Positive Thinking Habits

Pick Me Up Tuesday: Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana

🌟 Building Positive Thinking Habits to Brighten Your Day

Have you ever noticed how one small thought can change the entire course of your day?

Maybe it’s something like, “I’m doing my best today,” or “This moment doesn’t define me.” Positive thinking habits aren’t about pretending everything is perfect—they’re about practicing self-compassion, choosing hopeful thoughts, and creating space for change.

At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana (AACI) in Munster, Indiana, we often help clients build positive thinking habits that support emotional resilience. Whether you’re facing anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, or burnout, the way you talk to yourself matters.

Today, we’re sharing how to create simple, intentional positive thinking habits that uplift, empower, and encourage—without toxic positivity or unrealistic pressure.

💬 What Are Positive Thinking Habits?

Positive thinking habits are consistent thought patterns or reframes that help you respond to challenges with more clarity, confidence, and self-kindness.

They are not:

Ignoring pain or struggle
Forcing fake happiness
Pretending things are easy

They are:

Choosing more balanced thoughts
Practicing self-compassion
Focusing on what you can control
Creating new mental pathways through repetition

When paired with support—like therapy or animal-assisted interventions—positive thinking habits can lead to powerful long-term changes in emotional wellness.

🔗 Explore the science of positive thinking – Mayo Clinic

🐾 How Therapy Dogs Can Support Thought Shifts

One of the most grounding ways to interrupt negative thought loops is with connection. At AACI, we often use therapy dogs as part of the healing process. Animals offer:

Nonjudgmental presence
Calming touch
Emotional regulation support
Comfort during hard conversations

If your inner voice tends to spiral with worry, fear, or shame, having a calm, loving therapy dog by your side can help shift that narrative.

🔗 Learn how therapy animals promote emotional regulation

🧠 5 Simple Positive Thinking Habits to Try This Week

Let’s walk through a few habits you can try starting today. Remember: these aren’t about forcing positivity—they’re about gently redirecting your thoughts when you notice they’ve turned unkind or unhelpful.

1. Start Your Day With a Grounding Affirmation

Before reaching for your phone, try starting your day with a thought like:

“I am safe and capable.”
“Today, I will respond with calm.”
“I don’t have to do it all to be worthy.”

You can write these in a journal or say them out loud. Bonus: say them while petting your dog for even more emotional grounding.

2. Interrupt Negative Self-Talk With Curiosity

When you catch yourself thinking, “I can’t handle this,” pause and ask:

“What would I say to a friend right now?”
“Is this thought helping me?”

This habit teaches your brain to slow down and evaluate your inner narrative, which is key to reshaping long-held patterns.

🔗 Try this strategy from Positive Psychology

3. Practice a 2-Minute Gratitude Scan

Before bed, scan your day for one thing that went well. Not five. Just one.

It could be:

A warm cup of coffee
Your dog resting his head on your lap
Finishing a task you’ve been avoiding
A moment of laughter

Gratitude isn’t about ignoring the hard stuff—it’s about reminding your brain that both/and can exist. You can struggle and still find light.

🔗 Read our blog on emotional self-care practice

4. Use “I’m Learning” Language

Swap “I messed up again” with:

“I’m learning to pause.”
“I’m growing, even if it’s messy.”
“I’m doing the best I can with what I have.”

This habit helps you shift from judgment to growth, which is key for trauma recovery, relationship healing, and personal growth.

5. Keep a “Hope List” Visible

On a sticky note or phone wallpaper, write 3 hopeful reminders:

I’ve survived hard things before
This feeling is temporary
Connection is always available

Read them when you feel low. Or better yet—have a furry friend nearby to sit with you while you breathe through it.

🐕 How AACI Can Support You

Changing how you think isn’t easy. It takes time, patience, and support. That’s where Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana can help.

We offer:

Individual therapy for teens and adults
Family and relationship counseling
Trauma-informed support with trained therapy dogs
A warm, welcoming space in Munster, Indiana

Our goal is never to rush your process—but to walk with you, gently, as you learn to trust yourself again.

🔗 Meet our team of compassionate therapists

🎯 Task for Today: Choose One New Habit

Pick one of the positive thinking habits above and try it today. Just one.

Maybe it’s a simple mantra like “I’m learning,” or writing down a moment of peace from your afternoon.

Whatever you choose, let it remind you that you’re capable of change—and worthy of kindness.

💛 Ready for More Support?

If you’re struggling with negative thoughts, overwhelm, or emotional fatigue, you’re not alone. At AACI, we blend traditional therapy with the unique power of animal-assisted support to help you reconnect with hope.

📍 Serving Munster, Indiana & surrounding communities
📅 Contact us today