How to Stay Positive

We’ve all had those days where it feels like absolutely everything that can go wrong does. It can be easy to give in to your negative emotions, but we have some tips to help you keep your head and stay positive no matter what life throws at you.

Allow Yourself to be Angry

or sad, or frustrated, or jealous. Whatever emotion is currently taking over your mental state – acknowledge it and let it run its course. There’s nothing inherently wrong with feeling upset; it’s how you deal with your emotions that define you. Say your co-worker got a promotion you’d been quietly hoping for. It’s normal to be angry and envious, and it’s okay to let yourself acknowledge that. So long as you don’t let your feelings affect your behaviour (i.e. gossiping about your coworker, invalidating them to make yourself feel better) there’s nothing inherently wrong with feeling the way you do.

Stay Away from Toxic People

We all know the type – no matter how good things are, there’s always something to complain about. Toxic people suck the joy out of everything and can really do a number on your own mental health. Learning to recognize and avoid toxic people can drastically boost your own levels of happiness. Sometimes it can be difficult (or impossible) to cut certain toxic people out of your life, but if you can at least limit your exposure to them, it can make a big difference.

Smile

Seriously. Smile. All the time. Even when you don’t feel like it. Smile at the person behind the till who’s in training and taking a lot longer than you’d like to ring up your order. Smile at the bus driver. Smile at yourself when you catch your reflection in the mirror. Studies have shown that smiling a lot really does positively affect your health and outlook on life. The more you smile, even if it feels forced at first, the more likely you are to keep doing it in the future. It really is a positive example of faking it until you make it.

Be Grateful for What You do Have

Never take anything for granted and acknowledge the good things in your life. No matter how bad things are right now, they could always be worse, and while it’s totally normal to wish things were better, don’t forget to keep your perspective.

Find Healthy Ways to De-Stress

Maybe it’s reading a new book, or taking up knitting, or even creating a Pinterest account, but everyone should have a completely stress-free pursuit they can dive into when they need a mental break. Now’s the time to try new things and explore until you find that perfect hobby.

Keep Trying

No matter what it is that’s got you down, don’t let it stop you from pushing forward. If you don’t fail, you don’t learn. Some of the most successful and happiest people have failed the hardest in the past, but they used what happened to them as an opportunity to learn. Keep your eyes on the road ahead of you and don’t let a stumbling block in the road keep you down.