If you practice positive thinking, but you aren’t getting the results you expect, don’t declare it doesn’t work just yet. Oftentimes, a lack of results is usually caused by a source of equal of greater negative energy.  Sometimes, this blockage is taking place without you even realizing it.  Here’s a list of 9 things that can stunt positive thinking (without you even realizing it).

9 Things That Can Stunt Positive Thinking

1. Unhealthy eating habits

Studies show that poor nutrition can actually contribute to depression, deterring your goal of positive thinking.  Excessive weight gain can lead to lower self-esteem and quickly become a slippery slope.  And to add to it, many of today’s processed foods actually make you addicted to them, trapping you in a vortex of unhealthiness and unstable body chemistry.

Take the time to put LOVE into your body, one bite at a time.  Look at your ingredient labels, pine for the word organic, and consume as many unprocessed, whole foods as you can.  And make sure to eat lots of plant based foods!  It’s better for the environment on Earth, in your mind, and in your body.

2.Being in a negative social environment

Even though you’re doing your best to practice positive thinking, you may not realize that it’s those around you that unload their negative energy onto you. You know who they are, talking negatively about the people around them and their own life experiences.  And they may not even be realizing it, but their “venting” process is actually affecting your own positive energy.

Studies have shown that the energy associated with people’s auras can actually affect the energies of others.  Even if a person were to leave a room, their unique energy would linger where they were.

Keep yourself associated with other positive thinkers and more positive things will happen.  Simple as that.

3. Living a sedentary lifestyle

Findings from the University of Washington shows that a sedentary lifestyle can lead to health problems, including depression.  During the entire course of your life, you can literally NEVER run out of things to do.  There are far more places than you could ever visit, and far more activities to participate in, no matter what your ability. Pick something (anything) that you love that involves moving around and be sure to keep it as a staple on your weekly schedule, even if you only do it twice per week.

4. Negative Self-Talk

How do you speak of yourself to yourself?  How you live your life is largely determined by that “eency-weency” voice inside your head.  If that voice tells you things you don’t want, it’s important to speak up for what you DO want.

Research has shown that positive self-talk can have many benefits, such as improved reduced stress and improved health.  Affrmations can even help you improve in a variety of life settings.  There are many reasons why positive affirmations are important – and if you don’t make a habit of repeating them,  they’re easily lost.  What we repeatedly focus on expands.

It’s time to program new thoughts and habits with the affirmations below to help bring you what you DO want as opposed to what you don’t want.

5. Cluttered surroundings

Clutter can keep you from your goal of positive thinking.  When your surroundings are cluttered, your mind is cluttered and it can be easy to lose track of your mission, vision and purpose in life. The Princeton Neuroscience Institute  also released a study showing that physical clutter can actually affect your ability to focus and process information negatively.

When trying to both attain and keep a clear, positive thinking mind, clutter can distract you. This is especially true if you are a clean person by nature. De-clutter your workspace, garage, bedroom, closet, or another part of your place.

6. Lack of sleep

A lack of sleep can hinder your clarity and ability to think positively.  In a poll taken in 2005, it was found that many people that slept 6 hours or less per night were diagnosed with depression or anxiety at some point in their recent lives.

We know that it may not be your fault you’re missing out on good sleep either.  You could be up all night with a baby, or cramming for work or school studies.  Just try to get as much sleep as you can (including power naps) and you’ll knock down this potential pitfall in no time.

7. Job you don’t like

Being in a job you don’t like can directly impact your positive thinking practices without you even knowing it.  Sometimes we feel trapped in a job because it pays well, or is where we feel most comfortable.  If you can, shop yourself around and look for a new job.  You can also re-tool by learning new skills (that you can actually acquire online, for free!) and moving into a field that you think more positively about.

If you do nothing about this, the blockage can continue to occur until it ultimately erupts – and you may find yourself forced out of the position you disliked.

8.Improper Hydration

Reports have revealed that dehydration can actually affect your mood, leading you down an undesirable path of negativity and away from positive thinking.  Be sure to get at least 64 ounces of water intake per day to stay properly hydrated, healthy, and happy!

9. Judgement

The major block to compassion is the judgment in our minds. Judgment is the mind’s primary tool of separation.

