"Think you can, think you can't, either way you'll be right!"
-Henry Ford

You may be familiar with the statement “You are what you eat!” However, have you considered the following statement: “You are what you think!”? The way you think has a strong influence on your life. Thinking positively can mean the difference between success and failure. It can truly transform your life.

Developing a positive mindset means taking responsibility for how your thoughts affect you physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is not just hearing the statement “Think positive!” It is understanding how your thoughts affect your decisions, and how your decisions are responsible for where you are today.

If your thought is “I can’t enjoy my life because I have too many problems", chances are you will not enjoy your life. If you change your thought to “Life is sometimes difficult, but I have much to be grateful for”, chances are you will feel hopeful and joyful.

A positive mindset is making a shift from placing responsibility on external forces to accepting responsibility for where you are today. “I didn’t get the job, so I can’t be happy” to “Where one door closes, another opens” or “There is something better waiting for me, and I am going to keep searching”. Positive thinking allows you to move beyond feeling “The world is unfair. I have no control”, and on to “I can learn from my experiences and go forward to achieve my goals. I am in control of my life.”

This message is exciting and hopeful because it means YOU have the power to bring happiness, energy and joy into your life!

At Jupiter Counseling, our counselors are trained to help you understand how your thoughts may be leading you to an unhappy or unfulfilled state of mind. Let us help you renew your joy and passion for life!

Changing Your Self-Talk

Self-talk is about the messages you give yourself. Many times we do not realize the internal dialogue and thoughts going on inside our heads are negative and self-defeating. With a little practice, YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS and turn the negative, fearful, and self-effacing internal conversation into a positive, affirming, and validating one.

Positive self-talk is not about telling yourself that bad things in your life don’t exist or have not happened. It is telling yourself life can be better and that you have the power to change your thoughts and behaviors. By learning the practice of positive self-talk, it will automatically create positive and healthy changes in your emotions, as well. Monitoring and gaining control of self-talk will provide you with self-awareness. It will allow you the ability to recognize how your thoughts are affecting how you feel and think, and ultimately, how you choose to behave in your everyday situations and with others in your life.

Try this exercise to help you change the messages you give to yourself and others, and ultimately brighten your thoughts and enlighten your relationships...

List 5 Negative Thoughts or Self-Defeating Beliefs that you currently have.
Change each of these to Positive Affirmations. It this is difficult for you to do, simply state the exact opposite of the negative thought or belief.

For example:

• "I can't do this." Affirmation: "I can do it!"
• "I don't deserve to be happy." Affirmation: "I deserve happiness and peace."

Write your affirmations on index cards and keep in your purse, wallet, pocket, and/or bedside. Read them in the morning, evening, and during the day. When possible, say your affirmations out loud.

As you continue to use and repeat this technique, you will begin to notice that the positive moments and days will accumulate. The more you practice, the easier and more natural the process will become.