We human beings have an amazing capacity to form positive mental habits. Every day we have innumerable opportunities to change the channel. We can shift from a fearful state of self doubt to an empowered state of peace and happiness.
In my previous article, I talked about two ways we can do this by noticing “hypnotic moments.”
Here are some ways you can cultivate the positive mental habit of peace and happiness every day.
5 ways to cultivate peace and happiness
1. Immediately on waking, practice feeling grateful and surprised: “I’m awake! I receive the gift of this day as a valuable opportunity take positive actions with a positive view. In addition, as I keep going, I will develop an effortless positive habit.”
2. Spend a few minutes just feeling your breathing, coming in and going out. Appreciate that this process of breathing, that we rarely think about, is giving us life moment by moment. Furthermore, it doesn’t matter what we think or feel. Life loves us enough to bring us fully into existence, breath by breath!
3. Let go of any concerns about success or failure. This doesn’t mean we don’t set intentions. Certainly, we make efforts to succeed. We recognize that fearful thoughts about success and failure simply don’t help. Therefore see clearly that they are just a distraction and an energy drain. Above all, stop being fascinated by them.
4. Replace any fearful thoughts with encouraging, creative thoughts. As you develop the clarity that fearful thoughts don’t help, it becomes more and more easy to dismiss them. Enjoy encouraging yourself with creative ideas instead: “I can smile and stretch right now and look at the sky.” Creative thoughts can be a simple flip: “I doubt myself so much! What happens if I doubt my doubting?” Or imagine whimsical actions. We rarely think to do this when negative thoughts and feelings are holding us back. “I can draw a picture of my room with the furniture on the ceiling.” A funny drawing can destroy the effect of a recurring negative experience. “When Uncle Joe is telling me how worthless I am, I see him in the chair hanging from the ceiling while everything is falling out of his pockets.”
5. Recognize that there is no judge of your life—no one you have to please. Finally, we developed habitual thinking patterns in childhood and teenage years of being watched over. As a result, we could require some time to develop this conviction . Remember that pleasing others is a fearful orientation. Therefore, it erodes our self respect. Recognize “trying to please” as merely an outdated, fearful pattern. Remember that fearful thoughts never help. Then choose to cultivate a sense of mature self respect. In this way, we stop speaking to ourselves with guilt or self-judgment. Instead we speak with encouragement about accomplishing our own genuine values and interests, because we are worth it!
Meet the Challenge to Stay Kind!
Often I am amazed at how simple and beneficial these ideas are. And yet it has been difficult throughout human history for a high percentage of humanity to understand and practice them. Furthermore, in our technical age, practicing kindness seems to be getting even more difficult. The constant and instantaneous flow of information, presented in ever more sophisticated ways, influences us, mesmerizes us, and keeps us stressed!
Consider that it has never been easy for humanity to connect with and hold on to kindness and integrity. Therefore, feel proud of our effort. Through our resolve to cultivate kind and loving habit patterns, we are uplifting not just ourselves, but everyone. Let’s explore the journey together!