Life is not always wonderful. Bad things happen. Hard things happen. Hey, you just have a bad day because that happens sometimes. But I want to talk to you about the power of a positive outlook on life. Having a positive outlook on life doesn’t mean you act as though everything is perfect. It doesn’t mean you pretend the bad and the hard things don’t exist and aren’t really happening. Having a positive outlook on life helps you get through those hard times. And THAT is the power of a positive outlook. The power is that it gets you through those rough times. Those times you feel like you’re drowning. 

We all have things in our life that could make us feel like we’re drowning if we let it. Sorrow, tragedy, a worldwide pandemic, a stressful work situation, a messy house, kids that keep you so busy you feel like you can’t even think. And the list could go on and on. These situations are hard, and that’s the truth. However, they don’t have to become so overwhelming that we feel like we’re drowning, or that we have no hope.

What is having a positive outlook on life exactly?

Well, as I mentioned, it is not pretending that hard things don’t happen. It is not ignoring reality. Having a positive outlook on life is looking beyond those hard and difficult circumstances to find the good in life. No matter what is going on in your life, there is always some good somewhere that we can look toward. There is always something we can be grateful for. There’s always some way we can live with positivity instead of all the negativity that seems to be out there today.

How do I start being positive?

Pure grit and determination doesn’t always work with this one. Life throws you for a loop and we don’t always have the determination to “be positive”. However, I do have some practical tips that you can use when you don’t feel like it  and when determination is not enough.

I will point out that these are great tips to live by every day. You will be much more successful at using the power of a positive outlook when you are doing these every day. In the good times and the bad times. 

Practice gratitude

I put this one first on the list for a reason. I think this is the most helpful tool for harnessing the power of a positive outlook. Why do I say “practice gratitude”? Because often times gratitude and being thankful does not come naturally to us humans. We naturally tend towards being ungrateful. So, we have to be intentional about being grateful. No matter what is going on in your life, there is always something you can be grateful for.

Here are some ideas for how to practice gratitude:

• Start and end your day with thinking of a few things you’re grateful for
• 
  Start a gratitude journal
  
• Make yourself tell someone else one thing each day that you’re thankful for
• When you feel your mood changing for the worse, or realize it already did, stop for a moment and think of one thing you’re grateful for
• Say a prayer of gratitude

Start your day off with a routine

I’m not going to tell you what routine you have to have or that every person should wake up at 5 am every morning. However, no matter what time you wake up (bless those of you that work nights), set a routine for yourself. It doesn’t have to be extravagant and complicated, but having some time to yourself in the morning is a huge help in setting yourself up to start the day with a positive outlook.

If you’re looking for some suggestions on how to start a routine, you can check out my post on morning routines here.

Spend time with positive people

Positivity is contagious, just like negativity is. So, to help you have a positive mindset and stay there, surround yourself with positive people. Surround yourself with those people that will encourage you. Set up a morning group text with a few friends and help each other start the day off on a positive note.

Laugh or smile

I’m not joking about this one. There are scientific facts to back it up. Look it up for yourself if you’d like. Laughing and smiling can change one’s attitude in moments. “But I can’t just make myself laugh.” Most of us probably can’t, and I might worry about you if you can. Just kidding… sort of. 

So, be a little intentional about it. Find a funny video to watch. You can find short video clips that are hilarious on Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and basically an social media outlet out there. 

Another idea goes with the phrase “stop and smell the roses”. Take a little time to pay attention to your surroundings, and often times you’ll find something worth smiling about. For you mamas, take time each day to be present with your kids and enjoy that time with them and a smile is sure to show up.

Practice positive self-talk

This can be a hard one because we’re so good at the negative self talk. But mama, that doesn’t help anyone! And it definitely doesn’t help you use the power of a positive outlook. A good way to practice positive self-talk until you can get good at it on your own is to use affirmations. If you’re like me and you’re not great at that, there are tons of affirmation booklets out there. Find a few that you think are a good fit for you, and start reading and saying them every day. Here are a few good ones for moms.

Affirmation Resources

Do something for others

Doesn’t it just feel good to do something for others? Getting our thoughts off of ourselves and onto others can greatly affect our attitude and our overall outlook on life. If you like the idea of helping others but don’t really know how to get started, brainstorm a long list of ways you can help others, and then starting doing one each day. You may be surprised to see that you already do some of them on a regular basis.

It doesn’t have to be complicated or cost a lot of money. Simple can sometimes be the most effective. 

Some simple ideas are:

• Write a letter to someone in a nursing home
• Set a goal to smile at 5-10 people per day
• Pay it forward and pay for the person’s order behind you in the line
• Bake cookies for someone else
• Sweep someone’s walk way

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Now it’s your turn to start brainstorming!

The Power of a positive outlook can help others too

Having a positive outlook on life doesn’t just change you, it changes others. Doing something for others as mentioned above is a good start. Also, a person with a positive attitude rubs off on someone with a less than positive attitude. You can be that positive person that someone else wants to be around. A person with a positive outlook on life often encourages others which in turn helps them develop a positive outlook on themselves and on life. Positivity carries power to help yourself and others.

No matter what you’re going through, no matter how hard life gets, it is still possible to live in the power of a positive outlook on life. It may not change your circumstances, but I will change how you handle them and how you walk through them. 

I routing for you. I know we can do this thing called life together.

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