When faced with challenges, we always have a choice: to view them positively, as opportunities, or negatively. Ultimately, this mindset is up to us. Like muscles, the more we train our minds to focus on positive thinking, the stronger that habit becomes. As humans, we are naturally drawn to positivity. We tend to gravitate toward friends who have an optimistic outlook on life rather than those who see life as bleak. Similarly, when we cultivate hopefulness, we attract others, while a gloomy attitude often repels them.

Here are a few tips to help train your mind for positive thinking:

Be gentle and encouraging with yourself.
Avoid saying anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to a friend.
Evaluate negative thoughts rationally.
Counter negative thoughts with affirmations about your strengths and achievements.
Focus on the things in your life that you’re grateful for.

What other strategies do you suggest for practicing a positive mindset?