Will thinking positive get easy?

Sol · Post by **Sol** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 4:32 am

I am trying hard every day to be confident and talk to myself in a positive way and trying not to do the "what-if" and dwell on the guilt of the past... this is not easy. I am wondering if it does become a habit to think positive all the time and get considerably easier, or will it alway be a huge concious effort??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 4:48 am

Hi Sol,

Your progress will come in stages. First, you realize you have a problem. Second, you commit yourself to over coming the problem. Third, you get to a point where you realize you just "did it again". Fourth, you get to where you start catching yourself in the middle of doing it again. Fifth, you start catching yourself just before your "do it again" and you stop yourself from doing it.

Take comfort in the fact that you will make progress. It won't happen over night. You will slip up, but you will make progress and you will eventually start thinking positively much more than you think negatively.

Remember to interrupt the negative thoughts with your breathing, and refocus on something positive!

You can do it!!!!

Steve

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 7:03 am

I am on week 13 and I noticed that for a few days last week, for the first time, there was some automatic positive responses in my head to negative thoughts. It was really the first time, that my thoughts automatically did this. I am happy that this happened but when it didnt happen in the past few days I started thinking, "what if it was just a fluke. What if my brain is reverting and all my effort was for nothing!". I have to smile at this because I started having negative thoughts about the fact that I coudlnt counter my negative thoughts

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 9:26 am

i LOVE what steve wrote, and Trying hard. good stuff there sol. someone told me not long ago that this re-training old ways of negative thinking to positives, is kinda like learning anew language=i thought that a very good analogy. we all know if we do not use what we are learning,...like in practice practice practicing, its kind of a "use it or lose it"....but you also know it can be done, as many many others have done so with learning/practicing using a new language or skill. well, i tell myself that...because i know practicing something enough can make it more automatic...but, yes, i am thankful for times when others on here who have done the program and continue practicing its skills, ......=remind me. yes, it is sooooo easy to stop practicing, and so easily revery back to old ways of thinking that are so grooved into our brains...but it is also so probable that all our efforts trying to learn a new skill and all our practice-even in the past...can be "called up" to our minds with just a little re-practicing and re-training ourselves. in other words, be kind to all your hard efforts, and believe in all your efforts...and continue mastering your own self. Good wishes to one and all of us!

--<-@ Susan @->-- · Post by **--<-@ Susan @->--** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 10:28 am

Originally posted by h.beth:
i LOVE what steve wrote, and Trying hard. good stuff there sol. someone told me not long ago that this re-training old ways of negative thinking to positives, is kinda like learning anew language=i thought that a very good analogy. we all know if we do not use what we are learning,...like in practice practice practicing, its kind of a "use it or lose it"....but you also know it can be done, as many many others have done so with learning/practicing using a new language or skill. well, i tell myself that...because i know practicing something enough can make it more automatic...but, yes, i am thankful for times when others on here who have done the program and continue practicing its skills, ......=remind me. yes, it is sooooo easy to stop practicing, and so easily revery back to old ways of thinking that are so grooved into our brains...but it is also so probable that all our efforts trying to learn a new skill and all our practice-even in the past...can be "called up" to our minds with just a little re-practicing and re-training ourselves. in other words, be kind to all your hard efforts, and believe in all your efforts...and continue mastering your own self. Good wishes to one and all of us!

Yeah I would tend to think it is like learning an instrument or something. You work real hard to learn it as a begginer, but once you know how to do it, you still need to do a little bit from time to time, to maintain the skills.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 12:03 pm

Hi, I'm in my second week of the program, I'm not only having a hard time with the positive self talk, but I find it difficult to maintain a journal as well. Does anyone out there have any tips in this area? It seems like when I start writing, I tend to want to write too much, and then feel that what I took the time to write down, sounds foolish. Is this typical?
I also seem to find it hard to relax, will the relaxation tape help in that area also, with constant listening? Thanks for listening, and looking forward to any positive advice you can give.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:18 pm

I have found that writing down what I'm feeling and thinking is helping tremendously. Lucinda says there's magic in writing. It's true. Don't worry about what you write and don't reread it. Just write and close the book. I think the workbook for this session even says not to read what you've written(I'm also in session 2) and that you might even want to get rid of it later. But write what you're feeling and don't think it's a waste of time. It's worth it.

Originally posted by ROCKROCK:
Hi, I'm in my second week of the program, I'm not only having a hard time with the positive self talk, but I find it difficult to maintain a journal as well. Does anyone out there have any tips in this area? It seems like when I start writing, I tend to want to write too much, and then feel that what I took the time to write down, sounds foolish. Is this typical?
I also seem to find it hard to relax, will the relaxation tape help in that area also, with constant listening? Thanks for listening, and looking forward to any positive advice you can give.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:15 am

I used to have MAJOR issues with wanting to talk to people all the time and NEEDING to share what I was feeling with someone, but not doing it because I didn't want to be seen as weak...so (and we all know how this scenario goes!

) I'd build up all the anxiety and mostly depression inside instead. Writing, however, gives me that person to talk to about any and everything...ME! That advice to not re-read it was great! Don't do it now...maybe in years...or months or something. Now just use writing as a form of self-therapy and a forum to vent about those things that you don't feel comfortable sharing.

Best,
Dawn

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:34 am

You have to remember that negative thinking is a learned behavior which can be unlearned, it's a habit. We have the ability to change our negatives habits to positive ones. It will take effort and consistency on your part, but once you do it consistently for a bit, you'll notice when you start to slip back into the negative thinking. You will stop yourself because you'll realize negative thinking will not make you feel better. It's a process, but definitely one that will become a habit when you stop yourself and switch to positive thoughts. It's an amazing feeling to talk and think positive, it's so much better then all the negativity. I don't have much patience when I'm around negative people, I use to be able to join right in with them, but not anymore. I always try to see the light or the bright side of situations now. I wish you the best!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:40 am

Sol,

I remember having this very question. Yes, it gets a lot easier. A lot!