So, I was scrolling through my phone the other day, and I stumbled upon this quote: “Your thoughts shape your reality.” At first, I was like, “Yeah, okay, another Instagram-worthy motivational line.” But then, I stopped and actually thought about it. Like, really thought about it. And it hit me—I’ve been living my life on autopilot, letting negative thoughts run the show. What if I actually tried to change my mindset? Spoiler alert: It worked. And I’m here to tell you how.
Let’s rewind a bit. A few months ago, I was in a funk. You know, one of those phases where everything feels like it’s going wrong. Work was stressful, my relationships felt strained, and I was just… tired. I kept telling myself, “This is just how life is.” But deep down, I knew I wasn’t happy. I felt stuck, like I was just going through the motions.
Then, one evening, I was chatting with a friend (shoutout to her for being my unofficial life coach), and she said something that stuck with me: “You’re not stuck; you’re just choosing to see things that way.” Ouch. But also… true. She suggested I try practicing positive thinking. Not the toxic “just be happy” kind, but the kind where you actively reframe your thoughts to focus on the good.
At first, I was skeptical. I mean, how was thinking positively going to fix my problems? But I decided to give it a shot. I started small. Every morning, I’d wake up and say one thing I was grateful for. It could be anything—my cozy bed, the fact that I had coffee, or even just the sunshine. Slowly but surely, I noticed a shift. I wasn’t just saying these things; I was starting to believe them.
One of the biggest changes I noticed was in how I handled stress. Before, I’d get overwhelmed and spiral into negativity. But with my new mindset, I started asking myself, “What’s the silver lining here?” For example, when a project at work got delayed, instead of panicking, I told myself, “This is an opportunity to refine my ideas.” And guess what? The end result was even better than I’d planned.
Another game-changer was how I approached relationships. I used to get so caught up in what wasn’t working—like how my partner didn’t always remember to do the dishes (ugh). But when I started focusing on the things I appreciated about them, like how they always made me laugh or supported my goals, those little annoyances didn’t seem as big anymore. It’s like my positive mindset had this ripple effect, making everything around me feel lighter.
Now, I’m not saying positive thinking is a magic cure-all. Life still throws curveballs, and there are days when it’s hard to stay upbeat. But here’s the thing: When you train your brain to look for the good, it becomes easier to bounce back. It’s like building a mental muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets.
One of the most surprising things I’ve learned is that positive thinking isn’t about ignoring the bad stuff. It’s about acknowledging it and then choosing to focus on what you can control. For example, when I was feeling down about not hitting a personal goal, I didn’t just brush it off. I allowed myself to feel disappointed, but then I asked, “What can I learn from this? How can I do better next time?” That shift in perspective made all the difference.
And let’s talk about self-talk for a second. I used to be my own worst critic. If I made a mistake, I’d beat myself up over it. But now, I’ve learned to talk to myself like I would a friend. Instead of, “You’re so dumb for messing that up,” it’s, “Okay, that didn’t go as planned, but you’re learning and growing.” It’s amazing how much kinder life feels when you’re kind to yourself.
I’ve also noticed that positive thinking has made me more open to opportunities. Before, I’d shy away from trying new things because I was afraid of failing. But now, I see every experience as a chance to grow. Whether it’s taking a new class, applying for a job I’m not 100% qualified for, or even just striking up a conversation with a stranger, I’m more willing to take risks because I believe in the possibility of a positive outcome.
Here’s the thing: Positive thinking isn’t about pretending everything’s perfect. It’s about finding the beauty in the imperfect, the messy, the real. It’s about choosing to see the good, even when it’s hard. And the best part? It’s a choice. Every single day, you get to decide how you’re going to show up in the world.
So, if you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, I challenge you to try it. Start small. Find one thing to be grateful for today. Reframe one negative thought. And see how it feels. You might just surprise yourself.