7 Tips for More Positive Attitude

Sometimes when I hear people telling me to keep a positive attitude, I think to myself, "Easy for you to say, you're not going through what I am going through." But really keeping a positive attitude helps you get through tough times and keeps you from indulging in all the negative thoughts that can fill your head. Staying positive is key to staying healthy during challenging times. So how do you keep a positive attitude?

One way to help with a positive attitude is to practice gratitude. Think about all the things and people you love and how they make you feel. Remember happy memories and feel grateful for those times. You can look around and be grateful for the trees, your pets, the blue sky, anything that comes to mind.

Another way to feel positive is to “stop and smell the roses.” Uplift your thought by stimulating your senses. The simple things like the aroma of flowers, the beautiful scent of a burning candle, the sounds of the birds singing or the rustling of trees. Create an environment that delights your senses to bring you into the moment.

You can also place little notes around your house to remind yourself of how special you are. When you brush your teeth, you can look at the mirror and read, “You are loving, lovely and lovable.” All the things you think you need others to tell you are the messages you can tell yourself. Messages include,“You’re strong”. “You can get through this.” Make a list of the words and phrases that make you feel good and get busy with those post-it notes!

Listen to your favorite music. Not the kind you listen to that makes you cry but that upbeat, happy music that makes you feel alive and energetic. Play an instrument, sing or dance around the house just to feel the goodness of the rhythm pulse through your body and let yourself have fun.

Do something creative like bake a cake, learn how to knit, take out your crayons and color! So many DIY projects that are fun and don’t take a lot of time to learn how to do. Pick something easy so you don’t end up feeling frustrated by something that’s too hard to do.

Help others when you’re feeling down to help keep yourself positive. You’ll stop focusing on your own troubles and help uplift your friend or family member. Practice small acts of kindness and smile.

Stay away from junk food binge eating that you’ll regret later. Tasty foods make you feel better in the moment because it’s so delicious but you don’t want to have feelings of guilt and a belly ache afterwards. Plus if you can’t fit into your favorite jeans, you’re going to feel even worse.