Positivity

Throughout the day your conscious and unconscious minds take in all forms of information and sensory perception. Your minds not only process all of this information but also reacts to this stimuli, whether it is right, wrong, sometimes inappropriate or at other times seemingly indifferent.

The simple mantra of IOEA (Inhale, Observe your breath, Exhale, Awareness of your thoughts) applied as you breathe can help you moderate your reactions and allow you to choose how you will respond in life. As you Inhale, simply take the moment to Observe your breath. Do not try to overcomplicate things, as this simple act of Inhaling and Observing will allow you to pause any seemingly unconscious reaction. Then as you Exhale, take the moment to apply some Awareness to your thoughts and thinking. You may find for more difficult situations that you will need to repeat the cycle of IOEA a few times so that your unconscious thoughts or reactions do not see the light of day. Instead, with awareness, you may choose to respond differently rather than reacting.

Many times in life, we are distracted by things that upset us, cause worry or tension. If you were to closely examine your life, you would find many aspects appear to be out of your control. However, many people continue to try to change these seemingly immovable things in life.

 

To bring about some true and meaningful change, focus your intentions on the things in life which you can change, rather than dwelling on what apparently is out of your control.

Have you developed a pattern of tuning to the negative? There is a strong correlation between being optimistic and being physically well. Typically, people who express positive emotions are at a reduced risk of becoming ill. Feeling happy is linked with better general health and longer life.

Positive psychology encompasses a variety of techniques that focus on: developing positive thoughts, positive emotions, developing positive experiences. It also works at a deeper level on improving our positive character traits, such as loyalty, humility and integrity. Positive psychology does not discount that there are negatives that impact our lives. Instead, positive psychology aims to look at the situation to better understand human experiences and determine how to best foster positivity and good thinking.

How often do you scroll through Instagram or your Facebook feed, looking at the picturesque snippets of other peoples lives? You may flick through glossy magazines and view TV, wondering how the other people get to have the perfect body, fantastic homes or seemingly enviable lives. Increasingly it is becoming easy to be swamped in your insecurities, fears, wants or desires as you compare your life to the world of others.

Take the time to become your own life influencer as you expouse the thought that “I am enough”. Building this thought within you can give you a sense of calm and happiness allowing you to change the direction of your life for the better. Take the opportunity to make it into a mantra, which you repeat every morning or even throughout the day, until it sinks in and your mind accepts it. As you allow this positive aspect to build within your life, you will begin to discover that many things are your own source of happiness. With ongoing positive reinforcement as your own influencer, you can begin to experience that “I am enough, I have enough, I have always been enough and I always will be enough.”

When you find yourself in an unpleasant mood, consider that you cannot be open to new ideas, regardless of just how fantastic they are.  Without some joy in your heart, life can seem slow and often uninteresting. On the other hand, when you are happy, joyful or in a positive frame of mind, your heart, as well as your mind, are open to brand-new things.  Even thing which may have seemed normal holds a greater significance as you enjoy every moment that life had to offer.

At the most basic, gratitude is something almost everyone has experienced, and have recognised the warmth of good things which can take place in their lives. While basic gratitude is a collection of ever-changing and fleeting feelings, the deeper aspect of gratitude is based on action, not merely experienced but expressed. This kind of gratitude is practised not just because it feels good, but because it is the appropriate thing to do; not just for one’s own good, but for the good of others or society. Such gratitude outdistances the domain of simple emotions and instead develops as a mindset, a stance, and a philosophy.

This practice of gratitude brings forth a myriad of tangible benefits to the mind and body. Research has revealed that practising gratitude improves the body’s immune system, boosts resilience to stress and anxiety, reduces depression, helps to improves one’s energies, and even aids you to sleep much better. The reasons to purposely practice this deeper form of gratitude, radiates over and above these corporeal effects, to those that embrace your inner self.

Breathing consciously is an effective means to completely transform energy and to anchor your mind in troubled times. When you find yourself in the midst of a reaction, you might have noticed how your breathing becomes rapid and shallow, your throat becomes tight, and you may even feel a pulsating sensation in your head or solar plexus. Your face may become hot and your chest might begin to tighten up. Conversely, when you are calm, feeling peaceful or happy, you typically breathe effortlessly.

The next time when you experience an adverse reaction to anything in life, do your utmost to apply some conscious breathing. By engaging your mind to bring focus to your breathing for a few minutes, you can begin to moderate your reactions. Then as you begin to take deeper and more rhythmical breaths, they can help you to find an anchor for your calmness. Allow this anchor to grab hold and steady your emotions as you continue to breathe consciously.

It is commonly stated that life teaches us through our mistakes. When you slip up, simply ask yourself what you were destined to learn, as opposed to searching for justifications or to find others to blame. We grow more from our mistakes, errors or blunders when we recognise and accept such lessons with humility and grace.