6 Tips to Make a Positive Switch

Which side are you on?

Picture a big glass goblet filled to the halfway mark with water (or wine?? 🙂 ). How do you see it—half-full or half-empty?

Consistently finding the glass half-empty—and the world as a difficult place— is a hallmark of negativity.

Research has found that a negative outlook can contribute to everything from depression to heart disease to lowered immune system function. It can affect sleep, weight maintenance, the quality of your relationships, your social life, and even your ability to hold a job. Wow, that is a lot of negative effects for not thinking positively!

Now imagine what it would feel like to approach life from a place of positivity, fun, connection, health, and possibility. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Try these 6 simple tips to make a positive switch and wipe out negativity:

• TIP 1: Go complaint-free. Try going an hour without complaining and see the positive things in your life. Next, try a day, a week, and so on. I find it amazing how many things I may complain about – and really for no reason! This is a fun (and effective!) exercise to do.
• TIP 2: Keep a gratitude journal. Each evening, list 10 or more things that you are grateful for. Or add this type of documentation to your morning list if you like to write in the morning.
• TIP 3: Give compliments freely. Notice the good in others. Praise every person you interact with. There is always something good to find in our interactions with others.
• TIP 4: Find beauty everywhere in your world. Notice its gorgeousness. Really, take a moment to stop and smell the roses! (Yes, I also wrote a blog about that!)
• TIP 5: Share your good news. Studies show that sharing happy events brings even more happiness. You may have heard the saying, “success breeds success”; I believe the same thing about happiness: “happiness breeds happiness!” (Kind of like the positive outlook of “misery loves company!”)
• TIP 6: Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want. Similarly, appreciate what you have instead of dwelling on what you don’t have!

Maintaining a positive outlook takes practice, and the more you do it, the easier it gets. The payoff—a happier, healthier life—is absolutely worth the effort.