BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Self Development Have noticed what you focus on gets stronger?

Research has proven that what you focus on gets stronger. So, if you focus on the negative, guess what? The negativity around you is getting stronger!

Would you agree or disagree with that?

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Have a great week!

~Sharon

Sharon,

Definitely. I suffer from clinical depression and borderline bi-polar, and the days that I call my "bile-black" days can be very self-feeding.

The downs are initially caused by my condition, but it is worsened when I give in to it by staying indoors, especially when I stay in bed all day.

When my husband points this out, I will force myself to get out and do something. It is not easy at all, and sometimes will result in a panic attack, but more often it works to lift my mood, or at least help me not to dwell on it and make it worse.

When your depressed how do you focus on any positive, i am bipolar and my downs are overwhelming with sadness, i can't think of happy positive thoughts,

I know it's difficult to focus on positive things when the downs are overwhelming.

I would suggest this is the time you sourround yourself with positives. How about some positive music playing?

Listen to your doctor and follow his/her advice.

That's why my husband works so hard to get me out of the house.

It is very easy to settle in where we are comfortable and sink further into the depression.

But when we leave the house, and have something else to focus on - say a museum, a garden, or even a movie - it can, at least for a little while, distract from the depression.

I'm not saying it cures it by any means, but it can keep it from growing deeper.

I believe thoughts have energy and what you focus on gets stronger and becomes bigger.

I always think about when I bought my first car and then I saw so many that looked just like mine --- I never noticed them before because I wasn't focused on that particular make, model or color.

I read in a Tony Robbins book that he learned to drive race cars and one of the hardest things they have to do is not look at the wall (those big concrete walls around those racetrack curves).

If they look at or focus on the wall, the car goes there and voila', crash, boom, bang.

So, they have to learn to focus on where they want the car to go, not where they don't want it to go.

It's the same message as in all the self-help literature--give your attention to what you want, not what you don't want. What you focus on grows.

If we could all ignore war and focus on peace, wouldn't that be grand? I read (actually heard on the audiobook)in "The Secret" that Mother Theresa wouldn't attend an "anti-war" rally. She told them "when you have a peace rally, invite me and I'll come." Smart lady.

I am trying so hard to focus on what I want, but while I consider myself an actively positive person, I catch myself focusing on negativity, or what I do not want, quite often. I need reprogramming! LOL

One thing that I've started doing is keeping a set of index cards with positive affirmations written on them. I also mix in several cards that state things that I want to accomplish. I read these many times during the day and especially if I'm feeling a bit down. I can take them with me and read them while waiting in line or for an appointment.

Another idea is to write three positive things about yourself on a sticky note and place it where you will see it first thing in the morning. Such as the bathroom mirror. This can help set the pace for the day.

I found this to be a helpful site:
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I really believe that what you focus on will grow. That's why I focus on health, having plenty of money, being happy to pay any bills that come in, loving my family and friends, and the success of my businesses.

I really believe that by focusing on these things, they will expand in my life.

Putting a sticky note where you can see if first thing in the morning is a great idea, chloe21. If you put stickys right where you can see them often, it reminds you to channel your thoughts to positive things and see those positive things grow in your life.