When you look for good things, you tend to find them. This reinforces optimism.

When you tend to observe the negatives in your life, you can develop a self-defeating life perspective.

When you think in a positive way, your mind works hard to put your intentions into play.

The first lesson I teach most of my patients is how to frame things in a positive way, by thinking about what they do want rather than what they do not want.

When people look for good things, they tend to find them, and this reinforces an optimistic belief that life is good. Conversely, when they think about what they do not want, they tend to observe the negative in their lives, which can lead them to develop a self-defeating life perspective.

I teach several tools that help maintain a positive attitude, as described in my book, The Life Guide for Teens:

In order to make the positive words you choose “stick,” use them in more ways than one. Writing them, saying them aloud, singing them, or incorporating them in artwork all create more activity in your brain than just reading them.

For example, a great way is to write USE POSITIVE WORDS on a notecard, decorate it with positive images, and tape it on your mirror or your nightstand. The more you see, read, and say the words, the more attention your subconscious will pay to them—and the more it’ll help you follow through.

One of the things every person learns is that you can’t always control what happens, but you can usually control what you think and do. That’s why I AM, I WILL, I CAN, and I DID are powerful........

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