5 Ways to Attract Positive Things In Your Life
In all the years I have tortured myself with thoughts of the past, and longings of 'what was,' as well as the anxiety of what was to come---I wish I knew what I knew now, and how powerful the mind is. I read so many articles and books on the laws of attraction and how your mind has the ability to magnetize positive things in your life. I should have known to utilize all that I've learned---but better late than never. It's especially difficult when you go through traumatic events in your life, like a loss of a loved one, divorce, moving to a new home or losing a job. These are all huge life events that can take your positive mindset and bury it into a deep grave. At that point, there's no hope. Sometimes, we even play victim and tell ourselves that only bad things happen to us. The more we think bad things happen to us, the more bad things actually happen. But what if you can turn those thoughts around in the midst of your negative mindset?
I will share what has helped me transition my thoughts from negative to positive, which has transitioned my external circumstances from negative to positive.
Gratitude List
When you first wake up in the morning, thank God for the much needed rest you got. Thank Him for waking up with air in your lungs. Some people didn't even wake up at all. Write down at least five things you are grateful for. Be thankful for the hot coffee, for the sun shining into your bedroom, for the ability to take a hot shower and for the clean towels in your linen closet. Be thankful for the warm bed you got up from. These little "thank yous" go a long way. It attracts more positivity into your life---it also attracts more beautiful mornings. Sometimes it can be hard to be thankful especially if you are experiencing pain, like a back ache or in my case, an injured knee, that I could barely walk on. So I thanked God for the pain. Be thankful for pain! Because think about it---without pain, you would not be so thankful for the good days of not feeling pain. The more you resist, the more the pain persists. It's a law.
Help Your Future Self
When you think about your future self---(I'm talking about you in 5 or more hours) help yourself get set up for the day. In the morning, make your bed when you wake up. You'll be so glad you did. It psychologically sets up your day. When you see the dirty coffee cups and plates in the sink, wash them immediately. Your future self will thank you. Get the tasks done early, so that you can be free to do the things you want at the end of the day. Procrastination used to be a huge problem of mine, but now that I get it out of the way, my future self has a chance to unwind and enjoy the late afternoon after a day's work.
Racing Thoughts At Bedtime
Have you ever just laid in bed and your mind is just racing with a bunch of nonsense? And it's super hard to slow it down---it won't stop. I sometimes have to go into my office and write down every single thought or "to do list" on a piece of paper. Sometimes I find myself writing down the frustrations of the day. Then, when I go to lay down, my mind feels a little more calmer. Focus on your breath. Four seconds in...hold for 4...and then 8 seconds out. Keep exhaling out even longer. First for the 8 seconds, then try for the 10 seconds, 12 seconds, 14 seconds. This is called breathwork. Feel the rise and fall of your diaphragm---be present and watch those negative thoughts dissipate.
Let More People Into Your Life
I remember when I was in a little bit of a funk, I was unknowingly isolating myself, because some people mistreated me. My trust factor was pretty low. But I came across a scripture that resonated with me---it spoke to the circumstance I was currently in. In Romans 12:12-18 --- within this passage it said, "And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, or if they need lodging for the night." It also stated, "Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible." I finally said yes to my friends who wanted to come by and visit me or go out to dinner. I said yes to the lunch dates and dinner invites. I finally had the neighbors over for dinner and drinks, and now we do this on a regular basis. I see my family much more than I used to and it makes my heart complete. I didn't realize how important socialization is to our psychological health.
Do What You Love
With all of these positive steps I had taken, I found myself doing what I love again. I love to cook and edit videos. So now, I give my recipes in a video format that's narrated. It's a beautiful thing when someone messages me with a photo and says, "I tried your recipe and it was delicious!" That's my reward. I also found myself playing guitar again and writing music like I used to. These things are my passions in life. Now, I sometimes add my own music into my food videos so I don't get a copyright infringement notice. I literally create everything, from the food, the music and the recipe itself. Find your happy place, whether it be knitting, walking, learning a new language or just entertaining guests. Take a hot bath at the end of the day with candles and soft music. Do something you've been longing to do. No excuses.
Remember, self-care is not selfish. How can you take care of anybody else if you can't take care of you? Once you start treating yourself better---better things will come to you. If you constantly have a negative dialogue with yourself or look in the mirror and say negative things, then people will actually sense that when they see you. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you ARE enough. You ARE a good person. You ARE beautiful. You ARE worth fighting for. You ARE.
I love you.
For more of Deb's articles, please visit: www.debrapasquella.com or join her on Facebook and Twitter. Check out her cooking blog at DebsCucina.com for some of her famous recipes and check out her Instagram full of food videos!