The Power of Positive Thinking

This year 2021 will be a beautiful year for us all.

Hmmm…… some might say “There goes another soothsayer when we are confronted with negativity all around. The truth is I am neither a soothsayer, clergy nor a fortune teller.

I am simply a mum, a passionate writer, and a certified mental health advocate. The earlier we do not allow our circumstances to define us, the pleasurable life will be.

Despite 2020 being a precarious year globally, some individuals and corporate organizations made a rediscovery of themselves which translates to creativity, tenacity, generosity, proficiency, appreciation of freedom, family, friendship, perseverance, cooperation to mention but a few.

This is a significant challenge and all we can do is to adjust our narratives to the magnitude of the challenges we face by creating awareness and being vigilant.

In essence, what I am advocating is life should not come to a standstill because of this global pandemic. As a matter of fact, being prepared for challenges should be part of our learning and growth process so as to avoid having mental health issues.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) “Mental health is a state of wellbeing in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or his community’’.

In a nutshell, our mental health is as important as our physical health. They are indivisible and interdependent.

Being human, it is normal for negative thoughts to flash our minds from time to time due to uncontrollable events in our lives. It is dangerous when it becomes persistent and overwhelming. This elevates our cortisol level which is the stress-releasing hormone and most often than not leads to depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other mental health disorders which invariably reduce living an optimal life.

Yes, there might be difficulties but we should make the best out of everything life throws at us. Tough as it may be, we should be determined to change the narratives by finding strength in weakness, self-worth in worthlessness, success in failure, patience, and perseverance in unpleasant moments in our lives.

We have to be determined to steer the wheel, God helping us. There is absolutely no other person that can do it except us which accounts for some people looking for missing puzzles in their lives even as adults.

Let us be intentional to reframe basic automative negative thoughts and imbibe\learn “The CBT Model’’ which literally means Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This explains that our surface thoughts are not to be blamed for negativity rather it is our emotional reaction that causes us to feel anxious and stressed. Thoughts — — Emotions — — behaviour — — physical symptoms.

Here are some automative negative thoughts;

Mindreading: we automatically think we know what others are thinking, as a result, we jump to conclusions. A classic example is a case of a school reunion where the person believes old classmates will not acknowledge his\her presence because of his\her status. You have already brought down your self-esteem by your assumptions meanwhile ‘real people’ will be all over you so as to bridge the gap and continue where the friendship stopped. These are the ‘people’ you actually need in your life. Stand tall at all times.

Guilty thinking: When you keep dwelling on past mistakes and your thoughts are like…. I should have….. if only…..I must have….etc. Acknowledge what happened and give yourself another chance to be a better person. Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning how to dance in the rain.

Fortune telling: This is when you predict the worst outcome that will happen. Let us look at the scenario of a job interview or submission of a proposal for a project. You are already discouraged before the interview\meeting because you believe other candidates have more experience which invariably affects your performance. What gave you the impression that the company is not hunting for an individual or a corporate organization that thinks out of the box over experience. Do not wait for the perfect moment, take the moment, and make it perfect.

Comparisons: We are in an era whereby people upload beautiful pictures about themselves, families, and accomplishments on social media. Do not be pressurized, envious, or jealous. Remember no one is perfect and the key to success is not a one size fits all. Some of the greatest people in life started out as nothing.

It is important to restructure our thought process into a more POSITIVE direction and put things in the right perspective. Let us surround ourselves with positive people that can offer advice and give different views on our worries.

Having a gratitude journal helps when having negative thoughts by writing down things we are thankful for as well as writing positive traits in us.

Affirmations keep us in positive moods. It highlights our self-love and positive energy. let us believe in what we say, for example ‘I am going to have a good day’. Let us interpret it with our actions by not allowing a hard day to win. It does not matter how many times we fall, it is our swiftness in rising up that count.

Let us make a conscious effort to improve our thoughts and behaviours so we can have a better outlook on life

I believe to a large extent with the above and God being on our side, the year 2021 will be a beautiful year for us all.

Please feel free to share on your different social media platforms because together we can impact lives.

Yemisi Dabiri.