21 Ways to Think Positively to Make Your Life Happier
Everyone definitely wants happiness in their life. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to think positively. How can you always think positively? See the complete explanation below.
Various Ways to Always Think Positively
Positive thinking can maintain physical and mental health. Unfortunately, not everyone can do it easily.
So, for those of you who like to think negatively, here are some ways to think positively to live a happier life, including:
- Focus on the Good Things
When you are faced with a difficult situation, try to see the positive side (even if it seems small). Even though this sounds cliché, this method is effective in dealing with the situation.
For example, when your boss at the office is not satisfied with the results of your work. Instead of thinking negatively and blaming yourself, try to think that this indicates that your boss believes that you have the capability to produce something better.
- Forget what has happened, focus on the present
You just made a mistake that disappointed your coworkers or boss. Instantly, negative feelings will arise in the mind.
Even though this is human, don’t let negative thoughts drag on, let alone cause stress. Immediately forget about this unpleasant incident. Focus yourself on the present moment.
Continuing to remember past events, plus worrying about the impact of these events in the future will only make the situation worse.
- Learn to be grateful
Gratitude has been proven to be able to relieve stress, increase self-esteem, and of course generate positive thoughts when you face difficult times in life.
After all, you must have experienced pleasant moments. Also, don’t forget the presence of family and other closest people who provide continuous support.
Well, these are the things you should be grateful for. In this way, positive thoughts will automatically appear to replace negative thoughts.
- Keep a ‘Happy’ Journal
Recording all the positive things that happen to you in one day is also a way to help you think positively. A study revealed that noting positive things in life can increase feelings of optimism.
So, try applying this method to help you think more positively, okay?
- Socialize with Optimistic People
There is an opinion that the environment also influences a person’s behavior patterns. This could be true.
Try to build relationships with people who have an optimistic spirit so that the positive aura that radiates from them can ‘rub off’ on you.
On the other hand, reduce your frequency—especially if you are in a difficult situation—to socialize with people who are pessimistic. The reason is, this will further increase the difficulties and negative thoughts that are being felt.
- Look for things that make you laugh
When negative thoughts strike, this is usually accompanied by feelings of worry, fear, and even sadness. If that’s the case, then looking for things that make you laugh is a way to get rid of negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts.
You can watch videos or read articles that contain elements of humor. Talking about funny topics with friends can also be another option.
Also Read : 11 Ways to Stop Complaining to Live a Happier Life
- Do Positive Self-Talk
What is positive self-talk ? Positive self-talk is an attitude where you talk to yourself to ensure that everything will be fine, or that you can definitely solve the problem you are facing.
According to research, talking to yourself to instill positive thoughts—no matter how small—is effective in helping control thoughts, feelings and behavior when facing difficult times.
- Start the Day with Something Positive
Starting the day with a positive ‘ritual’ allows you to think positively throughout the day. Some activities you can do related to this include:
- Morning exercise.
- Listen to favorite music.
- Help others.
- Do positive self-talk.
Apart from several activities as above, you can do any activity that makes you happy because this is the key to generating positive thoughts.
- Find out what triggers negative thoughts and resolve them
Everyone must have a reason why their brain is filled with negative thoughts. So, how do you get rid of these negative thoughts? Finding out the source of negative thoughts is the first thing you must do.
To support this, you can also share stories with people closest to you, such as friends or partners.
After knowing what is the root of the problem, you can ask for advice on what should be done to solve the problem.
- Read lots of quotes or literature about motivation
I don’t know how many books or short quotes have spread enthusiasm and motivation. You can also use this as a medium to generate positive thoughts within yourself.
Even though its effectiveness cannot be confirmed, there’s no harm in trying this positive way of thinking, right?
- Make Mistakes a ‘Teacher’
No human being is free from mistakes. Everyone has made mistakes in their life. However, don’t let this mistake continue to make you think negatively, including blaming yourself.
Instead of continuing to stare at the mistake, what you have to do is immediately ‘ move on ‘ and learn from the mistake to be better in the future. Remember, this is not the end of everything. You still have many opportunities to change.
- Celebrate Happy Moments
A way to always think positively that you shouldn’t miss is to celebrate every happy moment that occurs, even the small things. Celebrating happy moments is a good thing to do to keep your mind positive.
Also read : The dangers of overthinking that you must be aware of to stay happy
- Appreciate every success achieved
Related to the previous point, another positive way of thinking that you can do is to appreciate every success you achieve.
Don’t look at how small or big the success you get. By appreciating every hard work that has been done, this helps stimulate the brain to think that you are a competent, intelligent person, and the like.
- Instill the Principle of ‘Difficulty is a Challenge’
Negative thinking also includes when you think things look difficult. The problem is, this won’t make things better.
Instead of thinking negatively, try to make something difficult into a challenge. For example, you are required to make a monthly presentation by your boss. Instead of being afraid and thinking all kinds of things, why not try to find ways to make the presentation run well, such as:
- Create a presentation outline .
- Look for trusted sources to support your presentation.
- Create a unique but still informative presentation design.
- Practice one day in advance up to 30 minutes before the presentation begins.
Turning difficulties into challenges, apart from making you calmer and able to think positively; Without realizing it, this can also hone creativity in solving a problem.
- Instill the Principle of ‘Nothing is Perfect’
Instilling the principle that nothing is perfect in the world is also a way to think positively.
The reason is, negative thoughts are often triggered by feelings of guilt or feelings of inability to do something. By instilling this principle, you will become confident in yourself to complete the things you are doing, even in various other life contexts.
- Don’t Give Up Easily
This positive way of thinking may also sound cliché, but by having the nature of never giving up, you remain enthusiastic in facing every problem that occurs in life.
Again, this is related to the principles of positive thinking that have been explained above, such as considering every difficulty to be a challenge and also believing that nothing is perfect in this world.
- Stop feeling sorry for yourself
Feeling sorry for yourself for what happened to you will only make you more trapped in negative thoughts. Instead of getting a solution, what happens is that you become increasingly stressed and even depressed.
Reassure yourself that everything will be fine. Instead of continuing to feel sorry for yourself, why not ‘wake up’ and try and pray harder. That’s right, isn’t it?
- Meditate
I don’t know how many studies have proven the benefits of meditation to help foster positive thoughts.
In fact, this activity was created with the aim of relaxing the heart and mind, which of course will automatically have an impact on the emergence of a positive aura in the body.
From now on, try to take a few minutes—especially in the morning—to do this meditation activity. Do it regularly and feel the benefits of this one.
Also Read : Mindful Living, Tips for a Successful, Happy Life
- Sports
Apart from meditation, exercise is also a way of positive thinking whose effectiveness is quite high.
Based on research, sports activities can help the body release the hormone dopamine, aka the ‘happy’ hormone. If your mood is good, your thoughts will automatically be good or positive.
You can do sports activities such as jogging , gymnastics, or other types of sports such as playing futsal and basketball. As long as you do it consistently, the results will be felt.
- Do Social Activities
Carrying out social activities such as helping other people or volunteering is also said to create positive thoughts for those who do it.
Even though there are not many scientific explanations that link this, a number of people admit that their mood and thoughts become better after doing social activities.
- Increase your worship
Just like meditation, worship rituals help the body and mind to relax more. As a result, all negative thoughts can be eliminated and replaced with positive thoughts.
So , those are various ways you can do so that you always think positively.