Positive Reminders Help When Mental Health Is Challenging

Positive reminders are a vital part of your toolkit when mental health is challenging. Although there are days when nothing you read, see or hear makes a difference to how you feel, those simple words of support can help to rebuild your armor when you feel defenseless ("Benefits of Positive Thinking: How It Helps Your Mental Health"). In the infamous words of Mother Teresa, "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." With this in mind, let’s look at how positive reminders can help restore your mental health.

What Are Positive Reminders?

We know by now that positive thinking has the power to alter our brain chemistry, but many of us still struggle to apply it to our daily lives. We are born to survive, so naturally, we are wired to look out for danger, to be suspicious of others, to mistrust the world and question our place in it. These survival instincts may have been useful in the past, but they are out of touch with modern life. The struggles we face now (such as exposure to a negative stream of news and unfriendly comments on social media) require a new kind of coping mechanism: positive reminders.

Positive reminders are reminders to be positive when everything around you feels downright negative. The problems we have – mental illness, relationship troubles or anxiety about world events – are, of course, worth worrying about, but negative thinking does not help solve them. On the contrary, a downward spiral of negative thoughts can stunt productivity and make us feel like shutting out the world. Positive reminders, on the other hand, offer a healthier perspective, making us more receptive to creativity and change.

How to Use Positive Reminders

Positive reminders come in many different forms, but they only work when practiced regularly. Here are just some of the ways you can incorporate positivity into your daily routine.

• Repeating positive mantras: Positive mantras can be incredibly effective at improving mental strength, boosting confidence and giving you a more upbeat perspective. To benefit from positive mantras, choose a phrase or affirmation and repeat it daily. Say it out loud in the mirror, write it on a post-it note and stick it above your bed, or write it down in your positivity journal. Examples include:
  
  “I choose to see good in every day”
  
  “I will live in the light.”
  
  “I am strong, capable and confident.”
   
• Collect positive reminders and quotes: When you need a reminder that the world is mostly good, it helps to draw wisdom from others. Flick through your favorite self-help books or search the Internet for a dose of mind-medicine. You can keep these quotes in a folder on your phone or write them down in a notebook to look at when you need a pick-me-up.
   
• Set yourself positive reminders for the day: Take advantage of the “reminders” function on your phone. Instead of using it to schedule tasks and work prompts, set reminders throughout the day to boost your mood such as “You got this” or “Stay strong.” This is a great thing to do for a loved one who is struggling, too.
   
• Download a positive reminders app: Collecting positive reminders can be time-consuming, so if you’re really pushed for time, let your phone do the hard work. Download an app like Happify that will send you positive messages and prompts throughout the day.

Life can be hard, with or without a mental illness, which is why everyone could use a little extra positivity in their day. By harnessing the power of positive reminders, you will welcome good vibes into your life.

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