I will be the first to admit that living with a positive attitude is not one of my strong suits. I find it difficult to look at the positives when I have a lot of stress in my day-to-day life. But I realize that positive energy brings positive results, so I've been trying to change the way I go through my daily life.
These are some of the ways I've found it's the best to invite positive energy into your life, and I hope you find they work for you too!
1. Wake Up With Purpose
When you wake up in the morning, get out of bed and get the day started. Laying in bed dreading the day sets you up for a bad attitude. Enjoy the morning, and give yourself a purpose right away. Is it to walk the dog? Make your coffee? Or just sit and read before heading to work?
Whatever you choose, make it something fun, and something that will make you happy right when you wake up.
2. Make A Vision Board
Putting positive energy into the world is the best way to get it back. Making a vision board, which includes all your hopes and dreams for the future, gives you something to look at every day and remind yourself of all the things you have to look forward to.
Your vision board can be small things, like making it to the gym every day for a week, or it can be about your bigger dreams, like one day traveling to Italy.
3. 5 Good Things
When you are feeling upset during the day, or even when you first wake up, list off five good things that you have in your life. My five generally go as follows:
- I have a job I love.
- My best friend is always there to support me.
- I have a family that I can always count on.
- I am in good health.
- Coffee and Netflix.
They don't have to be big. It could be as simple as "I am going out to lunch today with friends." Reminding yourself that there are good things happening in your life, even when times seem tough, is a great way to allow pull yourself from a funk.
4. Don't Let The Past Rent Space In Your Head
Issues that have come and gone don't deserve to be thought about today. The same goes for toxic people. Don't let them rent space in your head for free. The things you think about should hold a purpose.
When you hold onto memories, make sure they're happy ones. If it doesn't provide a purpose, then it doesn't deserve memory space.
5. Say No
This is something I struggle with on a daily basis, because it feels like saying no is actually negative. This could not be further from the truth. If you do not have time to do something, or don't want to do something, there is nothing wrong with saying no.
There's an old saying, which says "you cannot pour from an empty cup, meaning you cannot help others when you are burnt out yourself. Give yourself permission to say no, and you will find your life is much more relaxed.
6. Make A "Progress Not Perfection" Jar
This is one of the best things I ever did for myself. A "Progress Not Perfection" jar is where you keep track of little victories throughout the year. On little pieces of paper, write down a small accomplishment. At the end of the year, you'll see how far you're come, even though it may not seem like it.
My accomplishments started off as "successfully hard boiled an egg" and moved into "bought a car" and "paid off my student loans."
7. Let Go Of Control
There are some situations you cannot control, and you have to accept that. I recently made plans with a friend and she then turned around and invited other people who I don't really know. My mind automatically jumped to negative thoughts and anxiety because I lost my control on the situation.
Is it the end of the world? Not at all. In fact, it will be nice to have more people there. But too often we work ourselves up over things we cannot control. Instead, focus on how you can positively affect the situation regardless of the outcome!
8. Be Grateful
Practice gratefulness in all situations. Even something as small as someone saying hello to you on the street. Think to yourself "how grateful am I that I live in a place where people can say hello to strangers?"
We take a lot of things for granted, and once we start acknowledging our privilege, we will live a better life.
9. Be Present
Get off the phone. I'm the worst when it comes to being glued to my phone, and I am trying to make a conscious effort to lay off a little bit, especially in moments that I want to remember.
Being present allows you to enjoy what is happening around you. When I'm out with friends, my phone goes away. I want to remember our jokes and engage in conversation. When I'm at concerts or sporting events, I make an effort to keep my phone in my purse as much as possible. Why would you watch through a phone screen when you have the real thing in front of you?
10. Exercise Daily
I know, I know. But I swear this works. I started going to the gym almost every day, and I've not only lost weight, but I've found I am in a better mood and look forward to going. It can be as simple as a 20-minute walk around your block, but exercise released endorphins which make you happy, and also lets you have some alone time.
I'm a busy person, so I use my hour at the gym to listen to music, read a book, and just unwind. I've lost 30lbs and gained a new outlook on life.
11. Pick Good Music
Music is a huge factor when it comes to mood. I, personally, love pop music that I can rock out to and sing along with. So that's what I listen to! Pick tunes that will raise your spirits, not the sad, sulky stuff you want to listen to when you're sad.
You see, that's the problem. We like to wallow in our sadness, and often times that means sad music. Sure, it helps sometimes, but a good song at the right moment can change everything.
12. Live Without Resentment
Being jealous or resenting people is like ingesting poison and expecting someone else to die. It doesn't work that way. What does resenting a person do for you besides make you upset? You can use unpleasant memories to push you towards your goals, but you cannot let it take over your life.
