One Habit That Can Transform Your Life and Become a Gift to Others

Understanding our behaviors, patterns, and habits is one of the best ways to transform your life.

“In order to move on, you must understand why you felt what you did and why you no longer need to feel it.” ― Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Habits are things we do naturally without thinking too much.

Habits, of course, can be bad or good.

For example, you may have a habit of checking to ensure all doors are locked before leaving home.

Or you may be used to eating breakfast at exactly 9, with a fresh glass of orange juice.

I just told you some of my habits.

Whether they’re good or bad, depends on the reader.

However, there is one habit that can transform your life.

And that is training your mind to counteract each negative thought with a positive one.

This habit, when practiced daily, can lead to:

• career advancement
• an improved outlook on life
• better physical and mental health

If you have a negative perspective, this habit can help turn you into a person of optimism, blessing others with your thoughts and words of goodness.

Below are three easy steps to ease you into this mindset.

But as with all habits, this requires focus and dedication.

It requires repetition until it becomes second nature and a part of who you are.

1) Recognize and Acknowledge Negative Thoughts

It’s crucial to recognize whenever you have a negative thought and know where your mind is drifting from there.

This negative thought can make you stressed or take out your frustrations on others.

It can also lead to you missing an opportunity.

Imagine if you thought you did not deserve a promotion and did nothing to fight this thought.

You would put yourself in a losing position!

Thus, missing this amazing opportunity.

The side effects of negative thoughts are endless.

Therefore, it is imperative that upon recognition and acknowledgment of negative thoughts, you move to step two.

If you want to transform your life, do not linger in negativity.

2) Think of the Positives

Immediately after recognizing the negative thought, begin re-shaping it to form a positive angle.

For example: when I was writing my first book, Women in Government: 10 Key Strategies to Advance Your Career, I began thinking, what if my book gets a bad rating? It will be unsuccessful.

However, I was aware of this thought and immediately changed it.

I imagined what would happen if my book became successful.

This means that I could help others advance their careers.

Then, I decided I would not let fear win.

This simple positive thought outweighed the negative.

I am glad I took part in this exercise because the positivity has tremendously reduced my fears and concerns.

3) Create an Emotional Investment

While this step may seem scary – especially if the desired outcome didn’t come true – it is important to connect emotionally with your positive thoughts.

Doing so will help you focus and be motivated by positivity instead of returning to negative thoughts.

Remember: even if the positive thought is unsuccessful, there is still a lesson to learn or a positive angle to explore.

This perseverance is what can truly transform your life.

For instance: if you didn’t let the negative thought hold you back from applying for a job and didn’t get the job, there is still positivity in the experience.

This experience has just helped you practice your interviewing skills and learn from any mistakes you may have made.

Imagine how it would feel once you land your dream job after trying other professions.

These trials prepared you to become effective in what you wanted to do.

However, imagine if you didn’t go through this struggle.

You may not appreciate, value, and enjoy your dream occupation.

Even worse, you may not be prepared for it (which could lead to losing that job).

Transform Your Life Today: Be the Gift You Want To See

One motto I live by that applies directly to this is:

“Everything happens for a reason.”

With this motto and mindset, I know that whatever happens in life has a bigger purpose.

I do not stress over negative or hurtful things because I know that, eventually, I will gain an understanding of why I experienced such hard times.

Even if it is to strengthen or prepare me for something in life, I am never disappointed with this mindset.

Sometimes, we must endure hard times to get to the good times.

We must go through the pain to get to happiness – and there is no way around it.

This is how you see the positive in the negative.

Are you ready to transform your life?

Sometimes we go through hard times or negativity to connect and share our stories with others to become a gift to their lives.

Hopefully, this exercise will help you be open-minded and think from many perspectives.

Don’t forget that everything happens for a reason.

Never stop training your mind to counteract each negative thought with a positive one so you can transform your life – and others – for the better.

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