” with a smile. These little changes break some of the habits that create negativity.
• Keep a Positivity Journal – It’s easy to reflect on the negative thinks that happened during the day. That’s why it is sometimes a helpful exercise to have a journal where you push yourself to think of all of the great things that happened during the day, every day. Diaries and journals are often venting spaces, but a positivity journal becomes a daily reminder of all the good that you experience. Over time, you’ll start to notice the good things more so that you can put them in the journal.
• Generate Closer Friendships with Positive People – Deep, fulfilling friendships with positive people can be great for becoming a more positive person yourself. Positivity is contagious, and great friendships have a tendency to lift people up as well.

As a Kansas City psychologist, I know that it can be hard to imagine becoming a more positive thinker if you’ve been struggling with it. That’s why I try to work on some of the roadblocks that get in the way. For more information about positive thinking and mental health treatments in Kansas City, MO, call me today at 858-224-3767.