Difficult situations come up in life, but they don’t have to control your life! Learn ways to bring more positivity into your life, even if you’re having a bad day.
The impact of your attitude on your happiness
Some days it can be easy to feel like the only luck you have is bad luck.You know – you’re just having one of “those days,” or maybe even one of “those weeks” or “those months.” It seems like negative things keep slamming into form every direction, like life is terrible and you just can’t catch a break.
Sometimes life really is difficult and there’s nothing we can do about it. For example, when my dad passed unexpectedly while I was literally on the other side of the world from my family (12 time zones away). My husband was unreachable because he was on deployment on a submarine. I felt so alone and out of control I wanted to sit down on the sidewalk in Sydney, cry, and never get back up.
However, many times repeated “bad” events or negative experiences that just keep piling on have to do with your negative attitude and expectations.
Here’s a quick example:You get flustered because you’re running late so you aren’t careful and spill your hot coffee in your lap. Now you have to get changed and are even more behind schedule so you’re rushing and forget something important at home.
You show up at work already feeling stressed and harangued, so of course you find yourself irritated by the next little thing that comes along. Your “bad day” keeps going form bad to worse, but a lot of it is actually caused by your own mindset! If you just take a moment to calm down and refocus, you can bring positivity back into your day and turn things around.
Like attracts like. Feeling stressed out attracts more things to be stressed about. Feeling positive and grateful brings you more things to be grateful for!
This is the central concept of the Law of Attraction, but it’s been observed in studies that show people get what they expect an overwhelming majority of the time. How cool is that?
It’s normal to occasionally feel overwhelmed, to feel like giving up and to believe life is something that happens to you. But, if you feel this way more days than not, then it’s time to change your perspective.
Positivity is important because it impacts all aspects of your life, in a good way.
- It helps you to have better relationships; people want to be around happy people.
- Positivity improves your working relationships because coworkers want to collaborate with you.
- Maintaining a positive attitude can also improve your health.
8 ways to be more positive
No matter how low, snarky, or negative you feel, it’s important to focus your energy on the positive.Here are some ways to bring more positivity into your life.
Always look for the silver lining in the cloud
Sometimes people think that being positive is all about ignoring the bad and focusing only on the good, but that’s not true at all!In fact, this type of thinking can lead to even greater unhappiness.
Always looking for the silver lining in the cloud is one of the biggest, most important parts of my personal gratitude practice.
Perhaps your ex was a drain on your emotions, energy, or finances. Maybe they didn’t enjoy some of things you do. Now you have the time, energy or extra cash to do what you enjoy.
Missing a bus means you get to add a bit of exercise to your life by walking to your destination. Walking is good for your mind, body and soul.
Or maybe losing a loved one ultimately opens the door to new experiences. The tradeoff doesn’t have to be “worth it” in an even trade – just try to find something positive.
For example, my husband and I probably would not spend as much time as we do at our place in West Virginia if my dad hadn’t passed. There is almost a 100% likelihood that it wouldn’t even be ours! That doesn’t mean I’d rather have some woodlands and an old house instead of my dad, but I still appreciate our property and the time we spend there.
No matter how horrible something is, you can always learn from it.
Show Appreciation
My friend Crystal Dawn is an amazing example of the power of appreciation. She is an appreciation master who used appreciation to save her marriage.
When you’re feeling sad, negative, cold, and alone, remember to take joy in the small things. Be grateful for the coffee your friend brought you. Feel the love when your partner makes you breakfast. Return the smile a stranger sends your way.
Appreciate the little things. Let others know you appreciate what they do or have done for you. And when you’re feeling up to it, return the favor to show your love for them.
Connect with Yourself
No matter where you are or what time of day it is, take a few moments to stop what you’re doing, close your eyes and listen to your body; your inner self.
Take note of your feelings and put a name to them.Use all of your senses to notice the things around you and how they make you feel. Notice your current thoughts and how they are negatively or positively affecting you in the moment. Accept your thoughts and emotions for what they are. Don’t try to change them, just notice them.
Tapping in to your inner-self can be done just about anywhere; at work, while waiting for an appointment, while drinking your morning coffee, in the shower, or even while brushing your teeth.
If it’s easier for you, set aside time each day for meditation. Just a simple quite space free from interruptions that allows you to reflect on yourself. It’s one of the best ways to hear your inner guidance system.
