Shift Your Focus Toward Positivity
Like anything worthwhile reducing your complaining is something that will take practice.
We are not all naturally inclined to lean toward the positive. In fact, it is easier for our brains to fall into patterns of negative thinking than to look on the bright side of things. You may wonder how you can begin to become a more positive person. It takes time and intentional practice. I would like to give you some ideas on ways to shift your focus toward positivity. Once you begin to do that, you will start to find positive thinking comes more naturally and with ease.
Smile
Yes, a simple gesture like smiling can turn your whole attitude around. It is hard to feel cranky when you are smiling. Give it a shot. Smile at strangers on the street or colleagues in the hallway at work. A good mood tends to follow a genuine smile, both your own and the recipient's. Smiles really are contagious. They infect you with happiness.
Look Forward
Set some goals for yourself. Being able to look ahead to the future with hope and anticipation will do wonders for your outlook. When we are feeling stuck in a rut, it is far easier to let things bring us down. These goals can be personal, professional or something else entirely. Just be sure it is an objective that excites you in order to keep your motivation and your spirits high.
Brighten Your Surroundings
If you want to lift your mood and perk up your thinking, it could really help to brighten your surroundings a bit. The things you see around you have an impact on how you feel. If you want to feel more positive, add some uplifting elements to your atmosphere. You can do this by making sure your office desk always has fresh flowers on it or by adding some fun décor to your home. This small lift can go far to turning your mood around. Recently I added some new cabinets to my studio so I could minimize my clutter and have a more positive environment to create in. As a result I am much happier when go up to my loft studio.
Remove Negative Influences
This is one of the toughest suggestions I have to offer, eliminate or minimize the time you spend with the negative people in your life. Cutting people off is difficult and painful. It is hard to sever a connection with someone who may have been important to you but allowing toxic people to bring you down with their constant negativity is harmful to yourself. Ultimately, it may be better for you to put yourself and your own needs first. If you cannot eliminate a negative person from your life completely, at least try to spend less time around them. Once you do, you will probably feel like a weight has lifted from you and being positive will come easier. You can always reevaluate things later.
Step Outside Yourself
Finally, sometimes you must get out of your own way and out of your own head if you want to change your perspective. One awesome way to do that is to help others. It can be in a small, informal way or by throwing yourself into a big project. Whether it is offering assistance to your overworked colleague or starting a huge philanthropic campaign, helping others can totally change your negative attitude.
Hopefully, these tips will help you to bring some sunshine into your life. Perhaps you can build upon them and find ways that are personal and meaningful to push you along the path to positivity.
I hope this little guy gives you a smile! Sign up for my email and I will send you Cheeky Mu for your wallpaper or to print!
Cheeky MU
Cindy Rae Fancher
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Kate Loving Shenk – I think you are right. It really is something we can get better at and there happier every day! We are fighting our natural self so it is a battle! Wouldn’t it be something to have a “Complaint Free World”?
Julie JordanScott – Thank you. I agree with you, when people choose to mire themselves in the negative it is unpleasant to spend time with them and they do lose what is valuable in life. People.
Martha – Lil Lia is a delight!
Amrita – I agree it is sad to have to distance ourselves from those we care about, that is why it needs to be a last resort, but still it is so hard. Easy to write about, but not so easy to do.
Sometimes I attract natural pessimists because I learned how to be an optimist at a very young age. I still value it highly and tend to get frustrated when people are unwilling to shift. Their loss! They often become very lonely and don’t understand why people don’t want to be around them. Such an interesting post! Thank you!