How many times did we tell ourselves to “think positive”? How many times did we tell it to other people over and over again? Having a positive mindset is a popular concept and there can be instances that it may seem like it is a threadbare phrase. All the more, mastering the power of positivity can do wonders in your physical, mental and emotional health. It makes you do things even in its most impossible state; a great approach to appreciate things more and to strive harder to attain your goals.
However, it may be difficult to achieve especially if you’re surrounded by negativity and stress. But sure enough, you can guard yourself against it and outlast pessimistic episodes in your life.
Here’s how you could train yourself and master the beauty of having a positive mindset:
1. Start each day claiming that it’ll be a great one!
Have you ever woken up grumpy, panicked or uncomfortable and then it feels like everything that happened from dawn-to-dark seems so wrong? As if it was meant to be your ‘unlucky’ day? Well, the manner in which you start your morning sets the temperament for the rest of the day. Never let negative emotions dominate you and start your morning with positive affirmations! Try giving yourself a quick pep talk before going to school or work. You may say it out loud or just inside your mind. Statements like: “Today will be an awesome day!” or “I’ll do an amazing job today!” will surely make your day better!
2. See the benefits every situation holds, no matter how small they are.
Each day has its own obstacle for you to get through, a new puzzle to solve and a new struggle to get out of. When you encounter such challenges, remember to focus on the benefits no matter how small they may seem. Getting mad in the middle of heavy traffic for wasting so much of your time won’t help. It won’t make your travel time any faster, it’ll only make you more frustrated! Instead, think about how you have more time in listening to your favorite album or podcast or watching your favorite series, movie or vlogs or how much time you can plan your future projects. Take note, there is no such thing as ‘perfect’ day, but you can make it great by perceiving things a little bit different.
3. Make a gratitude list.
Things may get tough from time to time yet there should be at least one thing that made you feel nice. One of the keys to a positive mindset is to be grateful even in the little things. List down all the things that made your day feel nice, everything that you are thankful for and everyone who made you smile or laugh that day. You can write it down in a notebook or bullet journal and decorate it however you want! But, if you’re always on-the-go, you can always type the list in your smartphone or computer. It will serve as your reminder that you have a lot of things to be thankful for. A gratitude list is a great practice for you to have a positive mindset as it aims to help you be more grateful in what you have, making you happier and at ease.
4. Focus on individual moments.
You may feel overwhelmed because you are worried about what will happen later, or you are still bothered about your performance in an important event a few hours after it was concluded. But, thinking too much wouldn’t be a great help, it’ll tie you down and restrain you from being productive! Focus on the exact moment you’re in because it is what matters the most.
5. Turn mistakes into lessons.
You may experience failures and make mistakes, but that’s okay! You’re not perfect, nobody is perfect. Failing is a part of life, what is not part of your life is focusing solely on how you failed. Instead of setting your sight on how you went downhill, focus on how you will improve. You could list down the process in which led you to fail or take note of your mistakes and learn from it as if it’s a lecture in one of your classes and; make rules for yourself by conceptualizing and simplifying the process in a sense that you could understand wholeheartedly.
6. Surround yourself with positive people.
Confining yourself around positive people will most likely have good results in how you see life. These people may contribute to how you think and act because you will be able to hear and see positive outlooks, stories and actions that may inspire you to live happily.
7. Don’t forget to laugh-out-loud!
You can’t frown or cry until only God knows when. Let yourself experience humor even in the most challenging days. Put in mind that this too shall pass and when it does? It will surely make a good story that you can just laugh about because you did it! Try cracking a joke to yourself about a certain situation that you’re in and just laugh it out, eliminate negative thoughts if it seems to be nothing but a heavy weight on the chest.
8. Self-encouragement is a great help!
Negative self-talk can be almost undetectable for it seems to be nothing but words of regret or bitterness. But these thoughts can build up into fear of trying again or striving harder and it might shed your self-esteem into pieces. Encourage yourself more in the most trying days. Statements like: “I’m really bad at this, I’ll keep on practicing so I can improve!” or “This is way far from what I expected, I’ll try again next time!” can possibly help you to think positively about yourself.
Changing the way you see things can either make or devastate you for life. Always look on the brighter side of things, maintain a positive mindset and increase your positive attitude. You have everyday to practice and everyday to experience the wonders of having a positive mindset and see how it changes your outlook in life. Be the best version of yourself and start by thinking that YOU CAN DO IT!
