Trying to become a more positive person? If so, your journey should start with one simple truth: you’re not the only one who has struggled and managed to start over again.
The good news: there are plenty of ways to cut through the darkness. You can rely on others for help, but you can also practice self-care. You can learn how to treat yourself while paying attention to what’s going on around you. The key is to choose to be positive – not by plastering on a fake smile but by finding purpose in pain and holding on to things that make you happy.
Not sure how to do that? Here are five simple steps that will help you develop and maintain a more positive mental attitude.
1. Find Humor In Life
Studies have proved that laughter lowers stress and anxiety while improving your mood. Try to open yourself up to humor in all situations, particularly difficult ones. Sometimes, all it takes to lighten the mood is permitting yourself to laugh. If you feel like you have to force it, consider surrounding yourself with people who will help you see the bright side.
2. Practice Visualization
Visualization is a powerful technique that allows you to use your mind to achieve your goals. Whenever you find yourself in a tough situation, visualize yourself achieving the best possible outcome. You’ll find that even imagining it may cause a wave of positive emotions. Superstar athletes such as Katie Ledecky and LeBron James use this technique to great effect.
3. Have a Positive Ritual
Create a ritual where you start your day with something positive and uplifting. For example, you can listen to a song you love or do something nice for someone else. You can also go for the positive affirmation method and simply tell yourself you’re going to have a great day. By setting a positive tone early in the morning, you’ll have more energy later in the day.
4. Practice Self-Love
Before we start practicing positivity, we need to convince ourselves that this is the right path. This kind of self-talk is the core of self-love: what you tell yourself will always have an impact. Sure, loving yourself isn’t always easy and isn’t something you can do overnight. Even if you’re having a bad day, though, never forget that we all need some love in our lives.
5. Show Gratitude
Expressing gratitude has been shown to foster resilience and improve self-esteem. Try to show your gratitude at least once a day. Think of people that bring you comfort or happiness and let them know you appreciate it. You can thank anyone you want, from a loved one for doing the dishes to your coworkers for helping you on a difficult project.