Staying positive or being optimistic is one of the biggest challenges that people face today, especially during these unprecedented times of significant changes and daily reports of bad news.
However, you do not have to let these things affect you and ruin your day. You should remember that there is always something positive in every day; although you need to look a bit harder on some days.
To help you, here are 5 ways to stay positive and to have an optimistic mindset.
Start your day positively
Usually, the way you start your day sets the tone and mood for the rest of it, so you need to be careful about how you spend your mornings. Try starting your day by moving slowly. Have an uplifting conversation with your loved ones, or spend a bit of your time doing something you love. These activities can make a significant and positive difference in how the rest of your day will go, rather than going on full speed in the morning and spoiling your day with future troubles and stress. And most importantly, start your day with your biggest and sincerest smile.
Be presently aware throughout your day
Spending your time in the present moment makes it easier for you to achieve positive emotions and to stay mindful of what you can do about something within your life. A simple way to reconnect with your current or present state is to put your full attention and focus on what lies around you at the moment. Even for just a minute or two, through all your senses, be present at the moment. It may sound insignificant, but doing so can bring positive effects on your whole day.
Share positivity through simple kind acts
Studies show that acts of kindness can boost your happiness and mood and can even help you live longer. You can do this by merely offering and giving help, by genuinely listening to your troubled friend, and by merely smiling and encouraging a friend or someone who is having a bad day. How you treat others, as well as how you think of them, tend to have a significant effect on how you treat and feel about yourself.
Eliminate negative phrases
Negative phrases such as, "I can't," "I am (insert a negative adjective here)," and "I always give up," will surely harm your perception of things, since it already reeks of pessimism, and can create vague fears that will hold you back from doing the things that you want. Keep in mind that the worst thing that could happen to you when you want to achieve something is not as scary as you perceived it to be. Find clarity in this and avoid your suffering. Drop those negative phrases of yours and step out of your comfort zone.
Exercise, meditate, and sleep
These three can improve your mood, sleep, and can even make you calmer and better-focused individuals. If you have trouble sleeping, try writing down your thoughts, and think of positive events that happened in your day, even the smallest ones. With these, you will find yourself later in deep slumber.
