Mindset is an important element of happiness. If you don?t have a positive mindset and outlook on life, you?re likely to fail. Your brain will take every setback as proof that you can?t succeed.
What if because of past depression you have a negative mindset? Are you doomed to failure and misery? Your mindset can be changed if you?re willing to work at it. In some instances of past depression, you may require medication to help you move beyond the negativity.
Yes, you can change your mindset. You can actually train your brain to be happy!
How does this occur? It starts with the way you think. Your brain is constantly putting out thoughts. Most of these are thoughts about yourself and what you?re up to. This is your self-talk.
If this self-talk is usually negative, you tend to feel bad and have a low self-image. You will usually have a negative outlook as well. The reverse is true if your self-talk is mostly positive.
Guess who's in charge of your self-talk! You can change it. Start noticing your self-talk and the thoughts going through your head. When you notice a negative one, stop and reframe it into something positive. ?I can?t do that? becomes ?Maybe I can if I try.? ?You idiot? becomes ?I?m not an idiot, I just wasn?t paying attention. I will do better.?
Every time you catch yourself with negative self-talk, change that talk to something positive, and you will gradually adopt a more positive mindset. Speed up the process by using affirmations multiple times a day. Affirmations are positive statements you say to yourself that increase your self-esteem.
Other things to help you include meditation, journaling, and starting a gratitude journal. These all can help improve your outlook and train your brain to be happier. Also, starting an exercise practice will not only improve your mental outlook but cause your body to release endorphins and other chemicals that make you happier. And you?ll get healthier too.
Changing your mindset won?t happen overnight. It?s a process and will take time. Don?t get discouraged if it proves harder than you thought. Remember that you?re trying to change a lifetime of conditioning and brain wiring. Be gentle with yourself and keep trying!
