In our life, we have all received the well-intentioned advice to stay positive. Sometimes it can be hard to stay positive in life when you are drowning in the waters of negativity. Happiness isn’t the only type of positivity definition. There are many ways to stay positive in your life, even when you’re experiencing anger, sadness, or challenges. The definition of being positive is having hope and confidence in one’s ability to handle what’s tough, along with remembering that nothing is all negative all the time.
Research says that we have powerful capabilities to choose positive ways and emotions of thinking. Our emotions change our body at the cellular level. Rather than trying to get rid of negative feelings, we can choose to respond to them differently. To live a happier life, it’s essential to learn how to highlight the positive thinking and improve your outlook on life.
How to stay positive?
Here are simple ways to stay positive and happy.
Make an effort to find a positive side in everything
You can’t control what happens to you, but one thing you can control is how you respond. It’s up to you to look for the right side in everything and react most positively.
For example, when you are waiting for your friend and he is late, don’t get angry, rather make it an opportunity to develop your patience level.
Always be grateful
It is impossible to feel depressed in life if you have so many things to be grateful. No matter how inferior things may turn out, you must realize that we still have things in our lives what most people on earth don’t have. The research found that your brain always focuses on the negative elements of life, like tragedies, failures, worries, etc. That’s why we need to focus more on good things. To do so, you should make a gratitude list and read them whenever you get a chance. It will attract more blessing, and you will feel much better in life.
Create a positive environment
It is vital to have positive people around you who will help you to stay positive in negative situations. Circle yourself with people who will support you and lift you instead of dragging you down.
You can also spend time reading positive books, watching motivating movies, or listening to good music.
Exercise more
The University of Toronto found in research that physical activity helps to fight depression. Research shows exercising daily releases, good mood endorphins, which makes your mood better. Exercise has both physical and mental benefits. It will keep you in better shape and boost your self-esteem.
Treasure your experience more than possessions
A research done by Thomas Gilovich, a psychologist at Cornell University shows that it is healthy for our brain to treasure a memorable and pleasant experience rather than the material things. Comparing possessions and look at better objects after purchase can be demoralizing and ruin the initial pleasure. But treasuring experience does not affect the initial pleasure; rather, they provide long-lasting happiness.
Help others
Volunteering or doing charity can boost your spiritual health and give you internal peace. Buying a big house and cars will not increase your overall happiness in the long run. Contributing to the betterment of the people will also make you realize how much fortunate you are than others.
Researchers found that when we dedicate a little time or money in helping others, this has a significant effect on our happiness. This is because our total focus will be on how you can give or be of service to others and paying less attention to negative people and things around you.
Go outdoors
Nature always gives us positive energy and helps us think positively. In today’s busy world and desk-bound jobs, it has become impossible to go out and spend some time with nature. Spending some time outside in good weather will increase your energy, boost your mood and help you work efficiently. If going out isn’t an option, you can always surround your workplace or home with plants.
Meditation
Meditation will improve your focus, attention, clarity and will keep your mind calm. It keeps you from getting stressed out and keeps you happy in the long run. It is beneficial for both the body and mind.
According to a Harvard researcher Matt Killingsworth, wandering mind will not make us happy. Meditation helps you to concentrate and pay attention to the present and accept it without judging. It is useful in forgetting about the past and not worry about the future.
Get enough sleep
When we don’t get enough sleep, negativity takes over our mind. Your body needs to recover from the day before stress. There are tons of natural remedies to help you sleep better. Sleep helps your mind to stay focus, be productive and happier. People who get good sleep tend to feel less anger and stressful.
In research, it showed that hippocampus, a part of a brain, which processes positive and happy thoughts. When we don’t get enough sleep, this function starts to creak and starts developing more negative thoughts than before.
Express your feelings
There is a lot of things keep happening in our life, which we hold inside ourselves. And when we express those emotions, we feel relief. You should always have someone trustworthy you could talk to and someone who can understand what you are going through. And if you don’t find that right person, you can just write it down.
Reduce your worries
Worrying habit about anything is a powerful reason to destroy anyone’s thinking. Most of the thing you fear in your life never happens. They are just like nightmares of your mind. It grows stronger day-by-day and leaves you feeling stressed.
Accept and find solutions
Most people are repellent and can’t accept the change in their life. They must learn to accept that change will happen. We continually go through changes, because this is how life is meant to be. You can experience the worst phase of your life, but you should look for the positive aspect and find a solution to your problem. When you train your brain for staying positive in all situations, even tragedy can’t destroy you.
Conclusion
If you think that there are a lot of problems and responsibilities in your life and it’s too impractical to stay positive all the time, think again. It’s never too late to live a positive and happy life.