Everybody is different. We all have different likes, different wants, different beliefs, and different lifestyles.
Despite how different we are, though, I think that it’s fair to say that we all have at least one thing in common… we want to live a more positive life.
Who doesn’t want to be happy, right? But that doesn’t mean that living a more positive life an easy process. Living a more positive life is something that takes time, consistency, and effort in order to obtain. Not only that, but it’s also our full responsibility to actually make it happen.
For those who are looking to live a more positive life, here are six simple tips that I use in my daily life, and tips that I believe will come in handy in your search for happiness as well.
1. USE A JOURNAL
A journal can be a fantastic way to help you find more happiness and positivity in your life. Many people like to use a gratitude journal in order to support their mental health.
A gratitude journal is the practice of writing down the things that you are grateful for every day. Things that you are grateful for, good things that happened throughout your day, really just anything “good” in your life.
Often times, people tend to focus solely on the negatives in life. Hey, don’t get me wrong, I do my fair share of this as well. All that does, though, is it puts us in a negative state of mind and causes us to focus on the things that we lack instead of all that we are blessed with. The key is to focus on the good, and the more that you focus on the good, the more good that will fill your life.
2. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE
Whether it’s a family member, a friend, or even a co-worker, surround yourself with the type of people that you want to resemble the most. After all, you are the average of the six people to whom you spend the most time with.
Sometimes a habit or an act of politeness binds us to a person who we know only makes us feel To live a more positive life, you need to distance yourself from the negative people in your life. It’s easier said than done to cut people out of your life, but if living a more positive life means enough to you, it will be worth it.
3. DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR OTHERS
When it comes to improving your wellness, doing something good for others is one of the best and easiest things that you can do. It’s often the most simple practices but oftentimes overlooked.
It doesn’t have to be much. Hold the door open for somebody else, call somebody by their name, ask a stranger how their day was, anything that you can do to help put a smile onto somebody else’s face will suffice.
4. LOOK FOR THE POSITIVES IN LIFE
Believe it or not, there are far more positives in life than there are negatives. Sometimes, we just focus on the negative too much to the point where we completely disregard all of the positives Every morning, I like to write down five things from the previous day that I am grateful for. Not only does this help me to reflect on the positives in my life, but by doing this first thing in the morning, it helps to put me in a positive state of mind for the day ahead.
5. SMILE! EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD TO
There is something about smiling that helps to boost your mood as well as the mood of those around you. Whether you are angry, sad, or already happy, when you smile, part of your brain will light up and release greater amounts of dopamine, which is also known as the “feel-good” hormone.
Aside from increasing your happiness, smiling can also help to significantly decrease stress and anxiety. It all stems back to dopamine, which helps to put you in a good mood.
So the next time you are feeling sad, depressed, stressed, or anxious, put a smile even when it’s hard and take notice of how much your mood improves. Regardless of how you were feeling before, smiling will always help to improve your overall mood.
6. ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY
One of the best things that you can do for yourself to live a more positive life is to take care of you before even trying to take care of those around you. If you aren’t happy and can’t find something positive in your life, then how are you going to help to bring any amounts of positivity and happiness to the lives of others?
Take some time for yourself, do some of the hobbies that you enjoy the most, learn to loosen up a little bit, and treat yourself for all of your hard work. Life is meant to be enjoyed, so the next time you are feeling sad or stressed, the least that you can do for yourself is to reward yourself by doing something that you actually enjoy doing.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All of these tips are tips that I try to implement into my life on a daily basis. It’s not always easy to recall these tips off the top of your head, especially when you are feeling down or anxious, but if nothing else, I think the last one about doing something that you find fun will help you the most.
Remember, life is all about learning and growing from your mistakes. Nobody is expecting you to ever be perfect, so quit expecting it of yourself, and instead, learn to do your best. That, in my opinion, will help you to live a more positive life.
Michael Bonnell
Yesterday’s post: The Art Of Non-Conformity Book Review By Chris Guillebeau