Years ago I was stuck in a rut.My mindset was very negative.Bad things happen to me.Bad things happen to those I love.There is nothing I can do to control my circumstances.I am a victim.I think I was suffering from what somebody had described as the ‘snowball effect’.One bad thing after another had happened and before I knew it, I was a runaway snowball tumbling down the hill, gaining negative mass, waiting for the inevitable crash and self-implosion.
I was millimetres from impact and then along came Oprah…
OK, I’m not saying I was really depressed and Oprah saved me.I’m saying, I just happened to turn on the TV and it just happened to be Oprah.She was discussing a book, a book which she claimed (or at least the people she was interviewing claimed) would change your life.The book was The Secret*.
[*This post contains affiliate links. You can find out more here.]
I was a pretty sceptical person, I didn’t believe in new-age thinking.I felt your lot was your lot and there was nothing you could do to change that.But there was just something about what they were saying drawing me to it.Before I knew it, I had ordered the book.
The book that introduced me to the world of positivity
If I’m being honest, I felt a bit silly reading it…
The whole ethos of the book went against the grain.So I kept my ownership of The Secret a secret.I read the entire book within about 2 days, which is a record for me.By the end I understood the message clearly – your thoughts and your feelings create your world.Take control of these and you take back control of your circumstances.Despite the fear of judgement, I felt there really was no harm in just giving it a go.I started to practice what they were ‘preaching’ and for me, it worked.
My life – or at the very least my mindset – changed for the better…
Rather than thinking ‘bad things happen to me’ I shifted to ‘good things happen to me’.Instead of focusing on all the things that had gone wrong, I started looking at what was going right.I approached life with optimism and hope.Yes, I had to have some serious pep talks with myself when my lifelong companion – pessimism – crept in, but on the whole, I felt more in control.
Some people feel this whole law of attraction/positive thought business is a load of nonsense.I’ve been challenged quite a lot on it. ‘If you can positively think your way into having anything you want – why don’t you buy a lottery ticket and win the lottery?’ Quite simply, it just doesn’t work that way. What you attract, really depends on your motivation.
That motivation for me is allowing myself to be happy…
To know that I deserve and can have good things happen to me.To choose to be the victor rather than the victim of my own story.
For some people, positivity comes naturally.I’m not one of those people.Positivity is a conscious choice for me.And I’ll keep on choosing it as I’ve found the benefits outstrip the effort.
Positivity changes barriers into obstacles to be overcome…
Focus shifts from defeat to solutions and goal achievement.Having this faith you can do something pushes you on.Your perception alters and your own self-imposed limitations are removed, freeing you to make things happen.You suddenly become more in-tune with the world, spotting more opportunities and attracting the right people to you.Your energy rises and your attitude switches from can’t into can. At least that’s what choosing positivity has done for me.
All those years ago, without even realising it, I made a positive choice. I ordered a book…
I didn’t know at the time whether it would help or not but I unconsciously made the positive decision that I wanted help to make my life better.I was choosing to be happier.
The Secret* made me challenge long-held negative beliefs about my world and my worth. It provided the key to unlock the life I always wanted through thinking positively.Whatever brings that positivity to you, be it a book, your religion, your family or the old lady you met on the number 42 bus last week, be open to it.Harness positive energy from whatever source, let it grow and flourish within you.Let it bring to you all that is good, and in times that are beyond your control,allow it to be there as your weapon of strength and hope.
Want to bring even more positivity into your life? Read:
Have you read The Secret? Are you an active practitioner of the Law of Attraction? Or do you not believe in it? What are your thoughts on positive thinking in general? Is this something you have to make a point of doing or are you just a naturally positive person? Or do you believe there aren’t any real benefits to thinking positively? Whatever your point of view on thinking positively is, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch by leaving a comment in the box below.
Yes, finding positive things out of something negative, definitely helps greatly.
Positivity does not come natural to me, but I have been working on this for over a year now, changing my mind set from what I had before and I do feel the benefits.
It helps to feel that you are not stuck in a rut, by doing it.
I am such a negative person, I also have had to figure my way around my negativity, it took a big shock to my system to do this. Now if I’m being really negative I try and stop for five, and think about all the amazing things that have happens to me. Enjoyed reading this xxx
I’m so pleased you enjoyed reading this and thank you for sharing your experience. I’m the same, negativity was my natural go to – but like you I pause and think about all the things to be grateful for – it takes practice and it certainly gets easier xxx
Love this, Alex. It’s one of life’s ‘lifelong learning lessons’ that thinking about the good stuff we have really makes a difference, not only to mental health, but to our whole outlook. Thanks for this. I often think about the phrase ‘count your blessings’ in relation to my circumstances when I feel a bit hard done by, or low.
Alex, like you, I 100% believe in the power of positivity, and recently, had the best reminder that its the way we should live. Id been in a slump, feeling a little run down with stress, and my meditation routine had slipped. A week of focusing my meditation on positive thoughts and intentions, and boom! the best opportunity I have ever had through my blog dropped into my inbox, and I won a three course lunch in London for me and my husband. It works. Positive thinking is always the right way to be! xxx
Yes, finding positive things out of something negative, definitely helps greatly.
Positivity does not come natural to me, but I have been working on this for over a year now, changing my mind set from what I had before and I do feel the benefits.
It helps to feel that you are not stuck in a rut, by doing it.
I’m so pleased you’ve felt the benefits too Liz!
I am such a negative person, I also have had to figure my way around my negativity, it took a big shock to my system to do this. Now if I’m being really negative I try and stop for five, and think about all the amazing things that have happens to me. Enjoyed reading this xxx
I’m so pleased you enjoyed reading this and thank you for sharing your experience. I’m the same, negativity was my natural go to – but like you I pause and think about all the things to be grateful for – it takes practice and it certainly gets easier xxx
Love this, Alex. It’s one of life’s ‘lifelong learning lessons’ that thinking about the good stuff we have really makes a difference, not only to mental health, but to our whole outlook. Thanks for this. I often think about the phrase ‘count your blessings’ in relation to my circumstances when I feel a bit hard done by, or low.
Thanks Rachel and positivity extends not only to what you currently have but also to what you would like to have too.
Alex, like you, I 100% believe in the power of positivity, and recently, had the best reminder that its the way we should live. Id been in a slump, feeling a little run down with stress, and my meditation routine had slipped. A week of focusing my meditation on positive thoughts and intentions, and boom! the best opportunity I have ever had through my blog dropped into my inbox, and I won a three course lunch in London for me and my husband. It works. Positive thinking is always the right way to be! xxx
That is amazing Kerry! I’m so pleased to hear you’ve had such good news – and well deserved! Enjoy it all! Xx
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