Life isn’t perfect. It’s unpredictable, stressful, and full of ups and downs that can drive people into despair. Struggles are a reality we all deal with at one point or another, but it’s how we react during these difficult times that will determine how we move forward in a positive way.
When things aren’t going your way, it can be difficult to avoid the negativity that follows. But with a few simple adjustments such as remembering what you’re grateful for, eliminating perfectionist behaviors, and surrounding yourself with positive people, you can change your entire perspective. Keep reading to discover why attitude is everything!
Here are 4 Simple Positivity Practices You Can Implement Today:
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
The refusal to accept anything short of perfection is destructive not only to your mental health, but also your self-esteem, setting you on the fast track to unhappiness. And although it’s normal to be your own worst critic, giving yourself a break and realizing you’re only human is crucial.
The first thing you should come to terms with is that no one is perfect – no one. Instead of thinking an aspect of your life isn’t good enough, focus on the positive. Try repeating daily affirmations such as, “Everyone makes mistakes” or “All I can do is my best.” Learning to be ok with the mistakes you’ve made, and happy with your victories, will also boost your self confidence.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
Positive people bring positive energy. When you’re going through stress in your life, you need people who will lift you up, not bring you down. Try to distance yourself from negative people and surround yourself with people who tend to see the brighter side of things. Positive people who believe in and encourage you will help guide you to happiness. Entrepreneur Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” So if you pick your friends wisely, the sky’s the limit as to what they can help you accomplish.
Stop Overthinking Everything
Being obsessed with the negative possibilities in every situation only causes confusion, which leads to stress. When you worry about everything that could go wrong, you’re not thinking about what can go right, which keeps you from seeing the endless opportunities in life. Try and let go of what you cannot control by concentrating what is within your influence. Nine times out of 10, the things you fear most aren’t nearly as bad as you had originally imagined.
Write a Gratitude List
Sit down and think of all the positives in your life. What makes you happy and what you’re thankful for, whether it’s your family, health, good friendships, faith, or your significant other. Acknowledging the positives will help you let go of the trivial things that bring you stress, and help you pay focus on what’s truly important. Once you realize how many amazing and fortunate things you have going on in your life, you’re less likely to focus on the small insignificant things that don’t matter.
Negative thinking only compounds challenging situations. When you dwell on the difficulties in life, it affects you mentally and physically. But, you do have options when it comes to how you deal with these circumstances. By implementing just a few changes in your day-to-day routine, you’ll realize you can control how your attitude directly affects your mental well being. Although this won’t happen immediately, if you stick with it, over time you will see a much brighter outlook. The key is trying.
~Here’s to Your Success
