It may sound like new-age hippie talk, but leading a more positive life has so many benefits to our health and wellbeing that it bears putting in the effort.
Living a positive life isn’t just about us, either. It’s about how we relate to the people around us, in our personal relationships as well as in business. As humans, we gravitate to positivity. We are like moths to the flame as a smile and a kind word is always preferable to the opposite.
Happiness is a matter of perspective
We all lead busy lives. We all experience the stress of striving to reach our goals, no matter what those goals might be. The truth is, however, that going about these tasks with a positive attitude has the power not only to make all your efforts more pleasurable – it can truly change the course of everything.
You can be as happy as you make up your mind to be. Sometimes, all it takes to step out of the shade is to change the way you approach the issue. For instance, you might hate cleaning your house, but a neat and tidy home gives you great pleasure. Begin with the end in mind and your attitude will help you get it done with a smile.
Here are 10 tips to help you live a more positive life every day:
- Enjoy each day. Every single day is made up of a multitude of moments, each of which has the potential for great beauty or wonder. Whether it’s sunny or raining, hot or cold, you have an opportunity to make each day a positive one.
- Live in the moment. Yesterday is gone, you can’t change it. Tomorrow hasn’t arrived, and anything could happen. The only thing that matters, the only time you can truly affect change in your life is right now. Be mindful, be grateful, and don’t overlook what’s right in front of you.
- Don’t set unrealistic expectations for yourself. Even if you are an overachiever, there are limits as to what you can humanly accomplish. Don’t expect the impossible to happen, don’t load up your to-do list with things that you can’t possibly get to, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you aren’t able to get things done.
- Surround yourself with positive-minded people that want to see you succeed. Your true friends will celebrate your successes while jealousy and negativity can diminish them. Avoid people who bring you down as they will prevent you from realizing your full potential.
- Look for the good in every situation. While some situations make it difficult to find a silver lining, keep in mind that life is cyclical and change is good. Most often, things happen for a reason. While that reason might not be evident right away, you need to trust that it will become so. For instance, you may think that losing your job is a terrible tragedy, but if you hated your job, it was inevitable. Now you are free to pursue your dream job and, who knows, it might be just around the corner!
- Start journaling. One of the best ways to relieve stress and sort out your feelings about certain situations is to write it down. Make some time to document the things you loved about your day. List the things and the people you are grateful for. Journaling is a way to explore your innermost feelings without having to share it with another person. It allows you to shed negativity and frustration and dig deeper to find gratitude for things you do have.
- Be mindful of your blessings. It may sound cliché but, take a look at your life. If you have a job and a roof over your head, you are better off than more than half the people on this planet. Think about others that don’t have what you do; they probably think you are very well-off and totally put together. Resist the urge to say “If only I had XYZ, I would be happy” because if you are focused too much on these ideas (they are not real, they are just ideas), you may miss an opportunity to connect with something even better. Count your blessings and do not want for things you already have.
- Preach positivity. Being a positivity evangelist is not about forcing opinions down the throats of others, it’s about radiating a positive vibration so that others can experience what it’s like to live in the light.
- Decide to be happy. Deciding to be happy can be as simple as committing to seeing the glass as being half-full rather than half-empty.
- See the best in others. Don’t automatically assume that a person has anything but the best intentions. Even when a stranger reacts in a negative way, give them the benefit of the doubt. They may have had a bad day and are simply having a moment. It’s how you choose to react that will dictate the rest of the interaction. With some understanding and a positive attitude, you have the power to turn things around.
How do you walk on the sunny side? We would love to hear what has worked for you! Please share in comments. Thank you – and have a great day!
