Makes Me Stronger: The Power of Positive Thinking

The power of positive thinking. What comes to your mind when you hear that phrase? Do you right away go negative? Do you feel annoyed? Do you immediately think of the chirpy girl in the office who constantly says “aww that’s ok look at the bright side” with wide eyed enthusiasm?

Or perhaps you are nodding your head in agreement because you already KNOW what the power of positive thinking does and how it has worked for you.

Our thoughts create our own reality whether it’s positive or negative. We are exactly what we believe. We can choose how we feel. We are in control of our own emotions. This doesn’t mean that we are not going to get sad, mad, scared, etc… That is human nature. But once we work through our emotions and come to some sort of acceptance to the situation, this is where change really occurs.

Think of it like this. Your life is going great. Everything is starting to fall into place. Your dreams are coming true; you are content, happy, excited, and literally full of life. You know what you want. You went and got it. You made it happen. You set your intention, you did the work, and now you are reaping the rewards of your effort. Now that you are finally living the life you have desired you are over the moon happy.

You are so happy that you aren’t even thinking that anything could go wrong. After all how could it. You are attracting good things by your positive attitude.

But then something happens. Something unexpected and suddenly… that happy confident feeling you never gave second thought too bursts. Suddenly you are slapped with reality. You are suddenly aware of how fragile life is and how fragile our dreams really are. We become painfully aware that nothing is guaranteed.

This is where we have to dig deep. We have to look into ourselves. We have to try to change our mindset. Of course, first experience the emotions. It’s not only natural but it’s healthy. Then you must look into yourself. Realize that the shock is something you do not want in life. We must experience both the positive and the negative in life in order to achieve balance. Acknowledging the negative experience doesn’t give it more power; unless, you let it consume you. Instead, let the seemingly bad enhance the positive experiences; your desires, hopes and dreams. Let that negativity make you stronger. Let it make you fight for what you want in life. Let it force you to appreciate the good you had and still have. Let it reaffirm how strong you are.

The “Law of Attraction” is a very cool concept. It’s been around for ages, it’s just become popularized recently. It shows how to bring what we desire to ourselves. It’s the power of positive thinking! Part of achieving our desires and becoming happier and empowered is living as if. Living as if simply means that you are living your life as though you already have what you desire. You are living in the moment.

Let’s put that into context using a weight loss scenario, though it could be about anything, relationships, housing, work, finances, etc…

Story Time:

Jessie, a 27 year old female has embarked on a weight loss journey. She got tired of being overweight and wanted to do something about it. She knew that she didn’t want to be that girl. She wanted to be better. She knew she could do better. Jessie started walking around the block and then starting jogging, next thing she knew she was running. Jessie was excited. She was seeing all the changes she wanted to see. Her clothes were looser, she felt better, looked better, had more confidence, and this positive experiencing she was having with her weight loss started spilling over into other aspects of her life. Her confidence began showing at work, she was picked for exciting new multi-media projects, she joined a basketball league with her co-workers, started a weight loss group where she provided support and they exercised together in a safe friendly environment. Everything was looking up. All because she knew she wanted to make a change. She knew what she wanted, and she knew what she didn’t want.

Then one day, Jessie got sick. At first she didn’t think too much about it. There has been a nasty bug going around the office leaving people out of work for 3+ more weeks. Then just as soon as she felt better she was knocked down again. Exhausted, hurting, unable to walk around the block anymore let alone run. She went to the doctors and they ran tests looking to see what was going on in her body. She got some scary news.

Devastated, Jessie lost sight of what she wanted. Her once sunny bright happy world turned dark and gloomy with one conversation. She began to withdraw. She was scared; she didn’t know what to do. Her outlet to relieve stress was running, but now she couldn’t because she didn’t have the energy. Just day to day walking had become exhausting. She started concentrating on the worst case scenario. She started wondering “what if this is all over?” “What if I’m not meant to be that fit and healthy girl?” “What if it’s really bad and I can’t do what I was born to do?” She knew that she wasn’t a trainer or fitness professional. But she was the leader of her weight loss group. She created the exercises, she rallied the troops. She wondered what if I can’t do that anymore.

At this point Jessie is living as if the possible negative outcome is confirmed. She lost sight of what she wants. She lost sight of who she has already become. She is still that girl. Nothing has changed…yet. But she fell into a deep dark place filled with worry and fear. With that worry and fear she started to struggle more. It was as though she was attracting everything she didn’t want. You see, the “Law of Attraction” works both ways. Jessie needs to make a choice at this point. Does she want to be open and accept all the positive that is already around her or does she want to be closed to it. Only focusing on the negative which is only making her feel worse.

Jessie can’t control what her results will be. But she can control her attitude and shift her thoughts into more positive thinking. She must believe she is going to be ok. She must believe no matter what happens she’s got this. Whatever “it” is. Jessie needs to find that strength and resiliency. The same formula that she used to gain her confidence, to lose the weight, to become a runner, and to be the natural motivator that she is today. She’s got to dig deep. Otherwise she will be destroyed by the negative self-talk.

Positive thinking isn’t a cure all. But it will help Jessie achieve peace with what is going on. It will also help her continue to be the fighter that she is. It’s been said many times by so many people that you don’t know what you have until you lose it all. This is where Jessie’s fear is coming from. She finally found herself and the thought of losing it all is too much too handle. However, keeping a positive outlook will make it at least a little easier.

Jessie did decide to take her life back. She decided she was going to live. She fought back. She modified her route around the block. She did what she could do. She told her group what was going on, allowing others to step up and shine. She surrounded herself with positive people and listened to her “power” music. She dug deep. She fought back. As she fought back, she started feeling mentally stronger.

While Jessie may not know the outcome, she is fighting for the life she wants. The life she desires. The life she put into motion. She is choosing to live a happy life.

Does this mean she isn’t scared? No it doesn’t. It just means she isn’t letting it control her every waking thought. She is more than a bunch of symptoms. She is Jessie, basketball player, friend, coach, designer, runner, sister, aunt, teacher, student, etc. She chooses to continue to live the life she built for herself. She’ll deal with the rest when she has more information.

Being Realistic:

It is harder to think positive. Especially when facing a hard time. It’s so easy to go straight into panic mode. This is the society we live in. Always expect the worse. I think we should switch this way of thinking. After all it’s only a mindset. Let’s start expecting the best that could happen.

While we should prepare ourselves for something unpleasant, we shouldn’t dwell on it. We shouldn’t let it take over our lives because there are some situations that we simply do not have control over. The only control we have is how we choose to deal with it. We can give in before we have all the facts. Or we can be the fighter that we know we are. We can say no. We can say “you know what… we don’t know.” We can say “no matter what happens it’ll be ok, we will deal with it.” The positive mind frame makes all the difference in the world.

It’s your choice. Choose to be who you are born to be…. Or not. Choose to attract the good in your life. When bad things are thrown at you, fight that much harder for your dreams. Nothing comes free and easy. You gotta fight for it. Be a fighter. Be stronger. You can do it. You got this.