Top tips for positive living

Feeling good about feeling positive

Let’s face it, this last stretch of winter is the hardest. The world’s still cold, grey, and drained of colour. It’s so easy to feel negative about things just before spring comes breezing in. We hate our jobs, we’ve lost our mojo, our motivation, and we’re not sure how to start feeling positive again.

But as the quote often attributed to Abraham Lincoln says: “Folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

And that really goes to the heart of how to live a positive life.

Looking for the silver lining

Positivity is all in the mind. We have to make an active choice to see the positive side, not the negative. (If it’s raining – it’s got to stop sometime!) Until then, choose to do something productive, creative, or kind, until it does.

Changing the way we approach life, might not change the world, but it changes our own world. It has a powerful, positive effect on our wellbeing, and it always helps us to feel better about ourselves.

Think positive. Speak positive. Stay positive

These are Zebra Pen’s tips for rebalancing your life:

• Surround yourself with positive, supportive people.

Nothing rubs off like negativity, and that’s stressful to be around.

• Be grateful and show you care.

Gratitude boosts your emotional wellbeing, and other people’s. If it helps, start a gratitude journal, and say thank you for something every day. It inspires you to keep going.

• Be kind.

Towards everyone but most of all, towards yourself. We all feel discouraged from time to time and kindness makes the world of difference.

• Say sorry and forgive people if they’ve messed up.

That means yourself as well!

• Be your own best friend.

In fact, talk to yourself as though you are.

Facing a challenge? What would your best friend say to you?

• Do what you love; love what you do.

Spend time every day doing something you really enjoy – make space to be creative: to dream, design, sketch, or journal.

Freeing your mind and imagination boosts positivity levels.

• Be brave and ask for help when you need it.

Don’t suffer in silence. Asking for help makes you stronger, not weaker, and you’ll see the world in a more positive light.

Stay positive and stay healthy

The health benefits of positivity are – yes, all positive! Research has shown that we live longer, are better able to fight off infection, have lower blood pressure and stress levels, all from keeping an optimistic outlook on life.

• Slow down.

Make a conscious effort to slow your life down – you’ll notice the little things that are easy to miss (like that first green bud of spring, or the first butterfly in your garden).

• Go outside for a walk.

Shut the laptop, set phone to silent, and feel the fresh air blow the cobwebs away.

• Take a moment.

Make space every day for reflection, for journaling or reading.

Or just enjoying the view.

The power of positive thinking

Being positive, and living a positive life, is not about being relentlessly cheery the whole time. It’s also about having the hope and confidence that you’re someone who can handle the low points as well as the highs. Positive living puts colour back in your life and a spring in your step. Did someone say: “Spring…?” It’s on its way. 🌹