Positivity takes you places that negativity cannot.
When the pessimist says ‘it’s impossible’, the optimist is already giving it a try.
Positivity can bridge the gap of the unknown, the one negative people daren’t leap.
And more often than not, it is this gap that makes achievements impossible, not the challenge itself.
Your perception is your reality, and if you are positive enough to believe you can do something, more often than not, you probably can.
Positivity breeds confidence, charisma, inspiration, and ultimately success.
If you aim to avoid failing at one thing in life, let it be not losing your positive attitude. And all other failures will be overcome with the energy that positivity brings.
But maintaining positivity, especially in the face of adversity, isn’t always easy.
Negativity creeps its way into your life sometimes through the company you keep, through your own thoughts and fears, and through your self-esteem.
So when you see negativity rearing its ugly head, it’s time to take action and steer your mind back into the positive lane.
Here are a few techniques to help you adopt and maintain a positive mental attitude:
Surround Yourself with Positive People Only
Negativity is highly contagious. If you are constantly surrounded by people with negative mindsets, it will soon drag you down.
Spend time only with people that energise you. People that inspire you with their own optimism. And people who can keep your own mindset positive by maintaining a positive environment.
If you have negative people close to you, on your social media feeds, or at work – don’t waste any time in cutting them off and cleanse the company you keep. Life is too short to spend constantly counteracting negativity, and the drowning victim will pull you down with them.
Don’t Watch the News
No good news ever makes the news.
I haven’t read the headlines or watched/listened to the news in 5+ years.
Not only is the news a hotbed for negativity, it also fosters a spectator mindset – one where you become accustomed to watching things take place and not being able to control their outcome.
I’d rather be in the game, on the field, influencing the result, than standing in the crowd watching what happens. Wouldn’t you?
Resist Negative Thinking
We’re all guilty of it at one point or another – whether it be following a job interview, an important meeting, or when thinking about things that may or may not happen.
We think of the worst case scenario in a situation so we soften the blow for ourselves should the worst actually happen.
Resist these thoughts and focus on the positive potential of every particular situation or scenario – it’s much more enjoyable this way!
Think glass half full, not half empty.
Make your Goals Actionable
By this, I mean – break them down so you can see the micro-achievements you are making each day.
If you focus constantly on the long-term ‘end goal’, it can start to feel too far away and it can be hard to maintain your motivation – the same motivation you need to actually be able to achieve your end goal.
Take time to celebrate the small wins – they all add up to make the big wins eventually.
Use Negativity as an Opportunity to Test Your Resolve
Treat every adverse event or situation as a challenge.
A challenge to test your resolve, your determination, and your steel.
When you view problems as challenges to be overcome it’s much easier to break them down and tackle them aggressively and systematically – because you’ve just created a goal for yourself from the adversity, rather than dwelling on a problem.
Disconnect Fear from Failure
View failure itself in a positive light – you can often learn more from failing at something than you can succeeding.
Failure is a lesson, something to learn from, and something to bounce back from (creating a challenge out of adversity).
When you view failure like this, you remove the fear that’s often embedded within the thought of failure, and when you lose this fear, you become free. Free to take on more challenges and to live a more positive life.
Stay Fit and Healthy
Self esteem and self confidence can play a big role in your ability to maintain a positive mindset.
Think of it like a suit of armour to your positivity.
When you have extreme confidence within yourself, it’s hard not to feel positive, and it becomes even harder for the people around you to knock your positivity because, hey, whatever happens in this particular situation, you feel fit, healthy, and good about yourself – you’ll always walk away with this, no matter what the outcome of the situation you face.
Ignore the Nay-Sayers
Even if your immediate circle of friends and family are positive, you’ll still encounter nay-sayers and negative people in certain situations.
Often, it’s good to understand the translation of the nay-sayer’s language.
When they say ‘You can’t do that’ or ‘That’s impossible’ – what they really mean is ‘I couldn’t do that’ or ‘That looks way too hard for me to attempt, so I’ll try to dissuade you from doing it too’.
Point blank ignore the nay-sayers, they bring nothing useful to the table. Seems ignorant, and it probably is, but you need your positivity to build your bridge over the unknown – don’t let someone else take this bridge away.
Celebrate Life
An inspirational friend recently told me that the way he overcomes his adversity is with the cliche YOLO (You Only Live Once).
And it’s true.
Life is too short and too precious to spend worrying and drowning in negativity.
We’re all heading for the same destination, so why be scared of doing what you want to do in the short time you’re here?
Stay positive, do positive things, and your journey and experience in life will also be a positive one.
If you have any tips for maintaining a positive mental attitude, please share them in the comments below.