You hear it time and time again, think, stay and be positive. But is it really as important as people make out? 

Well, if you ask us, yes. 

A positive mind is perhaps one of the greatest attributes you can develop as an individual. With one, you will be well-equipped to deal with all things life throws at you, and as we all know by now, that can quite literally include anything.  

At Battle Ready 360, our ethos is underpinned by the mind, body and fuel principle. All are connected and all are equally as important.  

With this understanding, then, the mind plays a role in shaping the body and feeding the fuel elements of the principle. And as a result, the latter can only be as strong and as healthy as the former.  

But how exactly do you develop a positive mind? Here are some of our top tips.  

It is what it is… until it isn’t  

Something that is easier said than done. But by adopting this mindset, you can build resilience against anything you face.  

It’s all about accepting things as exactly how they are. Rather than worrying, stressing and wishing things were different, allow things to just be.  

Remain open to what could come from a situation you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with. After all, real growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.  

And when new opportunities do arise from this, don’t shy away. Take them within your stride and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how things turn out. In this way, the situation will change, most likely for the better – it is what it is, until it isn’t.  

Fake it ‘til you make it  

We’ve all heard the famous saying, but how many of us actually live by it?  

Like the placebo effect in medicine, you can encourage a more positive mind by almost tricking yourself into thinking… you got it, positively.  

Or rather, picking out the good parts of a situation and focusing your mind and energy on those. Finding the silver lining, if you will.   

For example, when doing a new workout routine, focus on the results you’ll get from it rather than the difficulty of the exercises. Or, when passing on an unhealthy takeaway, think of the benefits to your body.  

But as with anything, practice makes perfect. Of course, you will forget and slip up from time to time but what’s important is that you don’t let this turn into a downwards spiral of negativity.  

Instead, practice being present and aware of your thoughts. When any begin to feel intrusive, simply address them and refocus on the good.  

You are what you think  

This leads on from the last. As you think, act and become more positive, whether that be your ‘faking it’ act or something more authentic, it’s almost guaranteed that you will attract more of the same.  

Ultimately, you become what you think. It will no longer be just an act, but instead a strong and powerful mindset that is open to everything and capable of anything.  

Again, when working out, think strong and that is what you will become. Your mind will be able to push your body to limits you wouldn’t even believe are possible.  

We all have bad days  

With all this talk of a positive mind and pushing yourself, it can be easy to forget that we all still have bad days too. After all, we are all human. 

But when they do come around, it’s important not to beat yourself up about it as this will only lead to greater mental and physical challenges.  

For instance, perhaps a training session didn’t go as well as you’d hoped, maybe you didn’t run the distance you wanted to or make it through that extra set. These things can play on your mind and cause you to start doubting yourself and your abilities.  

But all it really means is you had an off day. It most definitely isn’t a reflection of you or what you’re capable of.  

So, instead of dwelling over what could have been, try and take a lesson from it. That might be the effectiveness of a technique, a reminder to fuel yourself before a workout or simply, that you need to take a break sometimes.  

A positive mind can take you far in life. That’s not to say hard work isn’t a requirement but it does mean it becomes a little easier and more enjoyable when your mind has been trained to focus on the good.  

In this way, the possibilities are endless, particularly when it comes to training and sticking to a healthy diet.  

The power of a positive mind could be just what you needed to reach your next goal. Who knew!  

For more tips and advice on staying positive, motivated and fuelling your health and fitness journey, download the Battle Ready 360 app today. Available on IOS and Android.