Have you ever found yourself around someone who can always find the good in things? If you wish you could be a more optimistic person, realize that there are small steps you can take to make a big change in your outlook.
If you are a negative person who sees the evil side of the world all the time, there is no possibility for you to be ever happy in life.
Happiness and positivity are deeply connected with each other. Happiness is an outcome and a result; and not the cause.
1. Do Something You Love
It's easy to fall into the trap of negative thinking when you don't enjoy what you're doing. Maybe you're overwhelmed by work or your home life. Take some time out of your day to do something that brings you joy. It can be as simple as having a coffee break with a friend or soaking in the tub at the end of the day.
Studies have shown that doing something that makes you smile can actually help you alleviate pain.
2. The Optimistic Viewpoint in a Negative Situation
One of the simplest but most effective ways to build a more positive outlook has in my experience been to ask more helpful questions as often as possible.
Trying to force optimistic thinking when you are still in emotional turmoil or a bit shocked usually doesn’t work that well.
3. Cultivate and Live in a Positive Environment
To be able to stay positive it is essential to have influences in your life that support you and lift you up instead of dragging you down. So carefully consider what you let into your mind.
You can spend more of the time you have now freed up with one of the most positive sources or people in your life.
4. Go Slowly
I have found that when I go too fast when I try to think, talk, eat and move around in my world really quickly then things don’t go too well.
But you slow down just for a few minutes – even if you have to force it by walking, talking, and eating slower – then your mind and body calm down too. It becomes easier to think things through clearly again and easier to find the optimistic and constructive perspective.
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5. Write Down Your Goals
Part of being positive is feeling hopeful about the future. Setting goals is a good way to focus on the future. You'll also benefit from a boost in self-esteem when you achieve goals. To improve your chances of successfully meeting goals, make sure the goals are.
6. Focus on the Good Things
Almost invariably, you’re going to encounter obstacles throughout the day—there’s no such thing as a perfect day. When you encounter such a challenge, focus on the benefits, no matter how slight or unimportant they seem. For example, if you get stuck in traffic, think about how you now have time to listen to the rest of your favorite podcast. If the store is out of the food you want to prepare, think about the thrill of trying something new.
7. Find Positive Friends
When you surround yourself with positive people, you’ll hear positive outlooks, positive stories, and positive affirmations. Their positive words will sink in and affect your own line of thinking, which then affects your words and similarly contributes to the group. Finding positive people to fill up your life can be difficult, but you need to eliminate the negativity in your life before it consumes you. Do what you can to improve the positivity of others, and let their positivity affect you the same way.
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8. Don’t Forget About Your Physical Self
Being an optimist isn’t just about thinking in a different way. It is also about caring for the physical part of ourselves.
Don’t neglect these basic fundamentals. Just caring for your physical self the right way can minimize a whole bunch of problems in life.
9. Start Your Day in an Optimistic Way
The way you start your morning can set the tone for the rest of your day. For example, a stress-free morning often leads to less stress during the rest of the day.
The three-step combination that has worked very well for many people is to ask yourself a gratitude question during breakfast, read some positive information online or in a book very early in the morning, and then follow that up with exercising.
10. Reduce Your Worries
The worrying habit is a powerful and destructive one and can take over anyone’s thinking. It used to be one of my biggest obstacles to optimism and to moving forward in life. The worries grow stronger in a foggy mind and an inactive body. So use the questions in Steps 1 and 6 to move out of your worries and into resolution.
Remember that you can't let their negativity affect you. People who bring others down are very unhappy, usually depressed, and/or unconfident. Try to stay positive and look at the bright side of things, even if it's very hard to when you're surrounded by a negative environment.
Do what you can to improve the positivity of others, and let their positivity affect you the same way.
Written By - Hossam Elsakran
Edited By - Kashish Chadha
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