Practice a positive outlook about making healthy lifestyle changes. Positive self-talk can have a big impact on helping you meet your goals. Take a look at these ways to reframe negative thoughts into more upbeat, encouraging ones:

• Black or white thinking — No single slip-up can ruin a long-term healthy eating or exercise plan. If you’re upset about a decision you made, shake it off the very next minute is another opportunity for a better choice.

• Excuses — Blaming yourself or others for not following through on plans to eat healthy or be active won’t get you to your goal any faster. Rather than think about why something didn’t happen, make a practical plan to change your behavior.

• Unfair comparison — Holding yourself to a standard you haven’t yet met isn’t motivating. If you’re constantly thinking about where you aren’t, it’s hard to appreciate where you are. When you’re distracted by thoughts like “Why aren’t I more like Joe? He’s so fit!” remind yourself that you’ve made some very positive changes — in time, you’ll meet your goals. It’s the only thing that matters.

Replacing negative self-talk with positive messages will take some practice. Today think about how you can lift yourself and come out shining with motivating thoughts.