Sometimes, blogging can be a drag. A major drag. When your brand is centered around the ins and outs of your perceived personal life, you inherently start relying on feedback from total strangers for validation. This validation exceeds the norms of professional accountability and taps into your mind, body, and spirit– with an emphasis on your mental and emotional well-being– and has a tendency to turn determined optimists into “realist” cynics. Naturally, once cynicism starts to creep in, it becomes painfully difficult to maintain a positive attitude. This is primarily because, as Success.com pinpointed, general optimism (including positive thinking, positive imagery, and positive self-talk) are all generally ambiguous concepts. Concrete examples and positive thinking techniques are necessary to help truly change your thoughts. 

So what are these positive thinking techniques exactly? If you ask a therapist, there are thousands. When I was recovering from my eating disorder, I was personally treated via cognitive-based therapy. It works, but it takes time. If you need a quick pick-me-up, I have a simple solution (and printable infographic) for you. My sweet and introspective boyfriend Kyle noticed I was feeling particularly down one morning, so he quickly threw together this brilliant “A Few Bad Work Feels and How to Beat Them” flow chart on his Surface Book. Naturally, I took his version and transformed it into something pretty– and pinnable for future reference.

Positive Thinking Techniques: Addressing the “Bad Feel”

If you find yourself feeling particularly tired, overwhelmed, or just plain bad about yourself on a given day, consider the following exercise(s). There’s no secret ingredient for boosting self esteem, nor is there any clinical research to show its efficacy. All I can say is that even on my worst days– when my counselor isn’t available and I don’t have access to my intricate cognitive-based therapy worksheets, I use this little flowchart. As long as I’m willing to take the time to stop, breathe, and contemplate the root of my feelings, I end up in a better head space.

Positive Thinking Techniques: A Practical Example

When I’m having a rough day, I walk myself through whatever “bad feel” is currently plaguing me. Here’s a practical example of a conversation I now have with myself on a weekly basis:

Bad Feeling: I’m the biggest loser in the world. Why do I feel bad about myself right now? Because nobody likes me. Well, actually because I’m not growing fast enough on social media.

Am I even judging myself on a relevant metric? Well, no. Social media has nothing to do with my self worth or my overall impact on the lives of young men and women battling mental illness. Focus on helping and serving instead of how popular or impressive you are. My purpose in life isn’t measured by an ostentatious number of followers– a number that’s out of my control and easily manipulatable in the age of bots and loop giveaways. 

What bad things are you saying to yourself? I’m not growing on social media because my content isn’t good enough. I’m not good enough. Write down 5 good qualities (about yourself or your business) for every bad one. I may be flawed, but my flaws make me beautiful. I’m a good person with a good heart, and my integrity keeps me from taking short cuts. I have a kick-butt sense of humor that’ll help me through any rough situation. I’m intelligent, and my opinions are always valid. My journey’s been rough, but I’m a fighter, and I always will be.

What would my best friend say? She’d say that my blog’s traffic continually grows and that I should be proud of all my progress. I don’t take short cuts on Instagram, and I still get awesome collaborations because I’m a hard worker and because I create awesome content. Call my BFF. She’ll reiterate her hypothetical response directly. 

Remember you’re awesome. Well, duh. 

Follow the guided cognitive progressions for fatigue and anxiety, as well. You’ll be amazed at how a few simple questions and exercises can provide you with such clarity. 

About the Mastermind

I have to take a minute to brag about my boyfriend Kyle Eschenroeder for a second. He’s a modern philosophical genius who’s inspired hundreds of thousands of readers with his writing over the past few years. From popular articles about overcoming imposter syndrome to his recently-published Pocket Guide to Action, a compilation of 116 meditations on the art of doing, everyone can benefit from reading his insightful words. I mean, he literally threw this chart together in under fifteen minutes. Here’s the evidence:

I’m super lucky to get to pick his brain on a daily basis. If you want to receive his weekly emails, which are condensed round-ups of his favorite things on the internet, you can sign up here. 

So, remember– Positive vibes. Positive mind. Positive life. Even when anxiety, fatigue, and negativity seem like they’re winning, your mind is your most powerful weapon. Use it.

[bctt tweet=”Good vibes only! Use these positive thinking techniques to conquer the cynic in you.” username=”stephanieziajka”]

Have a great week, y’all!