Written by Lori Souza  Published October 5, 2018

“Meditation has proved to slow down the thought process, allowing for more positive thoughts from the brain and increasing the actual productivity output in your life. Remember, you are not your brain, it is only your thinking body part. You can control your thoughts, as long as they are your thoughts. As a matter of fact, your thinking is really the only function you have control over in today’s world.”

It’s real easy for people to go negative. As a matter of fact,  studies say that human being’s natural state leans more toward the negative. Religions also stand behind this, stating humans are  “suffering” or are “sinners”. All we have to do is take a look at the news, our neighborhood, our families, our community. It’s all being shaken up, flipped upside down, turned around, over and under. It is all  being questioned right now, what is right and what is wrong. What is  fake, what is real. What is truth? I didn’t think I had any enemies, but all of a sudden, society is telling me I do, From paid sponsorships, or from new found public questions, which can create separation amongst the human race.  Many personal circumstances are being brought to the surface, in which individuals are realizing are not  within their control. In the past, you may have thought a certain  action or decision would keep you more in control of your life, however,  those choices or actions or words don’t work like they used too. Systems have changed. Reasons behind actions have changed. What is  acceptable and what is not has changed.

It used to be when the phone would ring, you would answer it. Now, people think too much whether they should answer it or not, and most of  the time, don’t.  Some don’t even have a voicemail. Now, when the phone rings, it’s a solicitor. Ads and solicitations are becoming quite  invasive. Third party agencies counting on individuals, who freely give  away personal information, including buying habits for personal  persuasion marketing. Bureaucracy has taken over, big corporations have become so compartmentalized, one department doesn’t even take  responsibility for the actions other department and they are all in the  same organization. Whew! I am exhausted and about to go negative.

Well, this is also what is happening to our families, our  communities and our countries. In general, people are spending so much  time blaming or judging another that they aren’t even taking a look at  themselves and their own thoughts and behavior.  What is worse, the  person littering, or the person pointing the finger at the litter,  saying, “Look, I can’t believe he just littered”.

Being positive during turmoil and change is very difficult to do.  And right now, there is a lot of turmoil. Although it is important to  acknowledge the feelings you are experiencing, it is also important for  individuals to take personal responsibility, be positive and respect one  another. Treat each other with compassion and kindness. Be a positive  beacon for someone. The person you walk by may be having a bad day,  perhaps received some terrible news, caring for a sick family member,  experienced death of a loved one or going through a hard time. Your  positive attitude can change the course of someone’s day.

You might say, “but I don’t agree with this person” or “I don’t  like that person because I think they are wrong, or what they are doing  is wrong. People have always had different viewpoints, but now, having  over 6 billion viewpoints, some rise to the top, with many viewpoints  glaring, loud and clear in the daily lives of many. Whether it has  personal meaning or not, others viewpoints are effecting change for you  or your loved ones right now.

Now more than ever, we are being made aware of another’s viewpoint,  it doesn’t change who a person is or has always been. The person is the same person.  It is your awareness ONLY that changes the thoughts in  your head. And the thoughts in your head create your behavior. You are  responsible for what you are thinking, good or bad. If you are thinking  negatively, its up to you to turn it around and make it positive. Isn’t  that what we all want?

Positive thinking is a skill, and it does take practice. We weren’t  born with it. As a matter of fact, we came out of the womb into this  world crying. Listen, if something looks bad and smells bad, it probably is. That is the negative, right? Well, for the farmer and the hungry,  manure is a very positive thing. It fertilizes the crops, allowing it to  grow and the crops feed many people. Not so negative anymore, just a  shift in perspective can make it positive.

You may have become more aware of behaviors, values, ethics, and  morals, not just of yourself, but of others. That is a good thing to pay attention too. Values, morals and ethics are all being tested for each and every one of us right now. We are seeing and discussing things we  never thought we would. Now more than ever, it is important to stand  behind what you believe, without causing harm to others. Create a value  system that works for you.  You may have never thought about it before  but it’s very important for you and your family to discern what is right  and what is wrong for you and your family.  A value system basically  creates the boundaries of what you accept and what you don’t. What you allow into your life and what you won’t. In the case of war, starvation  and natural disasters, which is affecting over 250 million people in our  world today, this discernment, is a luxury.

As we get clear about our own values and live by our values, we  begin to feel and be positive about our beliefs. We gain more self  respect when we are living in integrity with what we believe. If something you had believed in, from the past, now makes you or your  loved ones feel negative, well, it may be a good idea to take a hard  look at what values are really important to hold on too. Perhaps it is  time to let go of what no longer creates joy or happiness around you Be sure to think of all the good things in your life. What are you grateful  for? Have you written your gratitude list or are have you become  complacent? Can you stay positive in a room full of negative? Try it.

Modern society expects human beings to respond with negativity or  ignorance. Take a look at today’s TV and headlines. Most give power to  something bad, something negative. The words exchanged are of sarcasm, put downs and separation. This is not a normal, workable value system in  which working groups and families can functionally operate. Negativity  does not stand for long, take a look at history or failed businesses.  Today, society is on “negative information overload”. We have so many thoughts running through our head at any given moment. Some people can’t  even sleep a whole night through anymore because they have too much  information in their mind and wake up thinking. Individuals are now  thinking over 50,000 thoughts in a day. Stop thinking! That’s right,  studies have shown that the less you think, the less you worry, the more positive you become. When was the last time you shut off your phone  after work? Or for a weekend? Or placed your familys’ phones in a designated area in the home?

Meditation has also proved to slow down the thought process,  making for more positive thoughts from the brain and increasing the  actual productivity output in your life. Remember, you are not your brain, it is only your thinking body part. You can control your thoughts, as long as they are your thoughts. As a matter of fact, your thinking is really the only function you have control over in today’s  world. So stay aware of your own authenticity and conditioning you give to your brain. Give yourself time to breathe and enjoy your loved ones.  These are normal activities that lead to positive thinking.

Being positive in today’s busy world may be a challenge, but it  strengthens your character and brings much relief. Studies have shown  that social activities definitely keep people positive. Talking, sharing  and laughing with others about ideas, progress, activities, education,  or personal development also keeps individuals positive. Being positive  increases your health, in turn, increasing your longevity. It is also  contagious. Your positive attitude will naturally rub off on others.  Choosing positive thinking goes a long way. It can make or break a family, a system or organization. When we stay positive, we create a ripple effect that can only be good. Remember, when you have a negative  thought, only you can make it positive!