"You can give in to the failure messages and be a bitter deadbeat of excuses. Or you can choose to be happy and positive and excited about life."
- A.L. Williams
Some days it feels like the entire world is sending out negative energy. How is it possible to fight against that and stay positive? Each person chooses his or her attitude. Even in the face of negativity, one can remain positive. It takes some time and re-training of habits and thought patterns, but it's absolutely an attainable goal.
1. Avoid negative people as much as possible.
The first thing you should do is surround yourself with positively charged people and leave behind the toxicity of those who are constantly negative. You don't have to completely end friendships to do this, but reduce the amount of time you expose yourself to the negativity. If you have a friend who only calls you to tell you bad news (who died, who's getting a divorce, who was fired, who is sick) consider only answering the phone every third or fourth time you see that number on the caller I.D.
2. Be aware of your thoughts.
Our thoughts make us who we are. Tune in to your inner voice and be aware of what it's saying. "This job stinks" or "I hate my life" turn into self-fulfilling prophecies. If you think negatively, you will speak negatively and exude negative energy. Next time you are in a bad mood, listen to that voice in your head. You may be surprised at how negative it is. Consciously place a few positive thoughts within those negative ones and see how quickly they squelch out the bad mood. It may not work the first few times, but keep an open mind and soon you will find that you are allowing your positive energy to shine through. Everyone will encounter negativity, but you don't have to perpetuate it. Make it end with you.
3. Meditate.
Meditation is a great way to relax and silence the steady stream of the inner voice. It helps you tune in to yourself, it leaves you feeling renewed, and it doesn't cost anything! It doesn't require a yoga mat and a lotus pose; you can take five minutes during your lunch hour to meditate. You'll find meditation delivers many other benefits that will also help increase your optimism.
4. Make a list.
No matter how many things are wrong with your day, you can always find something positive. No matter how small it seems, focus on the good and nurture it. All it takes is finding one good aspect to start feeling better, but once you find that one thing you'll usually find more.
5. Do something you enjoy.
Think about something you enjoy doing and commit yourself to doing it when you feel down. If it's a hobby you haven't tended to in a while, renew your love for it. Find other who love it; join a local group or online community to share ideas and form new friendships. If you cultivate this passion you'll find that it spreads to other areas of your life.
6. Try something new.
In addition to the hobby you found for number five, try to do something new. Set aside one hour a week to the new task and keep track of how quickly you are progressing. Buy books on the subject, research it online, or take a class at a local community college. Increasing your knowledge and learning a new skill will help raise your self-esteem and breed an optimistic outlook.
7. Don't watch too much TV.
Television may be entertainment but it's mindless entertainment. Watching television stagnates your mind and it's time wasted on non-productive activity. Even watching the news can bring down your mood, as it's usually a recap of the worst of humanity. Watching news of murders, robberies, war and terrorism is enough to bring out the pessimist in even the most positive people. It's okay to enjoy one or two programs a week, but cut it back as much as possible. If you're flipping through the channels and can't find anything you want to watch, turn off the television and do something else.
8. Don't sleep too much.
Napping can leave you feeling refreshed if you do it on occasion, but sleeping too much will have the opposite effect. It's difficult to do something you enjoy if you are tired and sluggish. Excessive sleeping is often a symptom of clinical depression. Nap if you truly need to, but avoid the sleep trap.
9. Don't be judgmental.
Making judgments about others is a fast track to pessimism. We are all human. Judging others dehumanizes them and reduces our ability to relate to the common humanity we share. Be careful not to be too hard on yourself either. Remember that you will make mistakes as well. Don't be your own worst enemy.
10. Smile!
This simple little act may seem impossible when you're at your worst, but you'll find that smiling will help you calm that negative inner dialogue and get back on track. And when you smile at others you will spread that feeling to those around you.
These tips won't eradicate bad days altogether. However, renovating your habits and thought patterns will make those bad days easier to deal with and help you get back on track faster, paving the way to allow you to enjoy life to its fullest!