Do This One Thing Before Sleep Every Night To Make Yourself Happy!
When clichéd advice failed me, I found my own path to positivity after the sun went down.
During my depressive years, people constantly told me to just be happy and positive. But no one explained how to cultivate a mindset aligned with positivity. In my sadness, I only focused on the negative and dark side of life.
I then began searching for ways to develop a more positive mindset. I discovered the work of Daniel Amen and other thought-provoking experts, which helped me set goals to turn my pessimism into optimism.
I started with a simple nightly journaling habit using the following prompts:
- The best thing that happened today
- 3 things I feel grateful for today
- What I would like more of in my life
- What I would like less of in my life
This journaling cultivated gratitude, which in turn catalyzed a revolution in my mindset – a revolt against hopelessness and unhappiness. Focusing on the positive each night before bed slowly but surely reshaped my perspective.
The Mechanism
There’s no need to reiterate the proven benefits of practicing gratitude. This simple journaling routine helps train our focus onto the positives in life.
Our minds contain neural pathways that strengthen with repeated use – After thinking negatively for so long those gloomy pathways become stronger. But by consciously seeking out things to appreciate, I began carving out new trails directed around positivity. With regular journaling, I engaged and reinforced those brighter pathways while starving the gloomier ones. Eventually, spotting and savoring the hopeful and good became a reflex.
Authors note: I’ve armed many other strategies that have helped me transform my negative outlook on life into a more positive one. I look forward to sharing those in future posts. My reason has been because of my 2023 goal: Shift to Positive Thinking.
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