The Power of Positive Thinking

The way we think about ourselves, our life and the events in it, is extremely powerful. Bad things happen to everyone and we sometimes can’t control this. But the way we think about a negative event could change its effect on us. After something goes wrong it can be easy to think ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘It won’t get any better’. But this negative attitude can lead people to think that they can’t change their situation. To continue thinking negatively will make people remain in a low mood and stop them from trying to change their situation. Remember, you are the place where change starts so having a positive attitude to the future will help you make the most out of a difficult situation.

YOU CAN LOOK AT THE SAME SITUATION IN DIFFERENT WAYS: AND THAT WILL CHANGE THE OUTCOME!

Let’s look at an example of two people: Koku and Kofi. Koku and Kofi live in two very similar communities and both work in a bicycle repair shop. One day, Koku and Kofi both lose their jobs. They are both upset and worried about what will happen now. Koku thinks he is a failure and will never get such a good job again. He stays home for weeks because he doesn’t see the point in searching for a job he thinks won’t get. The result is that his family struggle to provide for themselves. Not far away, Kofi returns home. He is sad but knows that he was good at his job and has the skills he needs to get another job. He goes out the next day searching for work, and finds it in the next community. Both men were in the same situation, but how they thought about their situation affected the impact on their lives.

ANYBODY CAN ACHIEVE A POSITIVE MINDSET: ALL IT TAKES IS A LITTLE PRACTICE

You may think: that’s fine for people who can naturally think that way! But actually anyone can become a positive thinker like Kofi; you just need to practice. Everyone has negative thoughts such as ‘I can’t do this’, or ‘It’s just too hard’, but being aware of them can help you to start changing them. A healthier thought might be: ‘this is tough, but if try really hard it will get easier’. The more you practice catching your negative thoughts and trying to change them into more positive ones, the easier it will become.

Our daily routine happens naturally and we don’t even have to think about; it can even be difficult to break. It’s the same with the way we think, at the start it might be a bit of effort and we’ll have to remind ourselves constantly, ‘think of the positives!’ or ‘I can do this!’. But with time our mind will naturally become more positive. That’s when you might see an increase in your happiness. Writing down or even just thinking of three things that you are grateful for at the end of the day is an easy way to make positive thinking a part of your day.

IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE IMPOSSIBLE, UNTIL YOU TRIED AND ACHIEVED IT

But creating a positive mind leads to more than just happiness. As we saw with Kofi and Koku, our thoughts often guide what we do. If we think we can’t do it, we simply won’t try. So if we change our attitude to a problem, our behaviour often changes too! This power of positive thinking has been shown in lots of different ways.

One important example is in education. By changing thinking from ‘I’m no good at maths’ to ‘I may find it hard now but I’ll get better at it’ people actually begin to do better! If you believe that you can improve then you will make the effort to try. And it’s not just in education. Before a race, athletes often imagine themselves winning and this actually makes it more likely they will win. So when you have a hard day ahead, try to imagine yourself at the end of it, having done everything you wanted to and how grateful and happy you will feel having done so. And just like these athletes, you will be surprised to see how effective it is.

Positive thinking doesn’t mean you should ignore negative things in your life or never be sad or stressed. You should never force yourself to be happy and cheerful all the time, since after all we are just humans and we all have bad days. But a positive attitude does mean that instead of these problems becoming overwhelming, you will be better able to face them.

NATASHA HEAL-COHEN

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25 Comments

  1. James 8 years ago February 28, 2017

    Dear I am a positive being person
    I want understand more on how to be positive in live
    In all that I do.
    James

    REPLY
  2. SORIE KOROMBA 8 years ago March 3, 2017

    Thanks for such an explanatory message and i hope colleagues will learn,share and put some of these into actions. Cheers

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  3. Mwijuka Julius 8 years ago March 5, 2017

    Thank you, you a very right!

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  4. Dodah 8 years ago March 6, 2017

    I have learnt something thanks for the advice

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  5. Sanusi Maruf O. 8 years ago March 6, 2017

    Thanks for the insightful message.

    REPLY
  6. L 8 years ago March 21, 2017

    Thank! I have already tried to get success and happiness in my life.

    REPLY
  7. Morris Foboi 8 years ago April 5, 2017

    Thank! For that very good lesson,hope we get it into practice

    REPLY
  8. billy 8 years ago April 14, 2017

    positve ! thank you wow this is amazing

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  9. asap thug 8 years ago April 24, 2017

    #it’s powerful

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  10. solomon miyanda 8 years ago May 3, 2017

    wow!!

    REPLY
  11. Emmanuel Spence 8 years ago May 8, 2017

    Thanks for the advice I have learnt something, but I will like to learn more about education

    REPLY
    • Right for Education 8 years ago May 9, 2017

      Dear Emmanuel! Thank you very much for your comment. If you have a look at the rest of our online library, you will find much more content on education, African culture, business and law and human rights. We are always grateful when you also share us on your social media, as we want to bring our educational materials to as many people as possible. Wishing you a great day!

      REPLY
  12. Victor 7 years ago May 27, 2017

    I love this so much, i learnt a lot!

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  13. Austin 7 years ago June 12, 2017

    Big mind discuss issues small mind talk about the people, lovely I like it let’s be positive.

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  14. Samson d mwale 7 years ago July 30, 2017

    Have a PMA that means positive mental attitude, to have a good positive thinking

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  15. Efunnuga Titilayo. O 7 years ago August 21, 2017

    Education is the only way that the world can make a u turn in all our endeavours.

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  16. farieda 7 years ago September 10, 2017

    Thank you. The power of positive tbinking does make a difference.

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  17. Unity K Dey 7 years ago September 10, 2017

    Very educative.

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  18. Simon Mbewe 7 years ago November 2, 2017

    Thanks for the publisher and editor of this book(RIGHT FOR EDUCATION)
    We are encouraged and hoping to get engaged soon

    REPLY
  19. Adulphus L. Korden, I 7 years ago January 21, 2018

    Your book, I can say is too encourage and I want to congrat you for your efforts. And may God increases your knowledge and also bless u and your family.

    REPLY
  20. chikondi 7 years ago February 5, 2018

    I love this ?????????????????????

    REPLY
  21. fatma zainalabdeen 7 years ago March 28, 2018

    Iam very habby and luky for reading this articl lhave too many dreams for me and to my children for future lhope to be come true and my big dreams that lwant better education to my children more than what iget and that is very hard to get it in my country lwill try to have apositive thinking about that

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  22. Joe Clinton 7 years ago March 30, 2018

    This is such an inspiring mentality to change poor souls that see every difficulty in an opportunity.
    This makes me to be more OPTIMISTIC about the future.
    I know things are not always gonna work out right as we want it to be but you have to keep working, striving and hoping for the best out of life. Never relent your efforts because the height kept by great men were not just attained by sudden flight but while their companions slept, they kept on toilling through the night.
    Thanks be to God for the Knowledge given.
    I also remain grateful for pianoer of this programme.
    I say a big
    B R A V O….!!!

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  23. Bee 7 years ago April 2, 2018

    Thanks this is very helpful, I learnt something from it.

    REPLY
  24. Njabulo 7 years ago April 19, 2018

    Thanks for your knowledge.I’ve learned

    REPLY

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