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Have you seen the book “Eat This, Not That”? The book has pictures that show you how to swap out high calorie food choices for foods that taste similar but are way lower in calories. An easy way to still eat the types of foods you like without the excess calories.

Learning to change your thoughts works the same way. I like to equate it to learning a foreign language. Instead of “Yes” you think “Oui”. Or “Bon Jour” instead of “bye or good day”.

In the beginning, you’re constantly translating in your head (first you think in English and then convert to French) but then one day it happens, all of a sudden you blurt out “Un croissant s’il vous plait!”  The next thing you know you’re dreaming in French and you are on your way to being fluent!

It’s the same thing when you try to think a bit more positively. At first you catch yourself thinking “how stupid can this person be, don’t they know how to drive AT ALL?!” to “oh, maybe they’re unfamiliar with the area, I can calm down”.

In the beginning, it’s far from natural but if you keep at it, pretty soon you’ll find yourself thinking more positively about everything.

And for those times that you can’t move right to the positive, you can start with “well, if I have sit through one more light, at least the air conditioning is working!’

Charlie and I have dubbed this version of the “think this, not that” technique “Screw this, not that!” In the above example, you’re not cursing the person just the situation and then finding one bit of gratitude you can cling to.

So next time you find yourself rolling around in the negativity muck, try “think this, not that” and find one positive thing about the situation you’re in. If you keep at it, you will definitely start to move to the bright side.

Once again, I bask in your brilliance! Eva

Eva Lewandowski MBA, is a certified Life Coach, certified EFT Practitioner, seminar leader, speaker and co-host of a weekly internet radio show “Corporate Talk with Charlie and Eva”. She is also a 30 year veteran of Corporate America as an IT consultant. Using the skills she learned in acting classes, life coaching and EFT certification training as well as her struggle with debilitating stage fright, she created, Stand Up and Be Heard!, a program that teaches professionals how to overcome their fear of the spotlight. She is also the author of “Put on Your Phone Face: Tips and Techniques for teleconferences and conference calls”.