‘Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.’ ~ Willie Nelson

Posted by aino on April 17th, 2008 |Filed Under motivation |

So this idea of “Fake it till you make it” is one that I’ve come across almost everywhere. The reason I used to balk at this piece of advice is because I always thought that it was (a) deluding myself, (b) it just glossed over the issue and that somehow I would turn into a Stepford girl.

But maybe it has merit after all. The power of positive thinking,  of  suggestion is huge. Books such as this,  or this are convinced that just by thinking something, and believing in it, it’ll happen. I’ve always scoffed at this notion - what? I’ll just miraculously grow 5 inches taller? But maybe the mind if a different matter.

However, it may not simply be enough to say “Oh Aino, you’re worth it!”  Yes, I am worth it. That’s why I get so mad when I don’t get what I’m worth - because there’s a sense of entitlement, and when that sense is unfulfilled and ignored, I can’t handle it.

I have to figure out the business of positive thinking, and make it positive and right thinking. I need to learn how to turn around every seemingly negative situation into a positive one. This is something I can do for others very well - point out the good of their situations. But when it comes to myself, I become very bitter and cranky. I take on a very fatalistic attitude. Ofcourse this happened to me, Of course my car died, Of course I’m broke, Of course I won’t lose weight easily, Of course I will die alone.  Whereas whenever something good comes my way, I find it easy to dismiss it as something nice, but not good enough.Yes, I got that raise but I still have my student loans to pay off. It’s not enough!  Yes, I lost 15 pounds but I still have at least another 15 pounds to lose. Yes, I am a sweet, funny person but I’m not beautiful and sexy. 

I always negate the positives in my life. And that’s something I really really really have to work on. (I also have to stop ending my sentences with prepositions! Sr.Carmen is probably rolling in her grave right now!). I need to do this for myself. I’m worth this.


Comments

2 Comments so far

  1. bosoxfan on April 20, 2008 4:22 pm

    I think to a certain degree, yes, you do have a to fake it a little at first. But I have come to be a big believer in positivity breeding more positivity. Everyone’s car dies sometimes, everyone’s broke at times, and everyone feels like losing weight is a battle we won’t win. But, if you start off by thinking you can’t, or that’s it just your luck, then you’re screwing yourself from the start.

    I think of it this way. I teach 5th graders and I would never say negative things like “that’s just you” or “well, yeah, you can’t do that”. So why would I say it myself??? We are too easy on others, and not kind enough to ourselves. When I run, I sometimes get frustrated that I’m not going long enough, or fast enough. But then I think about how many people would LOVE for their legs to work so they could run and not be confined to a wheelchair. So instead, I run as much as I can, thinking the entire time about how I am grateful and impressed that my legs can do this in the first place. Those kinds of thoughts are easy first steps to positive thinking!

  2. Aino on April 21, 2008 5:40 pm

    thanks bosoxfan - yes i realized that once i start thinking differently the positive thoughts/attitude would snowball from there. But i hadn’t realized how hard it is to get started after years of negative thinking! :) I’m trying to work on it, one steopp at a time :)

    I have an update about my running - so watch out for the next post! :)

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