How to be More Positive

Due to many different possible circumstances, sometimes we may feel like the world is pushing against ourselves. Maybe it’s the bad news you just received, or maybe you are feeling more stressed lately. One way or another, we sometimes find ourselves temporarily coexisting with a negative mindset that pushes us away from a positive lifestyle.

Instead of pushing the “fake it till you make it”, I decided to share a few exercises that we should all practice every day, or at least try to remember it when things seem a bit grey. It’s important to be conscious about our personal development and our mindset plays a main role in it.

Watch your thoughts

Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher who founded the philosophy of Taoism said something along the lines of:

“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become a habit. Watch your habits; they become a character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

I do believe this is one of the greatest lines that help can help people understand life and the world. Think about it, negative words almost always come out from negative people. And more often than not, negative actions come from people who say negative things (dragged, off course, by those negative thoughts). Be conscious of your own thoughts. For example, analyze your day and think about the negative thoughts you had: Did you judge someone for their clothes or hairstyle? Did you get angry because it was raining? Maybe you started thinking that your partner could meet someone special at their new job? Did you start thinking about terrorist attacks whilst in the crowded underground?

Well, as the tube slogan says, “see it, say it, sorted”. We can apply it to our deepest fears and thoughts. We need to identify the thoughts and feelings first, then understand it they make any sense or are just a waste of time that does nothing but making us feel worse. Finally, change them.

Remember the mirror

The mirror is a concept I already mentioned in a previous post. It´s related to accept that everyone is a mirror, everything they do and they say, whether is positive or negative is related to their thoughts and how they feel. Apply that to yourself, try to spit out positivity in life, remember that what you say and do defines you more than what other people say to you or about you. There´s nothing like feeling better with oneself.

Be Minimalist on your own way

Life is more simple that we often make it look like. Even if it feels complex at times, it’s often our feeling and our inner issues what makes life that hard at times. We want to be happy, everything is about that.
Sometimes it’s the excess of material things and the thought that we need more is what makes us feel unhappy and negative. Decide what is important for you, what do you need and if you already have it or not. Simplify your life to make it easy to manage, and after a while, you will see how that also applies to your thoughts as well.

Believe it or not, positivity is a voluntary decision

And once you decide you want to have a positive mindset and stop feeling bad and think the worse of everything, you can focus your attitude on that positive side.
Negative people reaffirm themselves saying that they are “realistic” and that “there is no use” on trying to be positive.
When was the last time that negative thoughts or character were “useful”?
You decide if you want to live your life thinking the worst of people, the future and yourself or just focusing on yourself and having a most open attitude when it comes to life.

Positivity attracts people and opportunities, helps you work harder for your dreams and believe in yourself. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t go through a very negative situation. You can see everything darker if you are going through a rough patch, but at least you can acknowledge and be aware of your feelings and thoughts. If you are not, you are at risk of making negativity and misery your “comfort zone”. Your negative thoughts will be a part of your day today. This means you will find comfortable and warm surrounding yourself with negative people who judge and blames the world for their “intelligent and reality-based” thoughts.

As long as you are aware of your thoughts, you will be able you change them and maybe, in the future, change your life for the better.