Positivity doesn’t come from big victories or great achievements. Those are rare moments of happiness and satisfaction. If you want to surround yourself with positive vibrations in everyday life, you have to rely on the power of small things.
If the day doesn’t start the way you want, you have to condition your mind to think that everything is ok. The mind is like a muscle and the more you train it to boost your positivity, the more it will be receptive to do it again when the next dark day comes. These eight steps can help you:
Be Thankful.
When you wake up in a bad mood, remind yourself of all the good things you have in your life: a warm bed, a shelter, food waiting for you in the kitchen.
Eat Healthy.
Commit to nurture your body with the best fuel. Whatever your diet is, follow the three simple rules suggested by author Michael Pollan: Eat REAL food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Breathe & Exercise.
If you don’t have time to exercise every day, make sure you reconnect with your breath. Take a couple of minutes to feel alive breathing, inhale and exhale a couple of times.
Indulge.
It’s good to eat healthy, but once in a while indulge in your favorite eatable passions. For example, I love chips and cookies. When I have a bad day, these guilty pleasures give me a positive kick.
Laugh.
Don’t underestimate the power of a good laugh. Laughter decreases stress hormones and triggers the release of endorphins, the chemical which promotes an overall sense of well-being. If you don’t find anything that makes you laugh, look for cute puppy or kitty videos online, I guarantee a good laughter will come.
Connect.
Talk to the people you love, or connect with someone new. Don’t complain about your bad day, listen to what they have to say and maybe thanks to that short conversation you will stop focusing on your problems and appreciate the beauty of human relationships.
Touch & Cuddle.
Make sure you find some time for cuddles. Hug and kiss someone you love, or pet your dog. These simple gestures will warm you up inside and will make you feel loved.
Read & Get Curious.
If you feel negative, try to focus on something new. Curiosity has incredible potential, all the most important scientific discoveries started in the mind of curious people. Read a book about a subject you feel attracted to, but you don’t know anything about, or watch a documentary (I recommend NOVA, and PBS in general).
Originally published at medium.com