Building a positive attitude is mostly a mental game, but there are physical components, as well. Positive thinking isn't something that happens overnight, and takes time to really settle into the mind and body. However, the process is fascinating, and little glimpses of improvement happen almost instantly, once someone decides to become more positive. By starting on the positivity path and staying focused, you'll evolve into a more accepting, optimistic person.
Instructions
1. Cultivate gratitude in daily life. Gratitude brings great joy for what you have, as well as excitement for what's coming. In return, you become more receptive toward happy, uplifting things. Start your day with gratitude by taking five minutes in the morning to write down things that you're grateful for. Fill up as many pages as you'd like with whatever comes to mind; there are no limits. After a while, there will be the realization that you are grateful for practically everything.
2. Accept life and reality in all of its randomness. Life isn't something that can be planned or lived in a linear fashion. An acceptance of chaos is necessary in order to bounce back and accept mistakes for the small speed bumps they are. Life is very random; don't expect all-around perfection from yourself or others.
3. Clean out clutter from your living space. Keeping remnants of old, unhappy or awkward times may seem loyal, but it's not healthy or positive in some instances. There has to be a place for all of the joyous new stuff to enter, and it will have no place to sit if baggage takes up emotional and physical space. Make a weekend of cleaning out old things by inviting over trusted friends to help, and treat the passing of past mementos as a ritual that may be painful but necessary.
4. Volunteer and find a way to contribute to society at large. By giving of yourself, whether it be a couple of hours or several months, it becomes apparent that your good actions make a difference. Volunteering pulls a person out of the morass of their own problems into the realm of helping someone else, with little or no expectation of recompense. It's especially wonderful to know that your labor can keep a family warm in a new house, fill a child's stomach, or earn a struggling student a much-needed scholarship.
5. Believe in a power higher than yourself, whether it be the power of science, God, or another being. An overreaching belief system serves as a comfort to many, and can also bring the benefit of community in the form of a group of like-minded followers. A higher power doesn't necessary have to be religious in nature; however, it will serve to keep a sense of wonder and uncertainty in daily living that is conducive to creativity.
6. Get enough sleep. It's hard to overcome challenges if you're yawning every five minutes. Lack of sleep can lead to poor health, reduced sexual drive and irritability, which won't do much to help a pessimistic outlook. According to Purica, a holistic healing product producer, "Sleep is absolutely essential to improve and maintain energy levels, immune system effectiveness, mental and emotional clarity and overall quality of life. When you feel good, you function better."
7. Give up the need to be attached. People become attached, or fixated on, outcomes to situations and people that they have no control over, and become disappointed on a deep level if things don't work out. Instead, accept that things might not work out at all, and be accepting of that fact. Be OK with releasing upsets, acknowledging the pain and moving on. Non-attachment doesn't mean a lack of meaningful bonds; rather, it's the allowance that others are autonomous, and that their choices are their own to make and live with. Appreciate them for the value they offer, and know the limits of that.
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