Life can throw many challenges our way, causing us to feel overwhelmed and discouraged but there is hope my Friend...
During these tough times, maintaining a positive outlook is essential for our mental and emotional well-being. By incorporating certain practices into our daily routine, we can cultivate a more optimistic perspective and navigate through difficult situations with resilience and strength. Here are five practices to help you stay positive when life seems tough.
Gratitude Journaling:
One of the most powerful ways to shift your focus from the negatives to the positives in your life is through gratitude journaling (example here). Take a few minutes each day to write down things you are grateful for, no matter how big or small. This practice can help you appreciate the blessings in your life, no matter how challenging things may seem.
- I recently purchased a bright, buttery yellow journal just for this purpose. I love the color--it's a small thing that inspires happiness in me--and I make the practice even more special by using a pen that I really love. While these small things may seem trivial, they keep me going with the practice because they add a positivity that encourages me to do the thing every night; helps me look forward to it, ya know? I capture the things I am most grateful for, each day, before bed. For me, it's a pre-bedtime practice that I now look forward to and I've definitely noticed a difference. This practice keeps joyful moments fresh in your mind and helps change your focus to positivity. You begin to look forward to jotting down the little things because it's the little things that matter.
Mindfulness Meditation:
Practicing mindfulness meditation can help you stay grounded in the present moment and cultivate a sense of inner peace. Take time each day to sit quietly, focus on your breath, and observe your thoughts without judgment. This practice can help reduce stress and anxiety, allowing you to approach difficult situations with clarity and calmness.
- Meditation can be a hard practice for a busy mind and the added outside noise of everyday life can complicate things but if I can do it, anyone can. I began small--I think that's super important, if the "busy mind" reference resonates with you. I was pretty sure, for a long time, that I was not able to meditate at all and I'm still not great at it but I'm getting better and that's what learning is all about sometimes, baby steps. I found that the following podcast has helped me immensely on my meditation journey, giving me hope for the future of my practice: 21 Days of Abundance Meditation Series by Deepak Chopra. Each podcast episode is around 15 minutes and the meditating part is only about five to seven minutes of that time, which is completely doable and absolutely worth it. I don't know anyone who was able to meditate for an hour, right away. I've been beginning each morning with one of Deepak's practices and I've even started a second round of the same podcast because it was so helpful in finding peace and positivity in my life. I hope you give it a try, you're worth 15 minutes a day!
Surround Yourself with Positive People:
The people you surround yourself with can have a significant impact on your mindset. Seek out friends and family members who uplift and support you during tough times. Surrounding yourself with positive and encouraging individuals can help boost your spirits and remind you that you are not alone in facing life's challenges.
- As I've gotten older I've realized that quality over quantity, pertaining to friends, is essential in life and even if you're born into a family that tends towards toxic, you can find "family" in others, even if they are not blood relations. We are fortunate enough to make our own decisions and hold those who are precious--those who inspire and help us cultivate our strengths--close to our hearts. I'm now fourty-six years old and I'm proud to say that I have a close circle of friends that I can count on both hands and I'm great with that number. These people are the people of my tribe and they support me through thick and thin. Each individual has made my life better for one reason or another and they fill the space in my heart that is no longer empty. Quality over quantity, always.
Engage in Self-Care Activities:
Taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being is crucial when life feels tough. Make time for self-care activities that nourish and rejuvenate your body and mind, such as exercise, reading, taking a bath, or spending time in nature. Prioritizing self-care can help you recharge and approach challenges with a renewed sense of energy and resilience. Here is a reference for some wonderful self-care practice inspiration.
- Ever hear the saying, "When you're better for you, you're better for everyone around you?" I may have completely butchered that saying but you get the gist. Self-care is an important component in this. Plus it's a win-win situation because you feel good after the self-care practice and that good feeling radiates out from you in the form of heightened vibration. People sense that energy, even if they don't know where it's coming from and it can spread from person to person causing a domino effect of light and positivity. When was the last time you honored yourself with a self-care practice?
- In my life, I've adopted the practice of giving myself more peace at the beginning of my day. It costs me nothing and sets me up for a success. I wake up, make a cup of coffee then sit on my couch with my little dog Harper, set my intentions in the quiet of the wee hours. It's the perfect time to do my morning meditations before I begin my work day. Such a small thing that has made a huge difference in my mindset and mental well-being.
Practice Affirmations:
Affirmations are positive statements that you can repeat to yourself to challenge and overcome self-sabotaging beliefs. Create a list of affirmations that resonate with you and repeat them daily to boost your self-confidence and motivation. Encouraging yourself with positive affirmations can help shift your mindset from one of doubt to one of empowerment, even in tough times. Here is a free resource for inspirational affirmations to say to yourself. Here is a lovely collection of cards to draw each day.
- I have a special list in the notes in my phone for this very purpose. It's a long list of things I've picked up overtime and I don't say every single one of them, every day but I do say them when I need to reassure myself. An excellent time to do this is at the beginning of your day, along with your meditation practice because when you begin your day with good vibes, you have put effort and energy in steering your day in the direction that you chose. It's almost like you put a protective barrier around yourself that can help guide the vibe of the rest of the day. You've chosen to do the work, to begin with the tools that will set you up for success.
Incorporating these practices into your daily routine can help you maintain a positive outlook and resilience when faced with tough situations in life. By cultivating gratitude, mindfulness, positive relationships, self-care, and affirmations, you can navigate through challenges with a sense of optimism and inner strength. Remember that tough times do not last forever, and by staying positive, you can overcome any obstacles that come your way.
Thanks so much for reading friends! I hope this inspires some positive vibes in your life, I know that the small changes I've made in mine, have been so very helpful!
Sending many well wishes and good vibes your way; there are some great resources listed below, if you'd like to dive deep into positive practices.
Sincerely,
Naomi
Bibliography:
1. Emmons, Robert A., and Michael E. McCullough. "Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 84, no. 2 (2003): 377-389.
2. Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life. Hyperion, 1994.
3. Diener, Ed, and Robert Biswas-Diener. Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. John Wiley & Sons, 2008.
4. Fredrickson, Barbara L. Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the 3-to-1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life. Harmony, 2009.
5. Hay, Louise L. You Can Heal Your Life. Hay House, 1984.
