Positive thinking is one of the most powerful tools an individual can possess.
It can transform one’s life profoundly, bringing peace and contentment to the heart and immersing the soul in God’s love. Additionally, it enables one to see the best in others and genuinely wish the best for them.
Here are some tips to help foster and cultivate a positive attitude:
- In social situations and interactions, it’s important to give others the benefit of the doubt in uncertain or ambiguous circumstances. When there’s room to interpret someone’s actions or words positively, we should choose that perspective over assuming the worst.
- We must always avoid being critical of the shortcomings of others and more appreciative of their qualities. If we have to be critical of anyone, it should be our own selves. Recognizing and encouraging the qualities and strengths of others is an obligation we owe them. This is especially true for those younger or junior to us.
- We should use affirmative sentences as much as possible while avoiding negative ones. This serves as a psychological strategy to help us stay focused on a positive approach. It instills a positive worldview within us and enables us to overlook the negativities in life.
- We must never give up in the wake of failures and adverse circumstances. We must continue to get up after every fall and try again after aborted attempts. The determination to persevere and work hard attracts God’s assistance, often coming after a delay as a means to test our resilience.
- Every negative thought can be countered by counting our blessings. Any such effort will show that God’s favours on us easily outnumber the problem(s) we may be facing. This can be termed as gratitude therapy. It prompts us to appreciate what we have rather than brooding on what we lack, effectively diminishing negative emotions such as jealousy, frustration, and despair.
Dr Shehzad Saleem is an Islamic researcher and holds a Ph.D. in the History of the Quran from the University of Wales, UK. He studied religion under the tutelage of Javed Ahmad Ghamidi and is currently a Research Fellow of Al-Mawrid. Dr Shehzad Saleem has authored books on Islam, Quran, Hadith and Character Building. He has also translated some works of famous Islamic scholars and exegetes like Amin Ahsan Islahi and Javed Ahmad Ghamidi into English.
