When I was growing up in suburban New Jersey, if any sort of difficulty presented itself to our family my mother would say, 'Positivity! It's all about positivity!' This, as you can imagine, was nothing but salt on the raw psyche of a sullen adolescent/pre-teen/teen.

I spent years cringing at the Pollyanna attitude, scowling at the suggestion of being 'positive' and skulking off up to my room. I was a young, female version of Woody Allen, happier to brood than have a good time.

My mother was a militant morning person who used to snap my window shades up every morning with a sparkling, 'Rise and shine!' She seemed like she was from a different gene pool than me. I wanted to sleep until noon, think about death and the hopelessly transitory nature of everything, and generally be left alone. Really, though I didn't want to admit it, there was a little of her positive spirit in me, a willingness to laugh readily and be silly. Inside I was a fun, happy kid. Deep inside. Really.

A change of scenery
Years later, when I moved to England to live with my now-husband, I started to see myself through the eyes of someone who almost never has a really bad mood. My other half was content, and not bothered by all the little things that aggravated me. Going to the supermarket with him, I would point out at least five people who annoyed me. Trying to find a job, I'd come up with dozens of reasons why I was never going to get the job I wanted.

Against the backdrop of his gentle moods, as time went on I realised how negative my thoughts were most of the time. Everything irritated me. I was a walking 'can't'. And, believe me, my attitude annoyed me most of all. I was expecting the worst, and though it didn't always come true, I felt like a grumpy cow all of the time. You know what? It's exhausting being grumpy.

The magic fairy
In the most hopeful move I'd made in months, I decided to go to a hypnotherapist. I felt sort of like I was booking an appointment with a magic fairy. Would she hypnotise me into being cheerful? Could she sprinkle metaphysical Prozac on my withered being?

Hypnotherapist Sylvia Grant operates on the premise of positive thinking. She believes it has the power to change your life.

'It's not just about having a different perspective on things, it's that you can actually change the outcome of things with a better attitude. People will want to be around you, you'll project a more positive vibe and good things will eventually happen.'

It may sound like a hippie sentiment, but there wasn't a single crystal or tie-dyed piece of clothing in sight. Sylvia is a no-nonsense woman who runs her life on the basis that being positive is just the better way to live.

Surround yourself with positive people,' she says. 'Positive energy begets positive energy. I don't have negative people in my life – surround yourself with people who have positive impact on your life, and let the others fall away.' It sounds ruthless, but it's practical. It would also wipe out a certain portion of my friends, so I'd have to think about that one.

I sat down on her white couch and began to talk about why I was there, my mental rut, the fact I felt incapable of doing anything any more because it was all going to fail. She listened, and talked about how people can drive themselves right into their own misery.

She explained that her hypnotherapy isn't like when stage magicians make hapless audience members cluck like a chicken or sing Knees Up Mother Brown against their will. 'It's just deep relaxation, and I talk to you about the stuff you want to work on, and plant some positive seeds.'

I closed my eyes and she talked to me in a quiet, soothing voice and, as she'd instructed, I concentrated on her voice while letting my thoughts drift in and out and not take root. Pretty soon I felt sort of detached. Very relaxed and aware of things, but utterly chilled. Then she started talking to me about the stuff I wanted to change, the positive outlook I wanted. 'You can accomplish anything you set your mind to,' she intoned gently.

Shiny, happy people
After 20 minutes she brought me out of the deep relaxation, and I felt as light as a balloon. Could it really be that simple? I was so happy I wanted to cry! I drifted out of her house on a cloud, floated to the Tube and smiled at everyone around me. I felt capable of anything! I could accomplish whatever I set my mind to! I could not wipe that grin off my face. I called my husband and explained to him that I was now a changed person.

Good grief, is it really that instant and easy? Well, not quite. The buoyancy lasted for a few days, but then I realised that there was still a lot of potential – within me – for dark, destructive thoughts. Ever since leaving Sylvia's home I saw with such clarity how many times I'd been having negative thoughts. Like every instant of the day. I'd had negative thoughts about everything from my toothbrush to the way leaves fell off trees. It would take more than one 'hit' to cure me of all that.

Sylvia had told me that while I might feel good right away, it would take a few sessions to learn the meditative techniques I could use myself to 'top up' when I needed to replenish my positivity. And I also needed to work on it in everyday life, pushing aside the negative thoughts. I decided to use the metaphor of changing the channel when a negative thought popped up - and it worked.

It got me through supermarket shopping. It got me job interviews. It got me a job. It got me out of my rut and it made me a convert. I do believe that positive thinking is powerful, and although I actively have to 'change the channel' every day, I work at keeping that positivity flowing. I've decided that I want to feel that good every day.

Further information
To find a qualified hypnotherapist near you, click onto www.hypnotherapists.org.uk or call 0800 9520545.