“Positivity isn’t about rose-colored glasses. It’s about having inner support in any storm.”
Positive thinking is not naivety. It’s a way to see reality more broadly, find resources in difficulties, and support yourself when things are tough. And it’s not innate — it can be developed.
1. Start with the question, “What’s good?”
“What good happened today, even if the day was hard?”
Positive thinking begins with the skill of noticing:
- small pleasures,
- kind words,
- moments of silence, comfort, and success.
Practice: Every evening, write down 3 good things from your day. The brain gets used to seeing not only “what’s wrong” but also what is already good.
2. Replace self-criticism with kindness to yourself
“I didn’t manage.” → “I’m trying. That already matters.”
Stop talking to yourself like an enemy.
The inner critic doesn’t make you better — it makes you more anxious.
Try:
- talking to yourself like a friend;
- using phrases like:
- “I have the right to make mistakes.”
- “I’m learning. I don’t have to be perfect.”
3. Set up information hygiene
“What you feed your mind affects your soul.”
If you constantly read negative news, hang out in toxic chats, and compare yourself to glossy images, it’s hard to stay energized.
What helps:
- limit news consumption;
- unsubscribe from accounts that make you feel guilty or anxious;
- follow those that inspire, expand, and support you.
4. Develop gratitude — the most powerful mind practice
“Thank you” is not just a word. It’s a focus of attention.
Practice:
- write daily what you are grateful for (at least 3 things);
- or say it aloud — for coffee, a warm blanket, laughter with a friend.
It’s not magic. It’s retraining the brain to notice the good.
5. Stop demanding “always positive” from yourself
“Positive thinking is not about ignoring pain. It’s about being able to hold the light even in darkness.”
Allow yourself to feel everything:
- sadness,
- anger,
- fear,
- apathy.
And at the same time, find meaning, movement, and resources. This is mature positivity: not an illusion, but inner flexibility.
6. Learn to notice how you interpret events
The same fact can be perceived as “I’m a failure” or “I’m learning.”
Example:
“They didn’t reply to me.” → “They are ignoring me.”
You can replace it with:
“Maybe the person is busy; it’s not about me.”
Working with thinking is working with interpretation, not reality.
7. Surround yourself with support and “real” people
Positive thinking grows where there is warmth and acceptance.
Find:
- those who enjoy life;
- those who don’t shame mistakes;
- those who can sincerely say, “You can do it.”
Positivity is contagious, just like negativity. But the first gives strength.
In conclusion:
Positive thinking is not about avoiding pain. It’s about the power to see more than just pain. You don’t have to be upbeat all the time. But you can train your thinking to support you, instead of sinking into anxiety.