5 Positivity Tips to Live the Best Life You Can

Do you feel like you're struggling to stay positive? Have you been letting your negative thoughts get the best of you?

Thinking negatively is more than just a habit. Research shows that cynical thoughts, frequent criticism, and denial can create neural pathways in your brain that encourage sadness. This can cause your brain to distort the truth and make it even more difficult to break the cycle of negativity. 

Luckily, there are some things you can do to get yourself into a more positive mindset. Check out this guide to learn the top positivity tips that will help you live your best life. 

1. Practice Gratitude 

Practicing gratitude is one of the best ways to stay positive. Even though you might feel grateful for friends, family, or other areas in your life, it's easy to take these for granted daily. 

In order to practice gratitude, you need to be intentional about it. One of the best ways to practice gratitude is to start a gratitude journal. Each day, write down one or more things that you're thankful for. It doesn't need to be anything huge- you can write about a delicious piece of cake you ate or a great talk on the phone you had with a friend. 

Intentionally drawing attention to all of the things you have to be grateful for in your life will help you be more positive. 

2. Put Yourself in an Optimistic Mindset 

Cycles of negativity and self-doubt are really hard to break, and often, we don't even realize that we're in them. Oftentimes, it's the questions that we ask ourselves on a day to day basis that put us in a negative mindset. 

If you're in a negative/pessimistic mindset, you're likely asking yourself:

• "Why do bad things always happen to me?"
• "Why did this happen to me?"

To switch to a more optimistic mindset, try asking yourself:

• "What's one good thing that can come of this situation?"
• "What's one small thing I can do to start resolving this issue?"
• "What can I learn from this situation?"

It can be hard to do, but asking yourself these questions on a continuous basis will make it easier for you to put yourself in a more positive mindset. 

3. Create a Positive Living Environment 

The people and things you surround yourself with can have a huge impact on your mindset. As you spend time with friends and family members over the next few weeks, pay attention to how you feel after seeing them. 

Do you feel uplifted and happy? Or, do you feel drained and negative? If you notice that there are certain people in your life who leave you feeling drained all of the time, you should start distancing yourself from them. The goal is to surround yourself with people who lift you up and make you feel good about yourself. 

In addition to paying attention to the people around you, you should also pay attention to the media sources you surround yourself with. While social media can be a great tool, it can also leave you feeling drained and sad. 

Make an effort to read positive books and blogs, listen to inspirational songs, watch motivating movies, and listen to audiobooks and podcasts made by optimistic people. Before you know it, this optimistic mood will rub off on you. 

4. Start Your Day the Right Way 

How you start your day can have a huge effect on your mood. If you start your day with a positive, optimistic mindset, you're more likely to carry that attitude with you throughout the day. 

Many of us have fallen into the habit of rolling out of bed, scrolling through our phone, and begrudgingly getting ready for work. But, the start of your day doesn't have to look like this. 

Here are some things you can do to start your day the right way:

• Prepare yourself a nutritious and tasty breakfast
• Ask yourself what you're grateful for while getting ready
• Read positive information online or in a book
• Stay off of social media
• Go for a walk in the morning and listen to upbeat music
• Meditate or do yoga 

It can also be very helpful to set your intentions for the day each morning when you wake up. Set aside 15 minutes to journal about what your goals are for the day, how you're feeling, and what you're looking forward to. If you wake up and your mood is off, jot down what you're grateful for and what you can do during the day to help you stay positive. 

5. Don't Neglect Your Physical Well-Being 

The mind and body are closely connected. The better you take care of your body, the easier it'll be to take care of your mind. 

Enjoying some exercise a few times a week, eating healthy food, and getting eight hours of sleep per night can work wonders for your mindset. Take time each day to think about what you can do for your physical self to improve your mental health. 

We also suggest adding meditation to your daily schedule. Not only is meditation completely free and easy to do, but studies show that it can help improve your mood, improve your sleep, and decrease stress. 

Are You Ready to Live Your Best Life With These Positivity Tips? 

Now that you have these positivity tips, it's time to put them into action. Before you know it, you'll be living your best life. 

If you're looking for more ways to become more positive, be sure to check out some of our self-care zines.