How can I develop my positive thinking skills?
What I am also particularly interested in is some tips on remaining positive between now and when I get my results back for uni. I just finished my last exam last week - and then I was completely done for that trimester. I am usually somewhat nervous while waiting for my results - so this is why I take to the RO forums looking for some advice to remain calm, positive and stable within myself while I wait!
Any help would be appreciated - what do you do to remain positive?
Comments
We have a whole article about that @Super_Me!! For some people, changing the way that they think can have a positive impact. For me personally, I found that it worked best when I was trying to develop a more positive relationship to my body. It may not be for everyone, but if it works for you then that's excellent!
You can also challenge negative thoughts in other ways too, but saying nice things in your head is just one way of going about it.
Hi @Super_Me, this is a great topic! I've definitely been in this situation before, and I have tried some great (also some not so great) strategies to help me when I'm waiting for exam results or something else which is nerve-wracking for me.
What's worked for me:
- Distraction: I try to committ to hobbies or interests which I've neglected, or hang out with friends or do something which takes my mind off whatever I'm waiting for. Of course, if you're waiting for exam results it's best not to hang out with friends who took the same exam as you, since you'll all be talking about that and making each other more nervous.
- Getting out of the house: I find that being at home makes me more anxious about waiting for something than being out of the house - I think just walking around or travelling somewhere makes me less likely to think about some upcoming anxiety-provoking event.
- Repeating sayings to myself: when I catch myself getting overwhelmed with nerves, it helps to think something along the lines of 'even if I do badly, it's not the end of the world' or 'it probably won't go as badly as I think it will'.
Keen to hear other people's tips!!!
Well done for getting through uni!! It get be really hard sometimes and you've done an awesome job getting to the end.
Waiting for exam results can be tough, but they'll be here sooner than you expect! I agree with @safari93 on techniques. Distraction is a pretty awesome one.
Another way to remain positive is to write down a list of everything good you've done through uni this trimester, and whenever you're feeling down or nervous, go back to that list.
I'm saying this again because it's what I do, distraction is one of the best ones out there. Maybe try and teach yourself something new every week or every few days. You gain new knowledge and you don't have to think about your results, because by the time they come, you'll of learned a bunch of new things!
- I like the sound of distractionsome, but distractions is a subjective notion if you know what I mean - distractions can be any number of things. There are things I like to do, in fact I have recently discovered a love for coloring in (in fact I'mean doing it right now!). I'm coloring in a mindfulness coloring in book - they are apparently a really good mindfulness exercise - and I agree to be honest. What do you think of these ideas as distractions:
- Playing the guitar
- Going for a walk
- Reading a book
- Vacuuming the house
- Mowing the lawn
The other thing I was hoping to get out of this post, was ways to just be a more positive person. What I do now is say really nice things about myself in my head "I'm a good person", "I have accomplished much in my life", "I am loved and supported by my best friends family". Is it good to say those things? I feel like it is - because I know one time I said nasty and just use helpful things about myself and I wound up feeling depressed, really depressed. So if I do the opposite will it have the opposite effect?
