Cultivating Positivity

Cultivating positivity is not as easy as 1..2..3. Some days it can seem hard to find your smile. For whatever reason, our moods take us on wild roller-coaster rides and the lows try to suck us down. Shifting your frame of mind is usually the hardest battle. It’s not the thoughts that get carried away, it’s us paying attention to them. Paying attention is what keeps inner negative thoughts alive. Attention is like adding fuel to that fire. If you stopped paying attention to the negative chatter, it would cease to exist. But, it’s not that easy. Sometimes it’s so simple to hop aboard that negative train and just ride it, with no destination in sight. Knowing, spotting and addressing when this behavior happens, can help you change your state of mind before it changes you.

Affirmations

Affirmations are one of the best ways to take cultivate positivity. Literally filling your mind with a positive saying that you repeat to yourself, leaves no room for negative thoughts to linger. The best part? You can do this ANYWHERE. In your car, in the bathroom, in line at the store, at your desk, in a meeting, riding the elevator, cooking, working out, meditating, watching tv, laying in bed, etc.

You can take any phrase and make it your own personal affirmation. You might even need a few go-to affirmations depending on what kind of day you are experiencing. Either way, find something that resonates with you on a personal level. Something that makes you feel good, smile, and takes away any negativity you might be feeling. Affirmations are usually repeated internally, but it can also be very powerful to hear your words out loud. Do what works best for you!

We are going to share some of our favorite affirmations. Feel free to use them or maybe they will inspire you to cultivate the phrase or phrases that your soul needs!

10 Positive Affirmations

I am strong and I am beautiful. I am enough.
All things are temporary.
With every breath, I release the anxiety and fear within me.
I am so happy, blessed and grateful for the life I have.
There are endless opportunities around me.
Their opinions don’t affect me.
I refuse to give up.
Today I choose happiness.
Good things are coming even if I can’t see them.
Enjoy the process of becoming.

The Power of Words

Words are so strong and they have the power to help and heal but also hurt you. That’s why it is important to have positive inner dialect and positive words spread around you. That can be thinking them, writing them down on a sticky note and putting them on a mirror, or even putting a positive saying on your phone’s screen saver. Spoken words are extremely powerful and you have control of the words you use. We challenge you to surround yourself with positive words and notice how that affects your mindset and well being.

We know that affirmations can be very personal, but if you feel so inclined to share one of your favorite affirmations, we would love to hear it!

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Escaping Through Reading

Books are a great way to escape. Whenever I start reading a new book, I get out of my head, and the world around me fades. Some books have different impacts on you than others, but some special ones have the ability to change the way you think. I have always loved reading especially for this purpose. I have so many favorites, but these five books changed the way I viewed things in my life. They are ones that I have marked up with notes, dog-eared the crap out of and recommend to others. There’s something special about finding a unique book that can change your perspective.

5 Books That Will Change the Way you Think

1) The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer : This book will change the way you view yourself, your thoughts and your journey through this life. This book helped me see things in a different light. It helped me to understand that I’m not alone in the way I think and feel. It discusses the Self and the Ego and helps you break down walls you might not have realized you had up. If you are looking for a read that will take you on a ride to discovering your inner Self and Soul… then this book is for you. You can purchase it here.

2) Opening the Hand of Thought by Kosho Uchiyama: This book took me a while to get through. It was one that I kept re-reading chapters, and I highlighted passages throughout the entire text. It’s a little bit more of a difficult read regarding breaking down the information. There are so many useful, insightful and thought-provoking paragraphs in this book. It breaks down the Self and how to truly find peace of mind. This book introduced me to zazen, and it also breaks down how to properly meditate. One of my favorite passages from this book, ” This is what a true spiritual practice is about: not spirit or mind separated from the body and the world, but a true way of life. This is what zazen is- a practice of living out the fresh reality of life.” This will always be one of my most cherished and beloved books. You can purchase it here.

3) The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck by Mark Manson: It’s no secret that ‘fuck’ is one of my favorite words so yes, I was at first sucked in solely on the title. And yes, fuck is used quite often throughout the book as well. This is a nice, easy and entertaining read. It’s a self-help book without really feeling like a self-help book. It reminds us that we all have problems but the choices we make depends on whether or not those problems define us. It talks a lot about the psychology of people and that all of us..are well.. fucked up on some level. Pick and choose what is worth giving a fuck about. “And if you go around giving a fuck about everything and everyone without conscious thought or choice- well, then you’re going to get fucked.” You can buy this gem here.

4) Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh: This book is a breath of fresh air. It’s a light and easy to read. From discussing conscious breathing to different types of mediation, love, compassion, and looking inside yourself. This book is a beautiful read and will make you happier reading it. It makes you stop and think about just how lucky and beautiful the present moment is. Things are not always as bad as they seem, it’s all in how you react to situations. “Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.” Pick up a copy here.

5) Recovery by Russell Brand: I originally bought this book to help understand the addiction that someone I love is battling with. I started this book with an open mind but didn’t think that within the first chapter that I would be learning about my own addictions. When we think of addictions, we typically think drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. But, there are endless addictions out there. Social media, food, negative ways of thinking, shopping, and gambling, are all addictions and just the tip of the addiction iceberg. I did the exercises in this book and wrote down things I wanted to change about myself. Not only did I get to see things from an addicts perspective but I always learned things about myself that I didn’t view as addictions. Russell Brand is raw and honest, and I truly enjoyed this book. He has a clever spin on the 12 step program, and I highly recommend this book.Even if you aren’t an “addict” you can still learn greatly from this book. You can grab it here.

Conclusion

There are millions of books on millions of different topics. You can download books on your phone or tablet, get audio versions or the classic hardcover or softcover editions. The options are endless, and there is something out there to quench your thirst for knowledge. These five books are just a few of my favorites, and hopefully, they will peak your interest. Please let us know if you have read any these or share your favorites with us! I always love getting new reading material!

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