Practicing optimistic thinking enables individuals to concentrate on their strengths as well as focus on accomplishments that enhance happiness and motivation. The following 10 tips for having a positive mindset offer useful suggestions which you can use to assist you to shift into better thinking patterns.

1. Take Proper Care of Yourself
It is easier to stay positive while you are feeling strong, doing exercises, and getting adequate rest. Your body is functioning at an optimum level free of pain, stress, and illness that can distract you. Self-image has a tremendous impact on your mindset.

2. Recall the Things You’re Grateful For
Taking time each day to stop and enjoy the good things in life can make a big difference. As you go through the garden, don’t hesitate to rest and smell the roses. Setbacks and challenges do not appear quite as bad whenever you are continually recalling the things which are positive in your life. Things are never as bad as they appear to be.

3. Search for the Proof Rather than Making Assumptions
In case you have a concern that a friend or family member's poor mindset is because of something you have done, or that your fellow workers are privately gossiping about you behind your back, do not hesitate to ask them. Do not waste your time wondering if you did something wrong until you have evidence that there is reason to be concerned.

4. Avoid Making use of Absolutes
Speaking and thinking in absolutes such as 'always' ( for example, You're ALWAYS late ) and also 'never' (for example, I NEVER do anything right) makes the situation appear even worse than it is, and forces your brain to believe that certain individuals, as well as yourself, are not capable of coming through when needed.

5. Remove Negative Thoughts
Your thoughts cannot have any power over you in case you do not assess them. If you observe yourself developing a negative thought, remove it, and do not follow it. You have the ability to shift your mind from one thought to another in a matter of seconds. Yes, discriminate against what comes into your mind.

6. Crush the "ANTs"
"ANTs" (automatic negative thoughts) are actually the bad thoughts which are generally reactionary, such as "Those people are whispering, they must be talking about me," or "The boss wants to meet with me? It must be something bad!" When you recognize these types of thoughts, understand that they are simply ANTs and just crush them.

7. Practice Caring and Touching (Your family and friends)
You do not have to be a professional to understand the advantages of a great hug. Positive bodily contact with friends, family members, and even domestic pets is an immediate pick-me-up. It’s a way of letting others know that you are concerned and care about them.

8. Enhance your Social Activity
By boosting social activities, you reduce solitude. Surround yourself with happy, healthy folks, and you will be affected by their positive energy in a positive manner. Be spontaneous in reaching out and connecting with others. Don’t allow social distancing to cause you to lose contact with others.

9. Help Someone Else
Everybody feels great after helping. It is possible to give of your cash, your time, or your other resources. As you put more positive energy and well-being into the universe, you will receive more in exchange. The more you give, the more you get.

10. Fight Constant Worrying
If you constantly worry, the best way to prevent it is to disrupt the pattern of thinking and force yourself to think of something totally different. Worrying is similar to hyper-focus on something which is negative. It is never going to change the situation; it's simply too much-wasted energy. Try altering your physical surroundings - go for a stroll or sit outdoors. You can also call a friend, read a book, or listen to some music.

I hope these suggestions help to enhance your ability to maintain a positive mindset. You have the ability to choose your thoughts, so chose them wisely to maximize your talents, skills, and knowledge.

Written by Dr. RL Kight for Mind Power Solutions. Visit www.mindpowersolutions.com to learn more about our personal development and training services.

We must be willing to act to control our well-being. Many of us allow ourselves to be overcome by negative thinking patterns because we become frustrated by life’s challenges and feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook makes it even harder for us to manage those challenges and move forward.

Practicing positive thinking enables us to focus on our strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. This, in turn, allows us to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift your mindset into positive thinking patterns:

1. Take Good Care of Yourself

Don’t neglect yourself when faced with your toughest challenges. It's much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest. Even if you don’t have what you want, do the best you can with what you have.

2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For

Stresses and challenges don't seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference. A single breath of air to sustain your life is something to be grateful for.

3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions

A fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality. If you have a fear that a friend or family member's bad mood is due to something you did, or that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you when you turn your back, speak up and ask them. Don't waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.

4. Refrain from Using Absolutes

Have you ever told a yourself "I ALWAYS come up short!" or complained to a friend "I never get a BREAK!"? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like 'always' and 'never' makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that you are incapable of changing the situation.

5. Detach from Negative Thoughts

Your thoughts can't hold any power over you if you don't judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don't follow it.

6. Squash the "ANTs"

In his book "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life," Dr. Daniel Amen talks about "ANTs" - Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like "Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me," or "My manager wants to see me? It must be bad!" When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!

7. Practice Lovin', Touchin' & Squeezin' (Your Friends and Family)

You don't have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up. One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn't touch!

8. Increase Your Social Activity

By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way! Get out and do something you haven’t done in while and stop making excuses for not doing so.

9. Volunteer for an Organization, or Help another Person

Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.

10. Strategic Interruptions to Fight Worrying

If you find yourself worrying, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Worrying is being super-focused on something negative. It's never productive, because it's not logical or solution-oriented, it's just excessive anxiety. Try changing your physical environment - go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.

Life throws us curve balls every day. It’s up to us to control how we respond. We can play it safe and wait for the right pitch to come, or we can take a chance and trust ourselves and go after it. It may require us to make some adjustments, but we have the potential to knock the curve ball out the park. I hope you find these tips helpful as you strive to maintain control of your well-being.