If like me you face mental health challenges in your life, you may find that it is possible to fall into negative thinking patterns and that this can have a detrimental impact on general wellbeing.
It seems to me that so much about psychiatry is geared to problems and difficulties, and the positive aspects of one’s existence can perhaps not always be highlighted as much as they might be by those who have diagnosed us.
But what if individually we decide to think positively in many or all situations?
One thing that I have found during lockdown is that the more positive thoughts I have during each day, the better I feel, and the more able I am to deal with issues as they arise. In my case, thinking positively has been quite hard work as I tend to have quite a negative internal thinking style, but I have seen quick results from these efforts.
I thought I would therefore share some of the ways of approaching positive thinking that I have tried in case anyone finds these are worth trying too.
Little things make a difference
One thing I have found with so many restrictions in place is that thinking about anything positive that has happened, no matter how small, can make a difference.
So when I go for a walk, I make a mental note of anything that made me feel a bit better, such as someone saying good morning, a friendly dog coming up to me, or pretty blossom on a tree.
Then, when I get home, I meditate about those things for a few minutes. This helps to keep the feeling of calmness and wellbeing, and I repeat this later on in the day as well.
Positive aspects of things one doesn’t like
If there are aspects of my week I don’t particularly like, like a particular regular meeting that I find difficult, I try to focus on the feeling I get when it is over and has gone well. This can help me in the runup to any event like this. I find visualisation of that moment of completion works best for me if I am feeling anxious about something coming up.
Making use of past positive memories and experiences
If I can’t think of anything particularly positive in the present, I use my memory to remember positive things from my past. This could be an enjoyable event or family occasion, a nice walk I used to do, or an activity I did well. I find visualising such things can take me to another time and place and I feel better as a result.
Something one no longer worries about
If there is something I used to worry about but no longer do, I sometimes give myself a proverbial pat on the back for overcoming this worry. This can give me a sense of things having moved forward in my life in a positive way.
Appreciating a friend’s or a family member’s life
If I am finding it difficult to focus on something positive in my own life at the moment, I find that thinking about something positive in the life of someone I know personally and care about can help me to feel better too.
Overall, I find if I am able to spend some time during the day doing any of the above, even if only for a minute or two, I feel better. I find I may still get some thoughts about difficulties at other times, but they don’t trouble me nearly as much.
Hoping you find some of the above of use.