Marie Kondo will not be impressed but my house is strewn with post-it notes containing positive messages. It started after I texted a friend when I was having a particularly bad day and had run out of ice-cream. She responded with a photo of a note that read “No feeling is final”. She’d placed the note was above her desk to help channel positive thinking. I made my own note, stuck it on my bathroom mirror and found it helped reframe my thinking.
Since then I have been collecting quotes and sticking them around the house for motivation and to help me be more positive. Positive thinking has a range of health benefits and helps to reduce stress and build resilience. Read on if you’d like to learn more about incorporating positive messages and thoughts into your life. I’ll even share my favourite quotes that help spark joy every day!
How can it help you?
Let’s try a quick experiment. If I were to mention chocolate cake, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to eat cake. If that didn’t work, take a packet of chips from the pantry, and place it on your kitchen bench (or somewhere visible). It’s likely that it’ll be eaten that day.
The same applies if you were to see a positive message. This is because we tend to take cues from our environment. What we see and hear influences our thoughts and actions. This means you can influence whether you’ll have a good start to the day and feel less stressed.
So, what are you waiting for? Think about what is causing you stress and anxiety. Find some quotes or affirmations that resonate and help you feel positive. Write them down and stick them up where you’ll be able to see them each day. It could be the kitchen sink, above your desk or on the fridge.
Sharing positivity with your loved ones
Surely, I’m not alone when I say this year has really tested the relationships within my household! Stress and confinement are not a great combination. However, taking the time to write each other positive messages has helped.
The message can be a simple as “have a great day” or it can be a note of appreciation – a great way to incorporate gratitude and it’s many benefits in your life. For a positive start to the day, place the message on their phone or toothbrush. You can create unexpected positive surprises by leaving notes in the car, wallet, or in the pocket of a favourite jacket.
If you are feeling stuck on what to write, take a look at this list.
Sharing positivity with your little ones
Positive messages are a great way to make your kids feel loved and help boost their confidence. My personal favourites are the ‘take what you need’ board and what I call lunch box ‘boosters’.
My friend creates lunch box ‘boosters’ and on days she doesn’t, her son asks for them. How cute is that! I know it’s a case study of one but there’s only one way to find out if your kids will like them. All you need to do is write a message on a small card (or even their snacks) and pop it into their lunch box. As many children return to school, it’s a great way to provide a bit of a pick-me-up. Here’s a list of 45 encouraging messages with a growth mindset focus to get you started.
The ‘take what you need’ board allows your child to pick and choose what they need. When brainstorming ideas for messages, think about the things that help you to have a good day or what you find comforting when you are having a rough day. You could include attributes to focus on – such as confidence, patience, and friendliness or it could be a hug, joke, or story they can take to you to be ‘redeemed’.
As promised, here are some of my favourite quotes:
“A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure.”
“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”
“Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.”
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
Wishing you lots of positivity and all that comes with it! As always, if there is anything you would love us to look into or you have any queries or feedback let us know. You can reach us at marketing@hoban.com.au.