Diane Berke

Judgment takes our own focus on positive thinking and twists it into talking about the shortfalls of others.  It is not our job to judge, and the only person you should be concerned about improving is your own self, for you and the examples you set for those around you.  Break free of the bondage judgment holds on you and let your positive thinking travel freely through your thoughts, words, and actions.

Have you experienced “positive thinking blockers” in your life?

Share them below to help the community identify and release the patterns of negativity to live their best life!

We grow through life as we go through life, and a large part of that growth comes from the life lessons we learn. Some lessons open your heart, and some lessons open your mind, but beware the lessons that close you, for they will leave you blind.

You can attain much wisdom from these life lessons, and the best part is, you don’t even have to learn them the hard way.

Here are 11 life lessons you don’t have to learn the hard way

Life teaches us that positive self-talk is vital to well being.

We give feedback on what we think about ourselves every day.  Whether these are internal thoughts, or through discussions with those around us, pay attention to how you perceive yourself.  If you believe in and affirm your awesomeness, you’re ready to rock this life ahead.

If your thoughts and words about yourself are negative, it’s time to take a good look in the mirror and say “I love you” to the person you see. First accept who you are and where you are, right now.

What you believe you become. We cannot continuously have negative thoughts and make negative assertions about ourselves with an expectation to live a positive life.

Life teaches us to be aware of our thoughts.

Our mind produces 50,000 thoughts per day.  Of course we can’t be conscious of them all, but we can make these subconscious thoughts work to our advantage through constant reminders.  Programming your mind by allowing the right neurons to fire together will create a new positive framework that your brain operates on.

Life teaches us to let go of what no longer serves us.

When the time comes to move forward in life, you’ve got to see the signals.  The Universe can’t deliver what you’ve been waiting for if you’re not creating the room in your life it requires.

I heard a story once of a massage therapist who was ready to quit his job, as it was no longer serving him.  An opportunity came for him to have his own personal working space for clients in a new building, an opportunity to branch out on his own! At nearly the same time, his current place of employment was cutting his hours.

Instead of seeing the opportunity to jump into the next step in his life, he chose to focus on the lack of hours coming from what no longer served him.  Life was MAKING room for the next step.  All he had to do was let go…

Life teaches us that happiness is a choice to be made.

Choosing happiness doesn’t have to be difficult.  It all starts with your first thought.  Were you happy to wake up this morning?  Express it! Your actions are important, but your reactions and your choice to be happy are your very own.  Ultimately, your own happiness depends on you.

Life teaches us to see the perfect moments in life, not the imperfectness of life.

This life lesson was realized most during parenting.  When you have a child, they could cry for 23 hours a day, but if one hour of that day is spent smiling, laughing, and hearing them say “I love you”, it makes everything perfect.

Life doesn’t have to be a loss if you aren’t where you ultimately want to be, or if you are missing a few pieces of the puzzle.  Know that life delivers all parts at the perfect time, and it’s up to us to see those single moments of perfection that have already been placed into your perspective

Life teaches us to keep it simple.

Making things complicated, creating drama, and beating around the bush are all ways to complicate your life.

Keep it simple.  If you miss someone, contact them. If you have a question, don’t be afraid to ask. Or, if you want others to understand you, explain. If you don’t like something, change it, or at least change what you think about it.  Most importantly, if you love someone, by all means tell them!  You don’t want them to be the one that got away.

Life teaches us we’re a lot richer than we realize.

Wealth isn’t measured solely in currency.  In fact, the things that are worth the most are largely taken for granted by society.  If you have a family that cares for you, friends to enjoy, food in your stomach and a place to rest your head, you are far richer than you may realize.  Enjoy and appreciate this true wealth, because just like money, you can’t take it with you.

Life teaches us to see the good ahead.

Bob Proctor once said “It doesn’t matter where you are, you are nowhere compared to where you can go.”

At every level of achievement, there’s a greater milestone waiting to be accomplished.  Your perspective will continually be expanded as you grow.  See that there is limitless good available in front of you, and always look toward that bright shining beacon of possibility.

Life teaches us to say “I love you” more.

No one is guaranteed their next breath.  Saying I love you to those you care for is the most powerful sentence in the world.  Why not take advantage of this power?  Not only is it important to say I love you more, it’s equally important to prove it with loving actions.  It can be as simple as a phone call or a postcard – either way, your positive actions have a positive effect in someone’s life, and in turn, on the world.

