Each and every day we will be faced with obstacles and challenges. Being positive and finding joy can sometimes
take some effort. It is not as tough as
you may think! Here are 10 tips to
increase positivity in your life!
1.
Do
what makes you happy!
This may seem a bit obvious,
but how many of us wait till the weekend or vacation to do something fun? How often do you say things like, “If I can
only get through this next whatever then I will finally get to have fun!” Since when has fun and happiness become the
last thing on our to do list? Make a
list of the things you like to do and look for ways to do a little something
each and every day. Plan for it by
scheduling in time, even if only 10 minutes, to do something you enjoy.
2.
Mindfulness.
The idea of meditation is
often met with resistance. People say it
is too hard, they can’t sit still or they don’t have time. If that is you, then start with the idea of
“paying attention”. Start
there. Identify times in your day when
you can limit your distractions by turning off your phone or email alerts while
completing a task. Stop multitasking and
be present in the moment.
3.
Call
a friend.
Positive and healthy
relationships with others can bring happiness into our lives, yet we have
become so disconnected. We have created
a false sense of connection through social media and technology without really connecting. Start by making a
list of people in your life you wish to see more often and then pick up the
phone and make it happen. Prioritize
positive relationships you cherish. Plan
time every day or every week to reach out to someone new. Grab coffee, go for a
walk or pick up the phone and call a friend.
4.
Help
someone.
Acts of kindness are not only
good for those you help, but good for you too.
Mark Twain said, “The best way to cheer yourself
up is to cheer somebody else up”.
Little things throughout your day, like letting someone in traffic or
holding open a door can increase your positivity each day.
5.
Celebrate
your accomplishments.
When we are so busy focused
on what we have to do we forget what great things we have done. Take some time at the end of the day to
recognize something you accomplished.
You most likely did more than your realize. It does not need to be something huge to be meaningful.
Pat yourself on the back, you deserve it!
6.
Find
the good.
The idea that every cloud has
a silver lining is tough to see when you are caught up in the midst of a crisis
however over time we see that all experiences shape who we are throughout our
lives. By looking at obstacles as
opportunities we are able to identify ways to grow and learn through each
challenge.
7.
Know
and use your strengths.
What are you good at? What are your strongest qualities and
personality traits? Do you use them each
day? By understanding where we are the
strongest and using those strengths we can increase ease and flow into our
lives. Take some time to identify where
you are the strongest and happiest, perhaps ask a loved one. They often know more than we do about when we
shine. Look at how you spend your
time. Are you using your strengths? If
not, how can you increase opportunities to do so?
8.
Get
outside and move.
It is well understood that
exercise is important part of being healthy and happy, but we often do not get
a chance to do as much as we would like.
Take a walk outside and feel the fresh air and sun as often as you
can. If you don’t think that is
possible, start small by parking your car further away from a destination and
take a few extra minutes walking the long way outside. Perhaps you can use a bike to get around
locally instead of driving. Take your
laptop outside when you need to get work done from home. Look at your daily
routines and see where you can add more outdoors to your day.
9.
Gratitude.
Take a few minutes each and
every day to ask yourself what you are truly grateful for. Recognize the blessings in your life and why
they are important. Keep in mind that
each and every day you wake up you have something to be grateful for. Think of the little things. Share them with a friend. Ask someone what he is grateful for.
10.
Talk
to yourself like you would talk to someone else
We all have an inner voice
that processes and assesses information. Often that voice is negative and critical. We can be quick to judge, blame and take things personally. Next time you are
feeling down, listen carefully to that inner voice and ask yourself if you would say the same thing out loud to a friend in a similar situation. If not, then what would you say to a friend? When in conversation with someone else would
you be more understanding, positive or kind? Make that your inner dialogue instead!
If you are looking for a
place to practice recognizing check out the
facebook group: “Fill your BAG happy” where you can stay
accountable for practicing some of these tips by posting the Best part of your day, your Accomplishments and your Gratitude.
