Practicing optimistic thinking enables individuals to concentrate on their strengths as well as focus on accomplishments that enhance happiness and motivation. The following 10 tips for having a positive mindset offer useful suggestions which you can use to assist you to shift into better thinking patterns.

1. Take Proper Care of Yourself
It is easier to stay positive while you are feeling strong, doing exercises, and getting adequate rest. Your body is functioning at an optimum level free of pain, stress, and illness that can distract you. Self-image has a tremendous impact on your mindset.

2. Recall the Things You’re Grateful For
Taking time each day to stop and enjoy the good things in life can make a big difference. As you go through the garden, don’t hesitate to rest and smell the roses. Setbacks and challenges do not appear quite as bad whenever you are continually recalling the things which are positive in your life. Things are never as bad as they appear to be.

3. Search for the Proof Rather than Making Assumptions
In case you have a concern that a friend or family member's poor mindset is because of something you have done, or that your fellow workers are privately gossiping about you behind your back, do not hesitate to ask them. Do not waste your time wondering if you did something wrong until you have evidence that there is reason to be concerned.

4. Avoid Making use of Absolutes
Speaking and thinking in absolutes such as 'always' ( for example, You're ALWAYS late ) and also 'never' (for example, I NEVER do anything right) makes the situation appear even worse than it is, and forces your brain to believe that certain individuals, as well as yourself, are not capable of coming through when needed.

5. Remove Negative Thoughts
Your thoughts cannot have any power over you in case you do not assess them. If you observe yourself developing a negative thought, remove it, and do not follow it. You have the ability to shift your mind from one thought to another in a matter of seconds. Yes, discriminate against what comes into your mind.

6. Crush the "ANTs"
"ANTs" (automatic negative thoughts) are actually the bad thoughts which are generally reactionary, such as "Those people are whispering, they must be talking about me," or "The boss wants to meet with me? It must be something bad!" When you recognize these types of thoughts, understand that they are simply ANTs and just crush them.

7. Practice Caring and Touching (Your family and friends)
You do not have to be a professional to understand the advantages of a great hug. Positive bodily contact with friends, family members, and even domestic pets is an immediate pick-me-up. It’s a way of letting others know that you are concerned and care about them.

8. Enhance your Social Activity
By boosting social activities, you reduce solitude. Surround yourself with happy, healthy folks, and you will be affected by their positive energy in a positive manner. Be spontaneous in reaching out and connecting with others. Don’t allow social distancing to cause you to lose contact with others.

9. Help Someone Else
Everybody feels great after helping. It is possible to give of your cash, your time, or your other resources. As you put more positive energy and well-being into the universe, you will receive more in exchange. The more you give, the more you get.

10. Fight Constant Worrying
If you constantly worry, the best way to prevent it is to disrupt the pattern of thinking and force yourself to think of something totally different. Worrying is similar to hyper-focus on something which is negative. It is never going to change the situation; it's simply too much-wasted energy. Try altering your physical surroundings - go for a stroll or sit outdoors. You can also call a friend, read a book, or listen to some music.

I hope these suggestions help to enhance your ability to maintain a positive mindset. You have the ability to choose your thoughts, so chose them wisely to maximize your talents, skills, and knowledge.

Written by Dr. RL Kight for Mind Power Solutions. Visit www.mindpowersolutions.com to learn more about our personal development and training services.

Almost everyone remembers the song ‘Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby McFerrin's simple message surely made a lot of people happy by telling them not to worry. Years later, Pharrell Williams came out with another popular song ‘Happy’ which also encouraged people to be happy.

Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is magnificent and is also good for your health. Being happy can actually protect you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to the top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

One of the most truthful things ever said is – “The only thing in life that is certain is change”, and in our life, we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find comfort in the knowledge that it too will change. It's about being able to hang on through the storm because the strong winds will soon calm down.

Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. Unfortunately, we sometimes spend too much energy trying to convert people into who we would like them to be. They have a right to be themselves. If arguments seem unavoidable, try and make an effort to understand the other point of view and you might just get along well with them.

Happiness is actually found in everyone, releasing it is a way to make life more wonderful and also healthier.

To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Although happiness is more of a frame of mind, most of us have been conditioned to look to things and others to make us happy. The author Manda Hale says it best, "Happiness is an inside job. Don't assign anyone else or anything that much power over your life." The choice is yours, choose to be happy.

There are several ways by which you can do this.

Being grateful is a great attitude. Take a moment each day to express your gratitude. Even when situations don’t turn out the way you would have liked, be thankful that you still have an opportunity to make it better. Thank the people around you no matter how small their contribution because no one is obligated to do anything for us. Thank your loved ones, friends, and coworkers. And, most of all thank God for being alive.

The news is stressful. Take in less of it. Some people just can't start their day without a dose of news. Think about it, 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Don’t allow bad news to enter the first two hours of your day. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do.

A spiritual connection is also recommended. Being engaged in spiritual activities such as singing, yoga, chanting, prayers, and meditations promote inner peace. Get grounded in happiness at the beginning of each day by participating in some type of spiritual upliftment.

Manage your time wisely. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management system. However, it’s all for nothing if the use of your time doesn’t produce the results you desire.

Laugh and laugh heartily every day. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it, if it’s in good taste. As they also say -'Laughter is the best medicine'. A wise man once shared with me, “Find something to laugh about yourself every day.” We don’t have to take ourselves so seriously to take life seriously.

Express your feelings, affections, friendship, and passion to people around you. They will most likely return your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury, hurt to anyone or place you in a compromised position.

Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being capable to finish whatever you started. A sense of accomplishment is vital to our well-being, it gives meaning to our lives. Work on things that you feel has value.

Learning is a lifelong experience. We are either growing mentally or being left behind. Try and learn something new every day. Learning enables us to expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future.

Maintain a personal physical fitness program. Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Your program should consist of a combination of strengthening, endurance, and flexibility activities. The body wasn’t made to sit still and waste away. Feel alive.

Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, music, toxins, and hazardous places or conversations. Being constantly engaged in negative environments or people has a way of bringing us down emotionally. If the situation does not contribute to your upliftment as a human being move away from it.

These are the few simple things you can do every day to be happy.

Remember this quote from Abraham Lincoln, he says, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." You have the power to be happy.

Written by Dr. RL Kight for Mind Power Solutions. Visit www.mindpowersolutions.com to learn more about our personal development and training services.