We all know of that one friend or family member that can bring us down due to their negative attitude or negative thought processes. We can mention that the weather is nice and warm while our friend can say something about it possibly raining. We can mention that our job is going great while our friend might say they got demoted. There might even be times that we ourselves are the ones that are bringing the “negativity around.” So this begs the question, how do we practice a positive attitude or a positive mindset, especially when there seems to be nothing but negative circumstances?
1. Make it a point to stay away from toxic negativity. While we can’t always avoid things that are negative we can stay away from toxic negativity. Toxic negativity is intentionally setting your mind on things that encourage a negative attitude. It is also intentionally focusing on blaming other or circumstances for mistakes that we could take responsibility for. In short, toxic negativity is being negative for no reason.
2. Take charge of yourself and your own personal movement. We all have things that we can take responsibility for and things that we can focus on changing. While making changes can be difficult it helps us build character and helps transform our mindset. An example of this may be to start eating healthier meals and developing a habit of regular workouts.
3. Look at ways to be grateful. We all have something to be grateful for even if it is small. This is an essential step to take when it comes to developing a more positive mindset. If we make it a point to look at all the things to be grateful for each day, we may find that we have more then what we need.
4. Be around people who inspire you to be better. Don’t be around people who drag you down to places you don’t want to go. We all know that being around people is an essential component for our health and growth. Without a positive human element, we tend to not develop our own strength of character as much as we may like to.
5. Take care of yourself. We have all heard the mantra, “You can’t pour water from an empty bucket,” when it comes to self-care. And there’s a lot of truth to that statement. We all need to take care of ourselves whether it is physically, mentally, or emotionally. This may mean that you have to take a break from the daily grind on occasion in order to be your best self. It also may mean that you don’t get involved in certain activities that bring you down in some way.
Practicing a positive attitude is not an easy thing to do. It can be especially difficult when things aren’t going in a direction that we may prefer. But like with any skill, practicing a positive attitude requires practice and dedication. This may mean that we have to get outside our comfort zone on certain things, and change who we are around or who we are in connection with. The long term benefits however are worth any price we might have to pay. The benefits of having this sort of mindset are a healthier life style and healthier mind.