Today’s guest contributor is Darlene Hunter, president of Darlene Hunter & Associates, LLC. Darlene is a  motivational speaker, author, life and business coach, and award-winning radio talk show host. Her new book, Win-Ability, Navigating through Life’s Challenges with a Winning Attitude, is her fourth on the theme of perseverance.

Fear, insecurity, and self-doubt can be the biggest obstacles many of us face in life.

To overcome this negativity, many people turn to unhealthy behaviors, such as overeating or alcohol abuse.

Compulsive or addictive behavior may temporarily numb the negativity, but it won’t put you on a healthy and wholesome path.

While some people buy very expensive things to feel more confident, there’s a better, more affordable way to yield the same result—and that’s positive thinking.

The power of positive thinking is well publicized. Positive thinking gained scientific credibility in 1985 when Michael F. Scheier and Charles S. Carver published their groundbreaking study, “Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies.” Since then, hundreds of academic papers have been published in support of positive thinking.

Recently, the Dove beauty experiment, in which women wore a “beauty patch,” yielded multiple positive behaviors, which shows that confidence starts with your attitude; no expensive purchases required.

4 ways to be more positive

Do what you love doing

What is that thing that you love doing? Would you miss doing it if you could never do it again? You get a great sense of accomplishment and joy when you do what you love doing. Maybe it’s baking, cooking, taking care of children, writing, drawing, dancing. Just find that special something that makes you happy as you travel through life.

Pursue your passion

Your passion is what you’ll do even if you aren’t being paid to do it. Following your passion allows you to gain skills and will push you to become better. You’ll gain a great sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and joy in doing what you love. Discovering what you are passionate about generally helps you connect with your purpose.

Be true to yourself

• Don’t set your career path in a certain direction based on what your friends or family members want for you. If you dream it, you can live it.
• Don’t let fear hold you back.
• Be honest about your resources, skills and abilities. Understand what you have and what’s needed to move forward.
• Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have all of the answers. Be open to suggestions and advice from others who are already doing what you are trying to do.

Stay the course; be resilient; never give up

• Don’t be thin-skinned as you pursue your dreams.
• Be durable. Be strong. Be determined.
• Don’t see quitting as an option.

No matter what you’re facing now or the challenges that are ahead of you, stay the course; you’ll get there.

Image source before quote:  morgueFile.com