Welcome back my curious creatives. In these mindful times, I­­­t seems that everyone in the world wants to learn the power of positive thinking, right? But what does it really mean to think positively? And is it as powerful as people suggest?

We all know our thoughts affect our actions, that much has always been true. If we follow that logic through, it’s not too much of a stretch to believe that the way we feel about events can directly influence our future. Your thoughts play a part in how you live. Your values and beliefs influence the way you feel, the quality of your personal relationships, and how you view the world. As you start to act out these beliefs, your actions translate to whether you succeed in all sorts of ways – in your relationships, your general life, and your career. It’s all a matter of mindset.

Just in case you believe positive thinking is something people are born with, here’s the gold: you are the master of your own thoughts, you can change your outlook, and the future is yours!

First, you need to get to the root of what’s been holding you back and cultivate a mindset that doesn’t ignore negative emotions but knows how to identify and control them.

Here are six ways to fully embrace a positive mindset:

1. Take Back Control

Realizing you can’t control every event that happens but you can control how you react to them is how to start thinking positively. Remember: the only thing you can control in life is yourself. Once you realize this you can fully embrace the power of positive thinking*.

*Persian poet Rumi had that much identified as early as the 13th century.

2. Reframe Your State Of Mind

Are you a glass-half-full or a glass-half-empty person? If your mindset is poor, everything around you seems worse. It’s up to you how you view things so why not choose to see events in a positive light? By consciously focusing on positive moments, you’ll begin to reframe your thoughts, cultivating a mindset that is grateful and open rather than negative and closed off.

3. Change What You Show The World

Having a bad day? Your body language will show it. You’ll slump in your chair, have a hard time making eye contact and do things like cross your arms when feeling uncomfortable. You allow your environment and circumstances to control you. This is not a powerful stance and your body lets others know it. This creates a feedback loop as your poor posture reinforces your poor mindset. Positive thinking is as much about your body as it is about your brain.

4. Form New Positive Habits

You can’t form new habits if you’re unaware of your current ones. Are there subjects that set you into a negative spiral of self-doubt? Do you react to situations openly or do you utilize defense mechanisms? If so, what are they?

Think of all the time you’re wasting by falling back on this negative habit. Self-doubt is almost always rooted in fear – often the fear of failure – so your mind comes up with countless reasons not to even try. That leads to stagnation, which is worse. If you’re able to cut off negative thought before it gets hold then fear won’t rule you anymore.

5. Be Careful With Language

The words you choose – both in conversation and in your own mind – have a deep impact on your mindset. Studies have found that a positive vocabulary improves psychological states, helps regulate emotions, and more. Your language affects how others respond to you, again creating a feedback loop that can be either positive or negative.

6. Choose A Mentor

We all need help in life. Identify a positive person and learn from them. It can be a close friend, a family member, or a work colleague. What values does that person live by? How do they frame things?

Hop on a video call, talk through your problems, and brainstorm solutions. Not only will you feel a huge lift but you’ll start to reframe your perspective and guard against negativity. Your mentor will also stop you from slipping back into old habits. Priceless.