1. Take Good Care of Yourself
When we take care of our bodies, we tend to feel better about ourselves and our lives. Get plenty of rest, exercise regularly, and eat right.

2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For
If you are constantly reminded of the of the things that are right in our lives, challenges and stress don’t seem so bad. Take about a minute a day to appreciate the good things in your life.

3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions
How many times have you thought YOU were the reason someone was in a bad mood? That it was what YOU said or did that caused them to turn away from you? It’s a normal fear of not being liked or accepted, but our fears are not usually reality. If you think that you did or said something, don’t hesitate to ask them. Without proof, there’s nothing to worry about.

4. Refrain from Using Absolutes
Try to stay away from using words like always, never and can’t. Those words make it absolute. “You’re ALWAYS late”, “you NEVER listen” and “I CAN’T do that” are lines that will restrict you from positive thinking.

5. Detach From Negative Thoughts
If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don’t follow it.

6. Squash the “ANTs”
In his book “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” Dr. Daniel Amen talks about “ANTs” – Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like “Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me,” or “The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!” When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!

7. Practice Lovin’, Touchin’ & Squeezin’ (Your Friends and Family)
I grew up in a house where hugs were an everyday occurrence. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up. Relationship coaching books can help you work specifically in this area.

8. Increase Your Social Activity
If your were to increase your social activity, you would decrease your loneliness. Make it a point to be around healthy and happy people and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!

9. Volunteer for an Organization, or Help another Person
Whenever I help someone, I feel good about myself. Whatever you can do to help the community will come back to you in a positive way.

10. Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination
If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative. It’s never productive, because it’s not rational or solution-oriented, it’s just excessive worry. Try changing your physical environment – go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.

I know these tips will help you. Positive thinking doesn’t happen over night, but if you keep striving towards it, it will happen.