Life teaches us to be an encourager.

There are enough critics in the world, aren’t there?  When you aim to uplift people and support their positive vision, you see that there is so much more to life than trying to find the fault.  Even if they’re a competitor in the professional marketplace, it’s good practice to encourage them toward their best effort.  Their mission, much like yours, is to serve someone or something in some way.  Trying to pillage their efforts and tear them down is ultimately a disservice to those who you’re both trying to serve.

Life teaches us to see our true potential.

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, and reaching your goals depends on whether you believe you can.  When you believe that you have the same ability as anyone in the world to attract the life you desire, your potential energy becomes kinetic more and more.  Let your light increasingly shine and never look back!

Life teaches us to express gratitude daily. (BONUS!)

It’s very important to realize the power of being grateful for what we have. Typically, it’s very easy to focus on what is going wrong instead of what is going right. Research shows, again and again, that people who practice gratitude on a daily basis are healthier, happier, and more effective.

Throughout the day, intentionally look for things to be thankful for. If you really want to get into the art (and success) of gratitude, create a list of five or ten things that you are grateful for and commit to that practice daily.

What has life taught you?

How often do you actually say yes?

If it’s often, good for you. I’m almost certain that you’re in a great place in your life. But, if you find yourself saying no often, which is where many people are, do you realize you’re limiting yourself and closing the doorway to your best life?

Now, I’m not talking about saying yes to things that are truly no good for you, or being a “people pleaser” and saying yes to everyone and everything until you are completely (emotionally, mentally and physically) drained. I’m referring to agreeing to new things for YOU! Sieze the day for new opportunities, new experiences, fresh ideas and discoveries that get you out of your daily comfort zone and attain the growth your soul seeks.

The “yeses” that take work (and sometimes, a lot of work) but they completely, utterly, fantastically change your life! This space I’m talking about is where all the magic happens.

Here are 3 Reasons to Say YES More Often

1. You’ll gain more confidence and self worth.

When you say yes more often to what feels good (and is for your highest good) you open up the flood gates of opportunity. Here, you gain more beliefs in your abilities. This newfound confidence will bring even more positive momentum on your journey to success.

2. You’ll meet new people (and build life-long friendships).

All humans are of the same species, so it’s up to us to be open to one another.  And opening your mind to the minds of others can literally change your life.  Releasing the bondage of societal ideals lets you fluently communicate with people you may have never talked with before.  You may even make a best friend.

3. You’ll discover new opportunities, skills, and areas of interest.

Saying yes brings miracles and opportunities that exceed your expectations. Google’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt said it best during his commencement address at the University of California at Berkeley: “Find a way to say yes to things.”

Say yes to invitations to a new country. Or, to meeting new friends. And, say yes to learning a new language, or to picking up a new sport. This commitment is how you get your first job, and your next job. Yes is how you find your spouse and even your kids.

Even if it’s a bit edgy, a bit out of your comfort zone, saying yes means you will do something new, meet someone new and make a difference in your life, and likely in others’ lives as well. … Yes is a tiny word that can do big things. Say it often.”

Saying “Yes” requires work, commitment, and accountability, and sometimes that scares people away, especially if they feel unprepared or unmotivated. But here’s the reality: a positive response will always give you more than a no. A no is guaranteed failure. Nothing is ever stagnant, so a no is usually backward progress. Sure, there is no risk in a no… but there’s no fun in it either. Saying yes can be very fun. In the fun is where you find success”

Say yes to life and watch as life rewards you. So what do you say?

Have you ever considered how to become an everyday hero?

We are filled with gratitude for those who fight crime, save kidnapped children, and protect our humanity. But let us not forget, we can all be heroes in some way, every single day.

How?

Believe it or not, a cape and superhuman powers aren’t prerequisites for saving the world. You could be someone’s mentor without knowing it. Or, you may have just hired someone that was on plan Z before moving into their car. You may have given a piece of advice that turned someone’s whole life around.

It may even be as simple as the fact that you just delivered a hug to someone at a moment that couldn’t have come soon enough. You can do your part.  You can help save the world in some way, even if you only save yourself.

Your super senses are pinging. Your signal is in the sky. The world needs your unique gifts. Go!

