Being a positive person is not always easy! There are days when challenges overwhelm us, or perhaps our natural personalities lean towards a “glass half full” worldview. However, research has taught us that cultivating a positive mindset can greatly improve our overall well-being and outlook on life.
You can easily get started in these 10 simple ways:
- Practice Gratitude: Take time each day to reflect on the things you are grateful for. This can be as simple as keeping a gratitude journal, spending five minutes at the start or end of your day to reflect on what you are thankful for, or verbally expressing thanks to others.
- Focus on the Present: Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, practice mindfulness and focus on the present. Mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing or meditation can help anchor you in the here and now.
- Surround Yourself with Positivity: Spend time with people who uplift and inspire you. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can help reinforce your own positive mindset and if you can, remove those who are negative influences and drag you down!
- Challenge Negative Thoughts: There is no escaping negative thoughts, but when they happen, take a moment to breathe and think about the situation differently--even if it is an awful situation, how much stronger will you be when it is over? What type of optimism and hope can you find for the learning process of this challenging moment? Find the positive alternatives.
- Set Realistic Goals: Set achievable goals for yourself and celebrate your progress along the way. Accomplishing even small goals can boost your confidence and motivation; daily to-do lists that itemize your work which allow you to ‘cross off’ each completed task can contribute to your sense of accomplishment.
- Practice Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, especially during challenging times. Acknowledge your experiences while you avoid harsh self-criticism - practice self compassion instead!
- Engage in Activities You Enjoy: Make time for activities that bring you joy and fulfillment, whether it is pursuing a hobby, spending time outdoors, or simply relaxing with a good book.
- Limit Exposure to Negativity: Be mindful of the media you consume and the conversations you engage in. Limit exposure to negative news or toxic relationships that can dampen your mood.
- Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Challenges should be reframed as opportunities for growth and learning since this type of growth mindset can help you see setbacks as temporary and teachable moments.
- Practice Positive Affirmations: Use positive self affirmations to challenge self-doubt and build self-confidence. Repeat affirmations such as "I am capable" or "I am worthy" to reinforce positive beliefs about yourself.
TLDR: Cultivating a positive mindset can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment in all areas of your life--from the personal to the professional. Should you be inspired to find new career opportunities for yourself as you gain positivity in your worldview, download the F1Hire extension to make the job hunt more efficient while you search simultaneously across all five major job sites (e.g., Handshake, Indeed). With F1Hire’s ‘skill match’ feature, you can also easily fine tune your resume for each job you apply for!