If you could survey the lives of the most successful people in the world, you would find that most of them share a lot of attributes, personality traits and lifestyle factors. Those who reach an influential level of prosperity tend to be those who think creatively, work nonstop at developing their ideas, and surround themselves with others who are willing to work hard to achieve great things.
One other thing most of these successful people share is a positive mindset. There are always going to be obstacles and setbacks when you are trying to build a business, change your lifestyle, or create a solid foundation for your family to rest on comfortably. If you want to join the ranks of the prosperous, you will have to learn how to keep your mind on the positive.
Benefits of Positive Thinking
Positivity allows you to focus on what is going right in your life, rather than dwelling on what is going wrong. It forces you to think and act on the things that you have some influence and control over, rather than banging your head against a wall over things that are out of your control.
When your mind is positive, you will look for things to celebrate. Those little celebrations will keep up your hope and inspire more ambition and energy so you keep going even when there is plenty to complain about.
Many people quit before they have a chance to be successful. They never become prosperous because they listened to the negativity around them and caved under the stress. When you embrace positivity in all aspects of your life, that negativity cannot darken your life. Your mind is trained to what is going right, what business success you have already achieved, and what you still have hope for tomorrow.
To benefit fully, you need positivity for your business and personal life. Each area of your life affects the other. When negatively sets in, it will invade all of your thoughts and lead to discouragement rather than encouragement.
How to Develop a Positive Mindset
Take out a piece of paper and write, “I am successful. I am prosperous,” at the top of the paper. You probably have some doubting or condemning thoughts in your mind as you write those sentences, so write down those negative thoughts on the rest of the paper. These are the negative thoughts that probably hold you back from doing many great things in your life.
Now flip those negative statements into positive statements and commit them to memory. Here is an example:
“You do not deserve to be prosperous,” can become, “I deserve everything that I work hard to achieve.”
Start paying attention to the thoughts running through your mind throughout the day. Stop and correct the negative thoughts. When everything feels overwhelming make a list of things that are going right and hang it up where you will see it every day.
About Janet Johnson
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Thanks Janet! Thanks for sharing this insightful post. I love focusing on the positive because it helps us to be thankful for what is right rather than what is not. I love the exercise of writing negative thoughts down and turning them into positive ones.
Thanks Lori! I forgot to mention, when we write down those positive thoughts, a reinforcement could be to keep this sheet hanging up in a place where you will see it every day. Then, read through that list each each day – the positive one, to drill those thoughts right into our skulls. It’s so hard to erase the negative…especially if those thoughts/ideas have been there for so long. Thanks for your comment Lori! Janet
For years I thought that only “woo woo” types believed in the power of positive thinking and that “real business leaders” were…realists. It was when I read Think and Grow Rich that I realized that some of the most successful “real business leaders” in the world practiced positive thinking. Powerful stuff!
Hi Lori! I used the be the same way – until I looked in the mirror and saw how being a realist wasn’t very fun. I mean, I got a lot done, I won some great contracts, but at the same time, I looked too serious for my age. Being positive takes the edge off. It takes the pressure off. In the world of positive expectation, we’re allowed to let go and still work hard but at the same time, with a sunnier, more pleasant (and let’s face it, more attractive) position. Thanks Lori! Janet
As I say to my clients, “without the right mind, you are not achieving all that you can” One of the things that people ask me ~ isn’t it just wishful thinking to be positive and not look at the ‘reality’ (their word) of a situation. It may be. It may not be…but from a former ‘looking at the glass half full (or even empty)’ person, It is so much better with the glass full…..and it does take a shift ~ especially for those who have thought ‘less than’ for a long time but the efforts and excercises (like the one you suggest) are so very much worth it!
Hi Laura! It wasn’t too long ago when I allowed negative thoughts to rule my mind. What’s even worse is when you think about 1 negative thought, it attracts another and another. Then, you become only a shadow of your former self. As a business person, we can’t allow this to happen. How are we to impact others (and profit) with negativity? That’s what inspired this article. My coach recommended this same practice to me of writing the negative down, flipping them around, and reinforcing the positive instead. It worked wonders. Thanks Laura! Janet
One thing that helps me when I catch myself in negative thinking is to get interested. Sometimes, I pretend these negative thoughts are coming from some specific aspect of myself… like my inner 14-year old who basically doesn’t want to attempt anything that requires energy or getting off the couch. I will “interview” that aspect, objectively and with interest, asking questions as to why she’s such a negative so-and-so. This not only helps me get to the core of that negative thinking, but it helps me separate from it.
The other thing that really works is the “What if…” Up Game. This is where, when you catch yourself thinking negatively about anything, you turn it on its head by saying “What if that isn’t true? What if I was destined to be prosperous? What if I’m one thought away from being highly successful?” This not only questions the authority of those negative thoughts but raises my energy!
Hi Nancy! I love your ideas and I’m going to try this myself! Who among us doesn’t have that stubborn, couch potato teen? Sure! I can talk to her! Further with the what -if game, I’ve never done this and it sounds good. Oftentimes, it takes a friend to shine this light on me – to help me realize my negative assumptions aren’t always perfectly right. Thanks Nancy! Janet
This is a reminder worthy of daily reflection. It is amazing how mindset really has to do with every aspect of our life and leads into or out of prosperity, abundance and a successful business.
I second Kelly’s sentiments.
For me, it has been a struggle to catch myself in the act of the negative thought. I’ve finally gotten it. And, to counter the negative, I dare to dream big. May like a small thing, but for me, it is a huge thing.
Thank you.