Mind Pause Radio blog: Your daily dose of positivity

Positive affirmations for everyday life

For self-love and acceptance
1. “I am enough just as I am.”
2. “I honor and respect my feelings.”
3. “I love myself unconditionally.”
4. “I accept all parts of myself without judgment.”
5. “I choose to treat myself with care and softness.”
6. “I am worthy of love, joy and happiness.”

For overcoming hardships
1. “My feelings make me uncomfortable right now, but I can accept them.”
2. “I am strong enough to handle what’s happening to me right now.”
3. “This situation is difficult, but I have the skills and abilities to deal with it.”
4. “I can ride this out and not let it get to me.”
5. “I can honor my discomfort while moving forward with a solution.”
6. “I’ve survived other situations like this, and I’ll survive this one, too.”

For stress and anxiety relief
1. “I let go of what I cannot control.”
2. “I am calm, centered and at peace.”
3. “I choose peace over worry.”
4. “I breathe in relaxation and breathe out tension.”
5. “I let go of negative thoughts and embrace tranquility.”
6. “I trust everything will work out as it’s meant to.”

How to Think Positively: Best Practices for Mind and Body

1. Notice and reframe negative thoughts. At first, you may not even be aware of your negative thoughts. Spend a day paying attention to your self-talk. You may be surprised by how many of your thoughts are pessimistic.

   First, don’t criticize yourself for having these thoughts! Just notice your next negative thought and say to yourself, “Cancel that!” to stop the pattern. Next, reframe the negative thought by turning it around and finding something positive. For instance, instead of being irritated by traffic, spend a moment appreciating your car or the extra time to listen to music or a podcast. Rather than thinking, “I’m terrible at cooking” when a meal doesn’t turn out well, think, “Every day, I get better at cooking.”

2. Practice gratitude. Take time to acknowledge the good things in your life. Doing so will put you in a more positive frame of mind. A regular practice of saying or writing down three things you’re grateful for each day will help train you to look for things that make you happy. The more specific you can be, the better! Perhaps today you’ll feel grateful for your favorite sweater, your comfortable bed, and your beloved pet. Maybe tomorrow you’ll feel grateful for an inspirational teacher, the friend who’s always there for you, and the delicious dinner you cooked (because every day you get better at cooking!).
3. Be kind to yourself. Make a quick list of five things you enjoy doing. You might be surprised to realize that you don’t often do the things you enjoy! Keep that list handy and do something that makes you happy as often as you can, whether it’s taking a walk before work, enjoying a bubble bath, or reading a book. The better you feel, the more positive thoughts you’ll notice yourself having.
4. Do something good for others. It feels even better to do something nice for others than for yourself! Buy a coffee for the person in line behind you at the café, send someone a silly card, or simply text a friend and tell them how much they mean to you. By making someone else feel good, you’ll put positivity into the world and also feel good about yourself.
5. Laugh! It’s easy to find negativity in this world. It’s OK to tune that out from time to time and find the fun. Spend time with a friend who makes you laugh, watch a funny TV show or movie, or enjoy your favorite comic on stage (live or in a recorded performance). Even remembering something funny that happened in the past can make you laugh today and improve your mood.