Helpful and unhelpful thoughts
In addition to actions, positive thoughts can help reduce stress. While it’s not possible to feel positive all the time, focusing on positive thinking can help us feel better and move past negative thoughts more easily. You can’t control which thoughts come into your head, but you can choose which ones to focus on.
Positive thinking doesn’t mean pretending everything is perfect. It’s about training your mind to find the good, however small, in everyday situations. This helps us notice more positives that often go unnoticed.
Not every day will be great, and some days will be tough. But with practice, you can get better at replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. Start by taking situations you view negatively and trying to find a positive angle. It might be hard at first, but it will get easier with practice.
- “I can not do this!”
- “Not yet! But if I keep at it, and take it one step at a time, I can do it!”
- “I can’t do this as well as the others.”
- “Ok, I’m not so good at that – but I have my own unique strengths and abilities. I’m a good listener or I’m great at maths”
- “I can’t do it anyway.”
- “I’ve accomplished other things before, so I can do this too!”
- “I wish I was cooler.”
- “I am good the way I am – and that is exactly what my friends like about me.”
Trying to think more positively doesn’t mean you have to feel upbeat all the time or that you’re not allowed to have tough days, weeks, or even months. Just like anything else in life, it’s about finding a balance.
Managing your health can be really tough but it’s also an opportunity to learn and grow. Many people have found that they’ve learned more about themselves and developed important qualities like discipline and resilience along the way.
Maybe living with your disability has also brought some unexpected positives. It could have made you more empathetic and better at understanding others’ needs. You might be great at speaking up for others. It might have helped you figure out what’s most important to you in life and made you appreciate the things that bring you happiness.