3 Ways to Stay Positive When Things Aren’t Going Your Way
The better we feel, the better we are able to stay positive when life isn’t working out the way we would like.
The problem is, our brains are wired for caution and negative thinking.
When things aren’t going the way we would like, our brain registers this as stress and begins to release a series of chemicals and hormones to prepare for survival. Physically, our heart rate goes up and breathing becomes more shallow, Our thoughts become more narrow-focused; options become harder to identify; and emotions such as anger, fear, doubt and disbelief take over. Try to stay positive
So how can we keep from feeling bad and maintain a positive attitude when life isn’t working out?
Develop an attitude of gratitude. When we create a habit of asking what we are grateful for today, we can start looking at life with a different lens and minimize the impact of thinking negatively.
It can be as simple as being grateful for a good night’s sleep, a hot cup of coffee, a great hair day or as amazing as receiving love, working in a job you love or living in a city that brings you joy and happiness.
Try this practice: After dinner, write down 3 things you are grateful for and 1 amazing experience that brought you joy today.
Move your mindset. Emotions are energy in motion so shake it off! Go for a walk outdoors, sweat it out in the gym, sign up for a boxing class or learn a martial art. Movement and exercise release those feel-good hormones which will in turn pivot your mindset from negative to positive.
Try this practice: Every morning, set your timer for 5 minutes and move. Go outdoors for a walk, do jumping jacks in the kitchen, or do a circuit of squats, push-ups and spine twists.
Consume less. Thinking negatively is a choice and staying positive is also a choice. So it’s time to ask the question, how are we spending our choices? We have control over what we consume – news, food, drinks, people we spend time with, the work we do and how we speak to others.
Try this practice: Minimize complaining, gossiping, watching the news and jumping on social media for one hour today and write down what you notice and how you feel.
By incorporating these practices when life isn’t working out, we can feel good and stay positive when things aren’t going our way.
Vivian Kiffa
True talk