At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and lack of focus have nothing to do with one another. But many of us with difficulty staying focused develop negative thinking patterns because we become frustrated by our challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder for us to manage those challenges and move forward.

Practicing positive thinking allows us to focus on our strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation.  This, in turn, allows us to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive and focused thinking patterns:

Take Good Care Of Yourself:   It’s much easier to be positive and stay focused when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest.  We all know these are the keys to being healthy and energetic; however, few are able to make it a habit.  Write a note to yourself and keep it where you will see it several times a day to remind you that you need to eat well and exercise (when you do these things, getting enough rest will come naturally).  When you are constantly reminded, you will make better choices.  Also, develop a habit of continuous learning by seeking to learn something new every day.  Continuous learning keeps your mind sharp and prevents falling into a SSDD (same stuff different day) mindset.
Have An Attitude Of Gratitude:  If you want more in life, you need to first be thankful for all that you have.  Remind yourself daily of the people and things that you are grateful for.  Keep a gratitude journal and write at least 5 things in it every day that you are grateful for.  Taking just a couple of minutes a day to stop and appreciate your life will make a huge difference.  
Verify And Clarify Before Assuming: Fear of not being liked or accepted can lead us to assume we know what others are thinking, but these fears are usually not reality. If you have a fear that a friend or family member is upset with you, or that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you behind your back, seek to verify and clarify by asking them directly. Don’t waste time worrying that you may have done something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.  
Stop Using Absolutes: Do you sometimes say “You’re ALWAYS late!” or “You NEVER call me!”? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like ‘always’ and ‘never’ makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering.  It also puts people into a defensive mode, which becomes a communication barrier.  Think about what you are saying.  Absolutes are rarely true; focus on a specific situation that you are concerned about without generalizing by saying “always” or “never”.  
Review Your Negative Thoughts: Your thoughts can’t hold any power over you if you don’t judge or emotionalize them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, see it for what it is, and don’t accept it.  When you are able to separate emotion from your negative thoughts, you can banish them from your mind without letting them take hold of your subconscious.  When you catch yourself having negative thoughts, immediately yell out “STOP!” (or at least yell it to yourself).  
Exterminate The “ANTs”: In his book “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” Dr. Daniel Amen talks about “ANTs” – Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are usually reactionary negative thoughts, 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 exterminate them!  See step 3 above about verifying and clarifying before assuming the worst.   
Understand The Power Of Touch: You don’t have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up. One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn’t touch!  When used appropriately, the power of touch can give you and others a positive physiological boost!  
Become More Social: It may seem obvious that increasing social activity decreases loneliness, but we can fall into ruts and forget this simple formula for boosting our attitude. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!  Be selective about who you spend you time with to ensure you are lifting each other up rather than dragging each other down.  Don’t engage in gossip or complaining; instead focus on what’s good.  
Be A Go Giver: Helping others also helps you; everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.  Or simply put, the more you give the more you receive.  
Use Pattern Interrupts To Stop Dwelling On The Negative: If you find yourself dwelling on something negative, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Hyper-focus on something negative is 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, read motivating quotes, turn on some music, or sing a song.  Anything to switch your current thought pattern.

When you are able to banish negative thoughts and fill your mind with powerful, energizing, and positive thoughts, you will begin to boost your focus.  Your mind will no longer be distracted by worry.  Your productivity and achievement will increase, which will increase your self-esteem.  Increased self-esteem will increase your positive outlook and the cycle will continue upward.  Resolve to make a few simple changes in your thinking to achieve big results in the quality of your life. 

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