4 (Practical) Tips for Positivity

We all know how stressful life can get. From busy exam weeks to fights with friends, life isn’t always easy! But, I love looking at the sunny side of life, even in those stressful times. I truly find my own happiness increases when I embrace a more positive outlook, so today I’m sharing four (practical) tips for positivity!

4 Practical Tips for Positivity

1. Redirect your thoughts.

This gets so much easier with practice, but I think it’s essential for having a positive mindset. When something frustrating happens, it’s natural for our first instinct to be to complain or vent. I think it’s helpful and healthy for us to talk about our problems, but when we wallow in that anger, we just become angrier. Instead of complaining about a frustrating situation, I urge you to look at all sides of the situation and then find peace with it, in your thoughts and in your words.

I know that oftentimes, my first instinct is to think unkindly about people who hurt me, whether it’s intentional or not. Even if it’s just someone saying something rude or even walking in front of me, I immediately think of something negative about them. In these cases, after that first thought, I have to calm myself down and remind myself that they are human too. Instead of thinking, “Ugh, that was so rude”, I try to think, “Wow, that was out of character. I hope that she’s doing okay.” This is SO much easier said than done, and it’s something I’m still always working on.

2. Speak positively.

Sometimes the only thing I want to do is vent to a close friend. If I’ve had a bad day, someone hurt my feelings, I’m just feeling cranky? Time to vent! But, in reality, this only increases my frustration. For me, redirecting my thoughts gets way easier when I also redirect the way I speak. If you don’t think you can redirect your thoughts, start with changing the way you speak. It may seem counterintuitive, but when I force myself to say something positive, I find that it’s easier to slowly think more positively.

A few days ago, my laundry machine (seemingly) ruined a few of my favorite shirts – it stretched them out and changed their colors. Of course, I called my mom and tearfully told her that I’d have to buy all new clothes. After I had time to calm down, I texted a friend and mentioned the laundry fiasco. Instead of venting and focusing on my bad luck or my frustration, I told her that they were just clothes, and it was all okay. Saying it made it easier for me to believe. Also, spoiler alert – some of the shirts seem like they’ll be fine!

3. Don’t turn complaints into a competition.

We’ve all been there: you mention how tired you are from staying up late, and someone tells you that they stayed up even later. You say that you’re stressed because you have two tests, but they tell you they’re more stressed because they have three. We’ve all interacted with that someone, and maybe we’ve even been that someone! We turn our complaints into a competition of whose life is hardest or who is struggling the most, but really, who wants to win this competition?!

Next time someone tries to one-up something hard you’re going through, don’t turn it into a competition. Instead, wish them luck on what they’re dealing with, offer help if you can, and change the subject. You don’t need to feel like your struggles somehow aren’t enough, and you don’t need to dwell on those negatives.

4. Count it all joy!!

My favorite quote and something I mention all the time over here on the blog. By this, I mean find joy in each situation, even the stressful, painful ones. This may require some work, because a lot of situations don’t have anything obvious to be happy about. I think, though, if you dig deep, you’ll find something to be grateful for in most situations.

If I’m super stressed out about school and I’m sleeping way less than I should, it’s easy to lean into negativity. But, when I look at why I’m stressing, I can recognize that it’s because I’m doing things I love and I have tons of opportunities. Sometimes, I can’t find anything to be happy about in a situation. These times are hard, but these are the moments when I have to remember that my joy is found in my faith and in my identity as a daughter of God, not an external circumstance.

I know this post was incredibly long, and I still had more to say on the topic! I’ve just realized that the people I’m drawn to are positive people, and in general, I’m known for being positive. Of course, everyone has their off days and there is nothing wrong with not always being positive. However, I’ve truly found that when I follow these practical tips, I become happier.

So, do you have any tips for positivity?! I’d love to know!

xoxo, Cecilia