ACTIONABLE AFFIRMATION (repeat this in a mirror daily):

I share my unique gifts with the world to help it heal, grow, and love.  I am an everyday hero!

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE AN EVERYDAY HERO

So, why is it important to cast yourself in the role of everyday hero? Take pause a moment and think about it.  If you want positive change, you must be the change.

You should strive to become all that you wish to see in the world.

In time, your efforts will be quietly noted. Your children, co-workers, partner, friends, and family will absorb your positivity. And then, you will succeed in implementing that change.

Besides that, you will grow spiritually as a result of this commitment.

DAILY INSPIRATION:

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To do well in life, you must believe in yourself. You are the one person you can truly rely on. Your belief about yourself and your abilities reflect in your personal success and happiness.  When you lack confidence in yourself, others pick up on that, and don’t take you seriously.  And in turn, your confidence can shrink even more.

Belief in yourself opens the doors of opportunity to your dreams and aspirations. It allows you to live your truth and be your best self.  You are an important and integral part of life as much as anyone and anything else. You have a purpose!  When you believe in yourself, the ability to follow your passions and live your purpose is available. You are allowing good things to come to you, and your belief in yourself allows you to act on those opportunities.

But, in this often highly competitive and demanding society we live in, we can feel small, unworthy and far from confident.

That doesn’t mean it’s not possible. It just takes specific skills and habits that must be consistently practiced.

Here are 5 Ways to Make Yourself Believe in Yourself:

1. Reflect on your past success.

If you’re in an emotional rut, use the tools from your past and get yourself out.

Here’s an exercise: Vividly remember a time when you absolutely just kicked butt! You rocked it! You exceeded your own expectation. 🙂 Put yourself there and feel the excitement and pride you had inside. Now, remember you can do it again.

It’s healthy to use the past to your advantage. Too often we easily recall what has hurt us, but we can just as easily allow the past to help us propel.

If you need a bigger boost, repeat the exercise.

2. Seek positive external validation.

Every day we are subconsciously seeking validation, essentially for love in some form. That level of validation depends upon the attitude of the people around us.

If we surround ourselves with positive people who care about us, cherish our strengths, and help us be uplifted, we will flourish. However, if we are around people with negative, limiting beliefs, we can become surrounded in a negative environment, not providing ourselves with the fertile ground we need to grow.

Happy, confident, successful people credit others. We all need positive encouragement. That can be a good friend, family member, or mentor.

3. Transform your self talk.

We create who we are, every day, by our daily beliefs and self talk. Our words are essentially affirmation. It’s important that we talk to ourselves with love and kindness. We deserve our own compliments.

For some that can be incredibly difficult. We can compliment and love others, but… love ourselves? It seems egotistical! But, it’s not.

You deserve your love and appreciation more than anyone else.  Shine your light and love towards every area you feel needs improvement.

Embrace your flaws? But, doesn’t that mean you’re accepting and allowing them to be there?

Actually, loving your flaws releases them and allows them to become whole and well again. If you are having a hard time, switch your focus to another area and come back to it later.

This practice can be achieved easier through daily personal affirmations and mirror work.

4. Give fears less credit, give yourself more.

Fear is merely false evidence appearing real. It’s worry set on fire. It holds you back from believing in yourself more than anything else. It’s an illusion.

Realizing that your fear is not real is the first step (which can actually be hard to do, so when you do you are well on your way).

Transcend the fear with action and do not hesitate. Yep, just like the Latin Proverb – Carpe Diem!

You are capable of much more than you believe. When you conquer fear you allow for more of your true self to shine. Keep up the momentum and declare to conquer a few fears in a specific amount of time (like once a month). In a year, you’ll look back and feel like a completely new you! 😉

5. Celebrate the positive.

Your everyday attitude affects how you treat yourself and others. Strive to be an optimist and see the good in the world. Focus on what you love about yourself and your strengths. Celebrate who you are and the good people you have in your life. Feel gratitude for everything going right and all the blessings on the way. Learn lessons from the challenges you’ve conquered.

A positive attitude is the quickest way to believing in yourself. It bypasses everything else and gets right to the end goal – happiness, love, success, and belief in yourself.

Join the conversation:

Have you overcome negative self-doubt? How? Let us know your ways to Make Yourself Believe in Yourself!