Have a go – think of one of your passions and goals, write down three benefits of succeeding, but then pause and consider the three main obstacles in your way, and write those down, too.
Going through this routine will help ensure you direct your motivation and energy where it’s needed most, and help you identify if this particular goal is a non-starter.
It’s worth noting, however, that mental contrasting works best as a counterpoint to high morale and expectations of success.
When you’re feeling confident, it ensures your positive energy is channeled strategically into the tasks and activities that are essential for progress. (If you’re feeling low and struggling to get going on any project at all, then this is not the technique for you.)
There are many factors that affect our picture of reality, our environment, the people close to us, our beliefs, actions, habits, and our experiences. Many of these grow and grow whether this overall picture is a more negative or positive one.
Without a doubt, negativity seems to be easier to learn and propagate but when you start learning a few basic principles you can take control and then you will be able to cultivate more of the positive energy and “picture of reality” that you want to make.
Negative thinking appears to be more prevalent than positive thinking. It seems that with most people, positive thinking requires some effort, whereas, negative thinking comes easily and often uninvited. This has much to do with education and the environment one has been living in.
