Turn on the news, read a paper or eavesdrop at the local coffee shop and one might think the world is coming to an end. Bad news seems prevalent and negativity is around every corner. However, around the other corner, and hidden in quiet smiling groups of people, is the reality that things aren’t as bad as it seems. In fact, some people are staying quite positive and even prospering during these interesting times.
Here’s how to stay positive during negative times:
#1 Tune out the negativity. The news, the newspaper and even online media sites thrive and prosper on negativity. Eliminate them from your environment. If you need to know the weather, check the online weather sites, leave the television news off. If you need to know the sports scores, check the sports website. You can also have the information you’re interested in emailed to you or subscribe to a reader and access only the information, the positive information, you need.
#2 Surround yourself with positive people. You really are a product of your environment and surrounding yourself with positive people will help you stay positive. And when the occasional person slips and dives into negativity, clearly and confidently steer them back to the light. Your disposition has an effect on others around you, stay positive and you’ll help others stay positive too.
#3 Remember what you do have. Regardless of how bad things get, there is always something to be grateful for. Even if it’s as small as the pencil in your hand or the breath that fills your lungs. We live in an amazing and miraculous world, when we remember that and all we have to be grateful for, the sky is the limit.
#4 Set small goals. Often we feel defeated because we didn’t achieve our goal. For example, if your goal was to make $50,000 in your new online business and you fell short of that goal you may feel defeated and sink into negativity. However, if you set smaller goals, like to make that first $5,000, then you begin to create a pattern of success and those achievements, no matter how small, help you to stay and feel positive.
#5 Reframe. You’ve likely heard the phrase, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade? Reframing a situation to look at the silver lining or to make lemonade helps you stay positive. So the next time something potentially negative happens, pull out the positive aspects of the life lesson, challenge, or situation. Reframe the situation to look at the bright side.
Staying positive during negative times can be a challenge. However, every small step you take to stay positive builds upon itself. Eventually, an eternally positive outlook will become a habit, a way of life, and significantly easier and much more fun than falling into despair.