Positivity in a Seemingly Negative World
Life is already hard, so don't make it any harder for yourself. Having a positive attitude makes all the difference.
People ask me questions like these very often. "How are you so optimistic ALL the time?" or "How do you stay so positive?" Those questions, my friends, can be complicated to answer, but for me, it is rather simple. When I look at the news, social media, and even the countless magazines at the grocery stores, I cannot help but wonder why there is so much focus on the negativity in the world today. I understand that in life, it is not all sunshine and rainbows, but what does a person have to do to see some positivity every once in a while? Even in our own lives, sometimes, we tend to put more focus on what's not working instead of the many blessings we are given every single day.
The circumstances we face are many times beyond our control. Yet, although we cannot control what happens to us, we can control how we react to them and our attitudes. I had to come to terms with this very concept as I encountered various situations in my own life. When negativity comes knocking at your door, they often test your resilience and your ability to stay positive. In the end, I made up my mind that no matter what I face, I can get past it, but even when you do your best to stay grounded, it can still be very difficult. The key is to push past these difficulties to the best of your ability. Here are seven habits of mines that I use daily when trying to keep a positive mindset.
1. Pray and remind yourself that God is in control
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Much of my positivity comes from my spiritual/religious understanding of knowing that God will always love and be there for me. I do my best to then act on this through exhibiting faith. My mother and father always told me to pray during hard times because God hears us and wants to help us. Prayer is beyond powerful because it is a direct line of access to talk with the Lord, allowing us to grow a relationship with Him and to seek out Him when we need Him the most. No matter what goes on around us, God still sits on the throne! We can pray through our fears, worries, and doubts, knowing that although it looks one way, God has the power to control the true outcome. Pray without ceasing and even when you don't see any change, continue to pray. It may be hard to do at times, but I assure you that it is powerful beyond what we can imagine.
2. Be mindful of the company you keep
“Don't waste time with toxic people. They will drain your energy and leave you feeling as if you did something wrong to harm them. " - Germany Kent
Birds of a feather flock together. While searching on the internet one day, I came across a quote and immediately saw it's brilliance. It stated these powerful words: "If you hang around 5 confident people you will be the 6th. If you hang around 5 intelligent people you will be the 6th. If you hang around 5 millionaires you will be the 6th. If you hang around 5 idiots you will be the 6th".
So what does this tell you? Those you choose to hang around can have a huge impact on who you will become. Your values, thoughts, and perspectives will soon align and may already have. On a daily basis, these individuals can influence how you think and what you choose to do or not do. When thinking about your ability to remain positive, it is good to surround yourself with people who can be positive. Even when you are down or are going through tough times, it is great to rely on or your inner circle to be able to speak life into you and help you. This can help bring you up and motivate you in so many positive ways. Be sure to find an amazing group of friends/peers/relatives who can bring more positivity into your life.
3. Create a positive environment
“You can’t make positive choices for the rest of your life without an environment that makes those choices easy, natural, and enjoyable.” — Deepak Chopra
What you choose to do and how you go about living are aspects of your life that are just as equally important as who you spend your time with when monitoring your daily influences. For me, I love to see positive quotes in my interior decor around my house. I sometimes like to add cute wallpapers to my phone or write sticky notes and place them on my mirror or refrigerator when I feel low and want to pick myself up. You can watch a sermon, listen to a podcast, watch a TEDTalk, read a motivational book, download a motivational app that sends you daily quotes, or even create a vision board that you can display in your home to remind you of the bright road ahead. Try new and creative ways to add more positive reaffirmations into your line of sight.
Also, there are times where we need to actively separate ourselves from sources of negativity. There are many instances where I step away from social media for an extended time or I choose to read the newspaper instead of watching the local/national news stations. It is not about ignoring the reality of life but giving yourself a mental break to step away from the constant reminders of the problems in the world that we face. It may be good for lowering your anxiety and stress, while also allowing you to regather your focus on what you can control and not what you cannot.
4. Practice gratitude and be grateful for what is going well
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Many years ago, I recall learning about the concept of being thankful and its relation to happiness. It turns out that studies have shown that those who practice giving thanks are more likely to exhibit happiness and fulfillment. As I work to practice this as much as possible, I can see its benefit. When I practice gratitude, I tend to feel more humble, grateful and can exhibit more compassion and kindness. The way I practice this gratitude is to remind myself of a few things such as acknowledging that I did my best and knowing that I can enjoy any moment right then and there. For me, it's about the small things in life and when I focus on what blessings I have received instead of the misfortunes of life, I feel hope that life does indeed go on. When practicing gratitude, make it a habit to say "thank-you", write thank-you notes, keep a gratitude journal, share your gratitude with friends by telling them that you are grateful for them, meditate, pray, and focus on your blessings. Even waking up to see a new day is a blessing so count them as such and never discredit the small things.
5. Speak and think positively
“Be original, show off your style, and tell your story.”
Power is in the tongue and what you say often reflects what is in your heart. Therefore, be gentle with yourself and others. Give yourself some slack and speak good things about yourself even when no one is around. It can be easier said than done but it is possible. Get out of your own head and make room for some positive thinking and speaking. You can say quotes or pray to yourself. Be sure to monitor your own words and speak life into yourself. This is something that you can control out of the many things that we often cannot.
6. Worry less
Matthew 6:25-26 - “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:27 says, "Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Worrying does not add anything significant to your life except stress. It reflects a lack of confidence and sometimes can distract you from the important aspects of your life that do need your attention. It may be hard to break this if you find yourself worrying constantly, but don't fret! You can overcome this! Try to first acknowledge your worries and your reasons behind these worries. Then, interrupt this worrying cycle by stopping yourself in your negative thoughts. Reflect on things that can help you solve the problems instead. If it is not anything you can take actionable steps towards solving, get up, and go enjoy something that you enjoy doing. Try a hobby, watch your favorite movie, listen to music... Whatever you can do to alter your focus on your worries, try these and get into the habit of letting go of what is worrying you. Trust me, you will be so glad that you did.
7. Celebrate your improvements (no matter how small)
“The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance, and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.” - Oprah Winfrey
You've passed that exam, you bought that car, you went one day without crying over an ex, you baked that cake just right... whatever you were able to accomplish, celebrate these achievements and improvements no matter how insignificant you feel that they are. You are only one person and can only do but so much in this lifetime. Even pushing through to work out one day when you hate working out is a huge step towards change. I struggled with this at times because I often thought of the bigger picture, but life is not just about your destination but the journey towards it. One step at a time, you can achieve, do, and get through anything if you put your mind to it. Celebrate your progress and the progress of others who share their accomplishments with you. It may not look big to you, but if it is big to them, you have to realize that it is great and you should acknowledge this.
I hope that this helps! We are only human and not every day will greet us with a bright and shiny sun to bring us warmth and hope. Even in the rain, we can enjoy its peace and tranquility. Ups and downs will come, but our attitude towards these changes can lead us into a life of less stress and feeling more blessed.
Prayer about Positivity
Dear Lord,
Thank you for everything that you have done for me and for blessing me to see another day. Although I cannot control what goes on around me, I can be hopeful, knowing that my strength and ability to have joy comes from You. Help me to be more positive and to dwell on the blessings that you have given me. Thank you for your love, grace, and goodness. Death and life are in the power of the tongue and I ask that You guide my words so that I can speak life into myself and those around me. Help me to focus on Your promises and to set my heart of those things that are above. I love and appreciate all that You have done for me. Be there to guide and help me as I make these changes in my life. In Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
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