'How To...' the inquisitive mind starts with these two words.
In the beginning we don't know how to do anything.A very nice quote says that “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” We are all here to learn our lessons. Our parents, school teachers, friends, colleagues, officemates, neighbors… they are our teachers. When we open our doors for self improvement, wanting to know how to do something we increase our chances to head on the road of success.
Many of us develop negative thinking patterns (I don't know how to...) because we become frustrated by our challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder for us to manage those challenges, learn 'how to' and move forward.
Practicing positive thinking allows you to focus on your strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation and a desire to learn 'how to'. This, in turn, allows you to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck.
The following tips offer practical 'how to' suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:
How to start taking control in 10 ways
- Take Good Care of Yourself
It's much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest. Work out how to spend some time doing regular exercises, even if only walking. - 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. You should find out how to take just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference. - 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 ordinarily 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. You need to know how to cope with the situation. Don't waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about so you find out how to put it right. - Refrain from Using Absolutes
Have you ever told a partner "You're ALWAYS late!" or complained to a friend "You on no account call me!"? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like 'always' and 'in no way' makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering. Learn how to stop thinking like that. - Detach From Negative Thoughts
Your thoughts can't hold any power over you if you don't judge them. Discover how to notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don't follow it. - 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 generally reactionary, like "Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me," or "The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!" When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and find out how to squash them! - 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 discovered how to increase a waitress's take home pay! They had her 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! - Increase Your Social Activity
By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Find out how to surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way! - Volunteer for an Organization, or Help another Person
Everyone feels good after helping. Learn how to 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. - Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination
If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Discover how to do something different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative. It's by no means productive, because it's not rational or solution-oriented, it's just excessive worry. 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.
To know how to do the things we need, or want to do are the basics of productivity and success. This site will help show you how, use the navigation bar on the right to seek out How to Do Things.