Positive thinking appears to be a fad that you can find anywhere. Huge promises and unbelievable payoffs can appear to be a ruse. The truth is that a positive outlook and positive thinking will go a long way toward helping you create the life you desire.

Positive thinking has such an impact because it can propel you forward, whereas being too critical and allowing bitter thoughts to take control will only keep you stuck in your current situation. Of course, you want to think realistically so that the life you’re creating can be realized, but you also don’t want to limit yourself.

Here are some techniques for striking a balance between what is realistically possible and what is positively imaginative:

1. Open the door to the unknown.

Our expectations of how life should be or go are one of the things that hold us back.

We carve out a path for ourselves and put blinders on to prevent us from seeing other possibilities.

Allow yourself to be vulnerable and open to new experiences.

The unknown can be frightening, but try to see the bright side.

What fantastic possibilities have you overlooked?

What possibilities do you have access to that you are unaware of?

Consider all of the unexpected places where something wonderful might appear in your life.

Naturally, some positive realism should be mixed in.

Before taking action, think things over and process the information you’ve gathered.

You want to be open to the unknown and new possibilities, but you also don’t want to be careless or foolish.

2. Find a silver lining.

Life is full of obstacles, disappointments, and difficulties.

However, if you keep a positive attitude, you can lessen the blow and turn the experience into something worthwhile.

Finding a silver lining will assist you in creating the life you desire because you will be able to find value in all of your experiences, both good and bad, allowing you to learn and grow as a person, allowing you to be who you want to be and live the life you desire.

Finding a silver lining may be difficult at first, but you will eventually be able to see benefits that you were previously unable to see.

If you lose your job, the silver lining could be that you now have the opportunity to pursue a dream or a career interest that you were previously afraid to pursue.

Finding a silver lining does not imply that you ignore your problems.
Denial should not be confused with a silver lining.

Finding a silver lining, on the other hand, entails being able to acknowledge disappointment, challenge, and adversity while choosing to find a positive in it rather than allowing it to defeat or depress you.

3. Accept yourself as you are.

Understanding and accepting yourself as you are relieves you of all the extra pressure you’ve been putting on yourself. We all make mistakes.

We’ve all been disappointed and defeated.

Accepting yourself for your mistakes, missteps, and flaws will assist you in overcoming any unrealistic expectations you may have set for yourself.

You don’t have to be perfect, and once you accept yourself as you are, you can begin to create the life you desire by working with who you are now to become who you want to be.

Accepting yourself and your mistakes do not imply that you are absolving yourself of any wrongdoings.

Accepting yourself entails admitting where you’ve gone wrong so you can figure out how you want to improve.

4. Help others.

Helping others is a wonderful thing to do in any case, but helping others with the wisdom you’ve gained from your own experiences can be especially beneficial.

Allowing others to learn from your experiences will help you find value in them.

It’s critical, however, that you don’t bring up all of your past experiences in every conversation.

Not every situation will benefit from you sharing your story, so think about whether you’re actually helping the other person by sharing your story and experience so they can benefit from what you’ve learned, or if you’re just making the situation about you and not listening to the person you’re trying to help. Listening is usually the best way to figure this out.

If they ask for your advice or opinion, you should give it and try to assist them.

If they haven’t asked but you believe it will help, you can always offer and let them choose whether or not to accept.

A small shift in your thinking can help you change and grow as a person, allowing you to create the life you desire.

Using these four techniques to cultivate a more positive outlook will be a valuable tool for becoming who you want to be and living the life you want to live.