Some people are great about finding the positive in any situation and telling you about it. They are the types of bosses, coworkers, teachers, and friends who will give you some constructive criticism while pointing out everything you’ve done right, even if the project or situation turns out to be a total mess. They are the people that build you up and give you the confidence boost you need to go back and fix things or start from scratch.
Those are the people we want in our lives and on our side. But that isn’t always going to be the case. We will also have those people in our lives who can’t give a compliment without also pointing out your shortcomings. They tend to only focus on the negative in any situation and are quick to share that with you. Obviously, these are the people that challenge us – they make it hard to live and work with them. The question, then, is – what type of person are you and how do you think and communicate about your life and your surroundings?
If you are trying to increase your happiness, which I believe you are or you wouldn’t be a part of this 30 days of happiness challenge ;-), I recommend you work on making sure you think and communicate in a positive way. Why is thinking important? Because it is how we communicate with ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather spend my time becoming my biggest cheerleader, than my worst critic.
Here’s the good news. How you think and how you communicate can be learned and unlearned. That means if you’ve always been a bit of a pessimist (always see the glass as half empty), you can learn to think, be, and talk in a more positive way. Of course, learned behaviors and habits aren’t always easy to change.
The first step is just being willing to admit that you want to change! Step two is to learn to recognize your behavior as it happens. Listen to the thoughts that are happening in your head and stop and make yourself think before you speak. Step three is to practice the new habit and behavior. That’s really all there is to it.
Now I want to invite you to take a few minutes to stop and reflect on how you’ve been thinking today. Think about any conversations you’ve had today. How did you feel when communicating with them and yourself? Were you as positive as you’d like to be or can you improve on that?
If so, start implementing the simple three step process I shared with you and keep practicing until this more positive way of thinking and communicating has become a strong new habit. It will have a big impact in your own happiness and that of those around you.
Would you be interested in an exciting, unique, and fun way to experience happiness? If so be sure to check out Experience.Happy – our newest coloring adventure, a 5 senses immersive coloring adventure! Each month, we’ll present to you a different topic on something that will make you happy.