A number of years ago, I came up with this idea of “negative thought replacement therapy.”  I even had my husband make me a sign (vinyl letters on hard plastic sign material) that I put on the windowsill of my kitchen.  I did work on doing this for a while.  Later, I would just think about doing this.  Finally, I found that it just became a part of my windowsill, not my mind.

Every so often, I would notice it and think, “I really need to do that.”  Or I would just continue to ignore it, not on purpose, but I just didn’t see it.  It was like those projects you want to do in your house, that really bother you, but after time passes they just become less visible and gradually fall into the background.

I remember reading a book that said you should say to yourself, “My spirit salutes your spirit.” when someone cuts you off in traffic.  I never actually did that, but at the time I thought maybe I should try it.  But when it came right down to it, I just took a deep breath and let it go at that.

Lately, I have been trying to find ways of incorporating this idea back into my life, as I do with my daily prayers.  So far I have been unsuccessful.  Still I think that it could become useful.  For instance, when I find myself disliking someone, I can think, “This person needs positive thoughts to come to him/her.”  This, instead of, “I can’t stand that person.”

And when I find negative “self-talk” getting me down, I can change my thoughts into “I need to give myself a break.”  When I do things like this, my stress level falls.  I become more comfortable with myself and other people.  I really need to do this more.

All of these things are nice to think about, but doing them is difficult.  Maybe my new mantra should be, “Think positive NOW!”  It can work.  I need to use it, and not let this idea fall into the background of my life, as my sign did.  And that would be a positive sign (+)!