Assessment
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Quick Win
Replace negative thoughts and complaints with a focus on what you’re thankful for and happy about. This habit change may buoy your mood!
Try This Today
- Choose your words. Throughout the day, refrain from voicing complaints or criticisms. Keep your comments positive and appreciative.
- Find and replace. If negative thoughts come up — and they probably will — notice them and shift to something you’re grateful for.
- Positive in, positive out. Have fun conversations with friends, listen to uplifting music or watch a comedy or feel-good movie to reinforce the good vibes.
Why
Complaining is a habit, but so is positive thinking. Even if you’'re not a natural optimist, trying to adopt a positive mindset could help improve your mental health. In a study of 100 adults between the ages of 60 and 70, about half of the participants did eight weeks of positive thinking training. They met once per week for 90 minutes and learned how to shift a negative mindset and cultivate positivity. At the end of the trial, those who took the positivity classes were more resilient and reported greater life satisfaction than those assigned to the control group. The results were published in Scientific Reports in 2023.
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