“Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.” -Dalai Lama
I have gotten the, “How are you always so bubbly?” and “How do you manage to be so happy and positive all the time?” questions before. Sure, there’s times when I’m down, frustrated, or overwhelmed, but for the majority of my time, I don’t let my negative thoughts control me (this is key!). Time is precious, so why waste it on the negative? I always keep in the back of my mind that whatever suffering or hard time I’m going through, will eventually pass.
Remember, optimism and positivity does your mind and your body good. I know optimism is easier said than done, but it’s crucial to teach yourself skills that will help you develop a greater sense of optimistic and positive outlook on life. For those of you self-help souls out there (like myself), I’ve got a few tips on how I keep myself on track for being positive and how you too can keep yourself headed on the right emotional track…
- Make a point of being grateful everyday: Every morning after I meditate I say a few things that I am grateful for. They can be big things, or small things, but the important part is that I celebrate what I am thankful for each and every day.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff: Learn to embrace patience and let the minor irritations go. Don’t dwell on them, that’s not going to get you anywhere. Learn to go with the flow, and take whatever comes your way as a learning experience. Look for the silver lining in each situation, I promise it’s there.
- Spend more time with people that inspire you: They say you are an average of the 5 people you spend the most time with, so choose wisely. Surround yourself with positive people who encourage you, motivate you, and believe in you.
- Consume inspirational material every day: Whether it’s podcasts, positive quotes, reading books, or writing positively in your journal, this is key. External inspiration feeds internal inspiration.
It’s a simple list, short and sweet, but it keeps me focused on the positives in life. What do you do to keep yourself happy and optimistic? 🙂