Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

[californiacasey]

I hear about the power of positive thinking and positive self-talk. Having a positive mental attitude helps with life in general, but esp. when facing struggles or challenges (ie losing weight and getting healthy). I find myself using negative self-talk to myself (Ugh, you're so fat, you'll never lose this weight, what, you think you should be at the gym with that jiggly tummy, ugh, etc, etc). I have been really trying to make an effort with myself lately to be positive and supportive of myself...(You have the control over your food choices today, you look great in pink, look at how far you've come, Wow, that was a great work-out today, etc)

Would you all please share what positive self-talk you use to keep yourself motivated and in the right mental frame of mind?

[cruiser gal]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

To keep myself motivated and thinking positively, I have my before and after pictures with me all the time. In the computer room, in the family room, while watching t.v., on the fridge with a magnet and of course in my wallet. They remind me of where I came from. A place I never want to revisit. That in itself is the best positive reinforcement for me! A picture is worth a million words!!!

[ttdriver]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

"DO NOT USE REAR VIEW MIRRORS IN YOUR LIFE."

"MAKE PROGRESS, NOT EXCUSES."

"IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT."

"FOCUS ON YOUR FAILURES AND YOU'LL SURELY REPEAT THEM."

"IF ITS TO BE, ITS UP TO ME."

Those are some of my favorites.

Betty

[Kiasmama]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

I use visualization. I see myself on the beach...etc. It works for me...keeps me motivated. And one of my montras....."can't means won't"

[Kate113]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

I look at my heaviest picture and tell myself "No way! Never again! I can do this!"

I like all of Betty's though and may adopt them.

[SugarFreeSheila]

Just a couple!

From start to finish, a worthwhile life is an uphill climb - and the sooner this is acknowledged and accepted, the better. When we coast, our progress stagnates, and there is nothing worse for the morale. Keep going, briefly gazing back only to see just how far you've come. This is what propels us to move forward!

Make the absolute best out of every single aspect of yourself, and help others do the same.

Think about all that you wish to accomplish in life and what it will take to get there. One thing at a time, and one step at a time - but know upfront that it will take what it takes. Ready? So, LET'S GO!!

Lift others up. We're all in this together.

[LC_Dave]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

Personally I feel a lot of those books written by 'Professionals' are BS.

I prefer to look at things 'realistically' not negatively. I look at things and go "How can I achieve what I want?".

What's helped me the most is to 'Get Real' and be accountable, without general negativity.

I shrugg negativity off and say to myself "Stop being negative, now focus on what I can do to feel better'.

I was soo depressed about my weight for so long, that I realised that the only way I am going to get past this depression is to lose the weight. To have positive results.

Basically I try to focus myself on positive actions and results, instead of just thinking.

Because I can 'delude' myself too much with negative and positive thinking. (That's just me it's not a general rule for all)

[californiacasey]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

Cruiser Gal (and Kate): Good idea...the power of positive images? : )

Betty: I like this one the most "DO NOT USE REAR VIEW MIRRORS IN YOUR LIFE."
I think I do tend to do this....I think I re-visit sad events mentally, too often

Kia: The power of positive visualzation, I like it! I'm visualizing myself wearing shorts!

Sheila: "Lift others up. We're all in this together." Thank you. We are all in this together, aren't we? Thank you for your inspiration. *(and I love your site!)

Dave: Putting your positive thoughts into "actions and results" hmm, that must be the advanced step. I would LOVE to "'delude' myself too much with....positive thinking." That would be a step in the direction I want to go.

[SusanQsan]

Re: Just a couple!

Make the absolute best out of every single aspect of yourself, and help others do the same.

Lift others up. We're all in this together.

I completely agree with this. And to add to it, here are some silly little positive self-talk type things I do for myself:

--When I turn on my cell phone every day, it flashes the message "I ROCK!!!"
---plus my cell phone is Superman colors - so I pretend I am Superman - that I can conquer anything that comes my way today.
--I try to think of how I can do even better at my job today, how I can make someone smile, or how I can do something to "bond" with DD and DH today.
--I am a programmer, so I get to listen to any kind of music I want all day long (wearing headphones of course), so I choose to listen to happy fun music like "Pure Funk", "Pure Disco", or any of the "Now" CDs. No depressing music - only fun/funny stuff - it gets me amped and full of team spirit.
--I make my coworkers laugh. It makes me happy to know that I have the power to make someone's day more fun.

[tabekat]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

We thank You, Father, for Your guarantee of only happy outcomes in the end. Help us not interfere, and so delay the happy endings You have promised us for every problem that we can perceive; (Course of Miracles)

It helps me to remember when I stray from Atkins that I'm delaying my own happy ending.

[SugarFreeSheila]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

I prefer to look at things 'realistically' not negatively. I look at things and go "How can I achieve what I want?".
What's helped me the most is to 'Get Real' and be accountable, without general negativity.
I shrugg negativity off and say to myself "Stop being negative, now focus on what I can do to feel better'.

With this part, I concur. People always tell me I'm positive, but I feel, for me, it is more motivation and gumption with a self-assured "can-do" attitude. I'm neither an optimist or a pessimist; I'm a realist. In other words, the glass isn't half-full or half-empty: it's quite simply a half glass. However, if so-called limitations and boundaries are on the horizon, I refuse to accept them; as a fighter, I move past and above them at all costs.

Goodness, I hope that doesn't sound too abstract. lol

[teejay]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

Today is a new day. Don't worry about yesterday, learn from it.

I may be (fat,slow,) but I am working on it the best I can and it is getting better.

Hey I am AT the gym yay for me.

TJ

[slimndown]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

When I start to have negative thoughts I try to DO something positive. For me, I found that I get depressed when my house is in disarray and I start to feel overwhelmed with it and everything else I have to do/going through, etc. So, I clean the kitchen or accomplish some task that is causing me to think negatively about myself. Many times I have weight related negative thoughts and then I tell myself that I've lost 25lbs and for me that IS an accoplishment. So now I need to work on 5 more to make it 30. I try to remember what I've accomplished and what the next step is to get where I want to be so that I know that I am moving forward. I guess positive self talk always was a bunch of hooey to me. When I feel negative, I do something positive then I feel in control. How can I feel negative when I am in control?

[LC_Dave]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

With this part, I concur. People always tell me I'm positive, but I feel, for me, it is more motivation and gumption with a self-assured "can-do" attitude. I'm neither an optimist or a pessimist; I'm a realist. In other words, the glass isn't half-full or half-empty: it's quite simply a half glass. However, if so-called limitations and boundaries are on the horizon, I refuse to accept them; as a fighter, I move past and above them at all costs.

Goodness, I hope that doesn't sound too abstract. lol

Yeah! That's deinately where I am coming from.

Realism, but with Ambition!

[ttdriver]

Re: Positive Thinking? Please share Your Methods

We thank You, Father, for Your guarantee of only happy outcomes in the end. Help us not interfere, and so delay the happy endings You have promised us for every problem that we can perceive; (Course of Miracles)

It helps me to remember when I stray from Atkins that I'm delaying my own happy ending.

I LOVE THAT!!!!!

Betty