From our archives. First published June 5, 2024.
Travel is truly the great connector of the world. It gives you brand new ways to think and helps you grow through the most fantastic adventures! No matter where you go or what you do, you’re always discovering a new part of yourself to love.
That said, the stress that comes with long-term travel is serious!
While I loved Spain dearly, there were times when the tension of living abroad got to me. Thankfully, God sent me there with an amazing tool that helped me stay positive through every situation.
Whether you’re out seeing the world or enjoying life at home, this tool will help you turn your frustration into peace. Read on to learn how it works!
Oh, Sweet Relief!
My favorites pros of travel are getting to eat new foods, visit places you’ve only seen before on TV, and connect with new people. However, the cons of the food not agreeing with you, not understanding the culture, and logistical problems like paying your rent can really add up!
One day in class, I found myself so distracted that I missed half of the lesson. So I pulled out my trusty positivity hack and began fixing myself up right then and there!
How It Works
Here’s the brain science behind this exercise. Our brain creates pathways using emotions. The stronger the emotion, the stronger the pathway is.
When that emotion is triggered, a signal runs into the brain that reignites that pathway, which is filled with whatever responses your body thought were the best to add a that time – a smile and a sigh, a little worry or overthinking – anything. If your coded response is one typically associated with fear, it can cause us to make questionable decisions.
Now, here’s the thing: that same signal can also be triggered by negative self-talk, even if the actual situation is mostly positive.
Negative self-talk is any conversation you have with yourself that feels less than kind. It includes everything from “I’m so stupid” to “This is not my best work.”
Here’s how negative self-talk might look in a positive situation: Say you live in Seville and you don’t have a Spanish bank account yet, so you’re having difficulty paying rent. Your rental agency is understanding and gives you all the time you need to figure it out, but unpaid rent is still unpaid rent. You have a habit of engaging in negative-self talk, so even though everything is okay, you’re very worried.
The conversation in the mind is doing all the heavy lifting here.
The Bright Side!
Neuroscientists have figured out the opposite side of the coin: being a positive thinker is 3 to 100 times stronger than being a negative thinker! And positive thinking naturally yields good emotions. Even casual positivity – like that feeling you get after a good night of sleep and wake up to chirping birds – can replace emotional wounds over time.
This exercise helps you build the habit of noticing your negative self-talk so you can choose a better outlook!
How To Do It
Every time you catch yourself having a negative thought, you replace it with:
- Positive thoughts about yourself
- Positive thoughts about people and the world in general
- Positive thoughts about your future – all surrounding the topic you had the negative thought about
Along with that, write 9 positive affirmations about your life and repeat them in the morning, the afternoon, and at night.
If it sounds like a bit much, you are absolutely right. A good therapist is like a college professor. You’ll hate the amount of work they assign, but if you do it, it works. And I promise, being a bit too positive is far better than being a bit too negative!
The Results
I felt like a weight had lifted off my chest after the first week of doing this exercise. By the third, it was like I had landed in Barcelona all over again. My worries were melting away, I felt more present and connected to the people I was with, and that feeling of gratitude for studying in a foreign country came back in full force!
Final Thoughts
This exercise is awesome and such a blessing to your mind! Your results will make you feel so much better in a few short weeks – all you have to do is remember to be consistent!
It’s like working out or studying. Keep it up each day and your results will come!
Give it a Try!
Write down a few positive affirmations about the biggest subject that was on your mind while reading this post. Then follow the instructions!
Your love for life will skyrocket in just a week. And if you keep it up for 30 days, you’ll unlock a brand new and joyful version of yourself!
You can do it! I love you!
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