Daily Habits for a Positive Mindset
A positive mindset is not something you're born with, it is something you build. I grew up in a home where my dad worked long hours and rarely came home until late at night. He was not a great communicator, and most of what I remember hearing growing up was pretty negative. I was told I would fail. It took me years of reading, listening, and practicing to reprogram my own thinking. It all started with a single habit: self-affirmation.
That said, this is not a theory I picked up from a productivity blog. It is the actual starting point of my own book, The Solutions Oriented Leader, and it is still the first thing I tell audiences when they ask how to build a genuinely positive mindset. Building a positive mindset is not about being cheerful all day long. Instead, it is about a small set of daily habits, practiced consistently, that change how your brain responds to stress, fear, and setbacks.
Self-Affirmation: The Foundation of a Positive Mindset
I started to read self-help books and listen to audio recordings about maintaining a positive attitude. Years ago, I read a book called Psycho-Cybernetics by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. It states that the mind does not know the difference between something actually happening and something imagined vividly and in great detail. That single idea became the foundation of my positive mindset practice. It took many years to fully reprogram my brain for success, and it all started with self-affirmation.
That is why I think it is so important to start each day right. Look in the mirror and speak a few words of affirmation to yourself. These do not have to be over the top. Simply remind yourself that you are capable, that you are hardworking, and that you have what it takes to succeed.
My Own Morning Affirmation
For the past thirty years, I have used an affirmation that I received from a mentor and adapted for my own life. I share it with audiences around the world, and attendees regularly write to tell me it has made a real difference for them. Here it is, in full.
"I am a healthy, vital, active, happy and successful human being. I affirm today that all tissues and organs in my body are functioning perfectly, and that is the way it is supposed to be. I am more relaxed than ever because I choose peaceful, loving thoughts and release my fears, worries, and anxieties. Tension is gone because I am creating an atmosphere of ease and confidence. My mind is uncluttered because I have set specific goals and planned action steps for their accomplishment. I feel better now. Radiant energy flows through me. I also affirm today that money is plentiful and in abundant supply, and it flows freely and constantly into my life as I render loving service to all mankind."
You can download this exact affirmation and share it with your own team using this free PDF. Read it every day for thirty days, then notice how differently your days have gone.
Let Go of F.E.A.R.
In Living a Championship Life, I write about a simple reframe that has stuck with me for decades: F.E.A.R. stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Specifically, fear shows up when you are unsure of yourself, not when there is actually something to be afraid of. Make up your mind to show confidence in what you do, even when you are a little unsure inside.
Where "I Must, I Can, I Will" Came From
Years ago, I read a quote from Dr. Orison Swett Marden, founder of Success magazine: "Constant affirmation increases courage, and courage is the backbone of confidence." Since that day, I have repeated the same three words every single day: I must, I can, I will. As a result, it is one of the most powerful tools I know for building a can-do attitude about anything you are facing.
The Gratitude Walk
Each day I wake up and go for a walk. I spend at least five minutes visualizing and focusing on everyone and everything in my life that I appreciate. I start with a spiral outside of myself, working outward. I begin with, "I am grateful for my own life, and I am grateful for my health and the choices I have." Then I move to my children, my wife, my family, and finally my friends and business associates.
If gratitude does not come easily, ask yourself these questions instead: What are the things in my life I could be grateful for? Who are the people I could be grateful for, and for what? What are the opportunities in front of me right now? Answering these, even when you do not fully feel it yet, starts to shift the pattern.
Want your team to build these habits together? Dr. Rick Goodman's keynotes and workshops are built around this exact framework.
A Simple Daily Checklist for a Positive Mindset
Beyond the affirmation and the gratitude walk, here are the habits I come back to again and again. I use them in my own life, and I teach them to audiences.
- Express gratitude. Take time each day to name specifically what you are thankful for. Say it to the people who deserve to hear it.
- Give something. Giving, even just advice or a few minutes of your time, is one of the fastest ways to shift toward positive thinking.
- Be quiet. Spend a few minutes each morning in quiet, either meditating or simply breathing, before the noise of the day starts.
Overall, these habits are a starting point. Both The Solutions Oriented Leader and Living a Championship Life go deeper into the mindset, communication, and leadership tools that build on them.
"I must, I can, I will. This simple affirmation is one of the most powerful techniques you can use to develop a positive, can-do attitude about any experience and situation."
About Dr. Rick Goodman, CSP
Dr. Rick Goodman is a Certified Speaking Professional, six-time Global Gurus Top 30 Leadership Expert, and author of five books including the Amazon number one bestseller The Solutions Oriented Leader and Living a Championship Life. He has delivered more than 2,000 programs across all 50 states and 32 countries.
His keynote programs, workshops, and executive coaching engagements are customized and immediately actionable.
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Dr. Rick Goodman is a Certified Speaking Professional and executive coach who helps leaders and teams build the daily habits behind a genuinely positive mindset, backed by over 30 years of practice, not theory.
Recognized six consecutive years as a Global Gurus Top 30 Leadership Expert. Author of five books. Certified Speaking Professional.
Building a Positive Mindset: Questions People Ask Most
If your question is not answered below, call us at 1-954-218-5325 or email rick@rickgoodman.com.
The fastest shift is self-affirmation. Speak a few words of confidence to yourself, out loud if you can. Something as simple as "I am capable and I have what it takes" works. Your brain does not fully distinguish between what is actually happening and what is vividly imagined, so speaking positively to yourself pushes your mood in that direction almost immediately.
Peace of mind comes from releasing fear and choosing what you focus on. A daily gratitude practice works well for this. Spend five minutes each morning naming specific people and things you appreciate. The more specific you get, the less room fear and stress have to take hold.
Three habits make the biggest difference: a morning affirmation spoken out loud, five minutes of gratitude practice, and surrounding yourself with people who think positively rather than people who complain. Each is small on its own, but practiced daily they compound into a genuinely different outlook.
F.E.A.R. stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Most fear is not based on what is actually happening. It is based on a story your mind is telling you about what might happen. Recognizing that fear is often manufactured evidence, not fact, is the first step to acting with confidence anyway.
A morning affirmation works because the mind does not fully separate something actually happening from something imagined in vivid detail. Repeating a specific, positive statement each morning trains your subconscious toward that outcome over time. Negative self-talk trains it in the other direction the same way.
A strong morning routine includes a spoken affirmation, a few minutes of quiet or meditation before the day gets noisy, and a short gratitude practice, even just naming three specific things or people you appreciate. The goal is not a long routine, it is a consistent one.