Jessica Bowser Nelson Fitness

To Think Positive or Not to Think Positive

THAT is the Question

You hear “think positive”, “be positive”, “the glass is half full not half empty” stuff so much that it feels as if it’s almost become a cliché. Right? Blah, blah, blah. That’s how I used to feel. I was born and bred to be a negative, analytical, cynical thinker. I took pride in it, actually. I figured if I expected little and doubted everything, then when good things happened, I would be delighted. But, on the counterpart, when bad things happened, I wasn’t surprised and thereby, wasn’t disappointed. I wouldn’t suffer defeat, heartbreak or discouragement because I had no expectations. Technically, I couldn’t be let down. Ingenious, I thought! 🙂

The Truth Hurts

While in theory my plan seemed great, I was SORELY mistaken. I wasn’t really avoiding disappointment, but, rather, I was guaranteeing that I would miss out on life! I was literally putting myself into a safe, boring, lonely box. I had no heartache, but I also had no adventure or risk or reward or opportunity to, not only, dream big but to see those dreams fulfilled! What kind of life is that? I didn’t want to live in that box, but I had built it! It was ME! I chose that! One day, a light bulb went off. I expected negative things. Most of the time, I GOT negative things. But, WHAT IF YOU GET WHAT YOU EXPECT OUT OF LIFE? What if it’s true? What if there really was something to the whole positive attitude stuff? I was really screwing up here. I figured it was time to give it a shot. The truth would set me free!

I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!

It’s not easy re-training a negative brain. Geesh! I still struggle at times, but once I decided to focus on positive thoughts and outcomes and winning and believing and overcoming and dreaming and living and making the impossible possible, my world began to change. I became the little engine that could. The more I decided to think positive, the more noticeable differences I could see in my life. But, the best part was that even when things didn’t go my way, I was less affected than I had anticipated. Before I built walls around myself to keep out the disappointment. But, now, since I was focused on dreaming big and being the best me and positivity, I didn’t need the walls. The disappointments or failures still existed, but now I recognized them as part of the journey, as stepping stones. I learned from them and it made me stronger and wiser. I will always be a work in progress, but I WILL be shooting for the stars, dreaming the impossible possible and doing my best to influence those around me along the way. Dang…I’m so glad I didn’t stay in that box.

I Know I Can!

In order to think positive, you have to flood that brain of yours with goodness. What goes in is what will come out. My recommendation is to read or listen to personal development. Infiltrate your brain with authors such as Jim Rohn, John Maxwell, Darren Hardy, Brian Tracy, etc. Your viewpoint, your attitude and your world WILL change!

I leave you now with the words of the late, great Zig Ziglar:

“The most influential person who will talk to you all day, is you. So, you should be very careful what you say to you.”

P.S. You can do it! Don’t let the negative creep in! Think positive!