Once retired from the world of work, most people have more time to think about their lives. Holding good thoughts foremost in your mind is a great strategy for remaining optimistic about life and living with a positive, future-focused perspective.
Many people spend precious time during retirement dwelling on the past and reminiscing about by-gone days. They feel that the ‘good old days’ were their best time in life, but find it difficult to create new experiences that will make life enjoyable.
Others spend their time thinking about the future and worrying about health, finances, children and grand-children. They miss the wonder of the present in their concerns about what lies ahead.
In The Alchemist, novelist Paulo Coelho writes,
” Once you get into the desert, there’s no going back,” said the camel driver. “And when you can’t go back, you have to worry only about moving forward. The rest is up to Allah, including the danger.”
Regardless of whether you are retired or still involved with the world of work, the past is gone and you ‘can’t go back’. The future is an unknown, so plan to control what you can control and let go of the rest.
To fully enjoy retirement, consider how thinking patterns are influencing your emotions as well as your approach to daily living.
Address Negative Thinking
When I was a practising therapist, I often used cognitive behavioural therapy techniques to help children and families re-frame their thinking.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps people to change maladaptive (negative) thought patterns and beliefs with more realistic and positive thoughts. This helps to decrease self-defeating thinking and behaviour.
Everyone can replace maladaptive thinking.
Start with challenging your habitual reactions and thinking patterns.
Read inspirational works.
Meditate on inspirational quotes.
Use basic self-care techniques.
These simple strategies will help you think good thoughts by replacing negative thinking and emotions. By re-focusing, you will change habitual thought patterns and behavioural reactions.
Good thoughts
One of my yoga teachers regularly tells the class ‘what you think about, you bring about’. Thinking good thoughts may help you bring good things into your life. What’s to lose?
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Photo courtesy of Ed Yourdon