By: Elizabeth Pehota, Reporter/Host for New England Revolution

Let’s talk candidly: The year of 2020 has been completely unprecedented; a period that’s flipped everyone’s lives upside-down with the COVID-19 pandemic and challenged people’s social norms in hopes to find a better quality of life for all individuals. Amidst all of the uncertainty and navigating uncharted territory, it can be daunting and tiring to keep a positive attitude. However, channeling your inner-boss and finding ways to stay positive in these ambiguous times is essential for maintaining a healthy life and your own mental sanity.

 

There are so many ways to make positive thinking a part of your routine! If you want to adopt the mentality, try implementing a few of these practices:

 

1.) Start your day off with a positive affirmation

Begin your morning with a positive outlook to set the tone for your day! By shifting your mindset to think optimistically, you will help improve your mood and productivity. Think of what you are grateful for, an accomplishment you are proud of, or something that you are looking forward to. These thoughts will help foster positive energy to get your ready to take on all the goals you are setting out to achieve!

 

2.) Find joy in the little things

Small victories add up. Search for happiness in the little day-to-day tasks that you enjoy. Whether it’s a piping hot cup of coffee that you crave and look forward to each morning, your dog wagging his tail to greet you because you’re their favorite person in the whole world, a delicious homemade meal, or if someone says thank you for a task you worked diligently on, take pride in these wins and keep them with you. The small things are important, and finding joy in them will help you feel happier throughout the day.

3.) Turn failures into lessons

We all fail sometimes in life. It’s human nature, and part of the growing process. Instead of focusing on what you didn’t achieve, take a step back and access how you can use what you learned to move forward. By shifting your mindset from the negative perspective of ‘failing’ to the positive viewpoint of using your experience constructively, you can set yourself up to prosper in the future. Turn your failures into learning opportunities that can foster growth, development and a clearer path to success.

4.) Turn negative self-talk into positive self-talk

Everyone has self-criticism. However, thinking about yourself in a bad light and harping on what you see as your shortcomings won’t help you get past them. It’s about reframing your thinking! Replace your negative thoughts with positive ones. For example, instead of thinking I can’t run a mile, think I can’t run a mile, yet, and once I get more practice I’m going to achieve this goal. Reframing your thoughts positively will help you remain optimistic and train more effectively to accomplish those tasks. You can do it. Believe in yourself!

5.) Focus on the present

Don’t dwell on the past, think about the present! You are changing every single moment, so focus on the one at hand and how you can make a difference right then and there. If someone said a snide comment about you last week, let it go. In most situations, it’s not as bad as you imagine it to be. Try to shift your thinking so that you are focused on what you are currently doing to achieve your goals and improve your life. Most sources of negativity stem from a memory of a recent event or the exaggerated imagination of a potential future event. You choose how you view yourself and how you can make progress in your life! Stay in the present moment!

6.) Surround yourself with positive people

Think about the people in your life. Surround yourself with positive individuals that build each other up. Hearing about their stories and taking in their outlook will help you to reframe your mindset as well. Select your mentors and friends carefully, and look for people who will carry the characteristics that you value, because they can, and will, rub off on you.

 

When you start implementing these positive practices, you’ll notice you will both physically and mentally start to feel the direct impacts in your day to day life. Positivity has been shown to lead to many health benefits and can help you increase your overall happiness.

 

A few benefits of positive thinking include stress relief, stronger mental health, increasing overall happiness, boosting your immune system and increasing your positivity. Next time you find yourself not in a good head space, stop, take a deep breath, think about the positives in your life. Let these guidelines lead you to a happier and healthier lifestyle!