Connecting with yourself will give you an inner abundance of knowledge and wisdom which can help guide you to making the right choices.
Set an Intention to Be Happy
Once you accept that being happy is choosing to be happy, you will instantly become more empowered. When you wake up each morning with the intent to be happy, your mood instantly improves.
I like to start my day with a positive affirmation or intention. Try on something like “today is a great day” or “I am achieving my goals today” and see how it feels or you.
Affirmations can benefit children, too. If you have kids, bring them into your practice with positive affirmations for children.
Starting your morning with positive intention sets your subconscious to thinking positive thoughts all day. By setting an intention to be happy, you strengthen your capacity to be happy. You open yourself up to more possibilities where previously there was seemingly no solution.
So, start every morning by telling yourself: I choose to be happy today. I choose to be the best I can be. I choose to celebrate my life and the fact that I am alive.
Surrender Your Control
Stop trying to control everything and worrying about what you can’t control. It just stresses you out for absolutely no reason!
Instead, focus on what you can control and put your trust in the Universe or God.
Tapping into this trust and faith gives you the opportunity to relax and enjoy the moment. This relaxed energy opens the door for you obtain what you want from life; a great relationship, the job of your dreams, or whatever you desire.
When you surrender control of your rigid timeline and the exact steps you think everything should take to reach your goals, you allow greater and better things to happen.
This doesn’t mean you should sit around doing nothing at all. Quite the opposite! Keep working towards your goals, but give yourself the freedom to enjoy the journey. When you’re not fearfully boxing yourself in, you’re able to courageously say YES to unlimited opportunities and to have happiness in your life.
And, for goodness’s sake, stop worrying about what other people think of you!
You seriously have absolutely no control over it. You can’t control what other people think. Period. All you do is waste your time and stress yourself out.
Celebrate the Small Wins
Happiness isn’t just about reaching your large goals – it’s about about enjoying the entire journey. Instead of going for intensity, go for frequency. In other words, it’s better to find small things to delight in every day than to be unhappy all year waiting for a big vacation.
Regular small pleasures generally have a larger impact on happiness than fewer big pleasures.
Don’t ignore your daily wins – celebrate and appreciate them! Take a few moments to celebrate even the littlest thing. You’ll be amazed by how much positive energy it brings to your day!
If you’re working on noticing the small wins and “little” things that work out well, grab yourself a habit tracker printable and start tracking everything good that comes your way. You may be surprised by how many good thing are already occurring in your life!
Move
Exercise, whether it’s an intense sweat session or a walk, can improve your mood.
Exercising increases your energy levels and reduces stress.It boosts your immune system, releases feel-good endorphins, improves your self-image, and brightens your outlook on life.
My workout is such an important part of my day that I definitely start to get cranky if I haven’t done my workout! I don’t spend hours and hours at the gym – I just do a simple 10-20 minute workout in the garage while my toddler plays – and it helps my mood all day long.
The next time you’re feeling down, negative or uninspired slip on your favorite tennis shoes and take walk or do your favorite workout video. You’ll feel so much better after!
Stop Comparing
Theodore Rosevelt said “Comparison is the thief of joy” and, man, was he ever right!
Social media has made the comparison trap easier than ever to fall into. We see everyone else’s styled and curated Instagram feeds and wonder what’s wrong with us. Why can’t our lives be that perfect?
Or have you ever been feeling pretty good about yourself until you leaf through a magazine? You’ll see ads for products that tell you your hair, skin, weight, lips, eyelashes, and every other feature just aren’t good enough without their product.
While comparing yourself to others is natural, always remember that another person’s success isn’t your failure. You don’t have to have what other people have. You don’t have to look the same as others or the way some magazine tells you to look. You don’t have to be jealous of other people – you can celebrate their wins and know that there is enough for everyone.
Also, let’s be real, things aren’t what they appear on the Internet or in magazines. Have you seen those untouched celebrity photo roundups?!
Your job is not to follow what others are doing. It’s to do things in a way that is best for you. Buy what’s best for you. Take steps that help you reach your personal goals. Stay focused on your path and ignore the rest.
I truly hope you’ve enjoyed these 8 ways to bring more happiness into your life!
Do you have more tips and tricks for bringing positivity into your life? Please leave a comment and share!