5 tips to beat negativity

Being ‘positive’ isn’t easy. Often, no matter how hard we try, we end up back at square one : angry, resentful, upset, and having lost the faith and optimism about the future. Negativity becomes a habit after a while : and it is important to understand that being positive isn’t a one time fix : it is something that you need to work on everyday.  

Remember : positivity is not ONLY about a ‘mood’ it is about thought AND action both. Simply thinking positively without positive action is merely wishful thinking. Also remember that how you LOOK at things is about learning new skills : and being able to apply them. Never get caught in the trap of thinking ‘positivity’ is about being on a ‘constant high’ or being ‘optimistic’ !

1. Before anything else, understand WHY you are negative. Is it down to the result not being what you wanted it to be ? Is it about the people’s response to what you did ? What exactly made you lose it ? Lose hope ?
2. Secondly understand WHAT you CAN control : and what you CANNOT. NEVER get caught up in trying to fix EVERYTHING. Understanding what you can control - and investing all your time and energy into it is important : and if you don’t learn how to do this, chances are you you will expend energy in all the wrong places - and end up being negative all over again. So, distinguish between what you need to focus on - and what you should NOT. Learning stoicism is a fantastic starting point - so, watch this video if you have a little time : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9OCA6UFE-0 
3. Thirdly, try and make a mind map about what you must undertake to do. Mindmaps are really useful to make a ‘conceptual map’ of the different aspects about what you should do in order to achieve the overall objective. Don’t ever merely think - always think on paper. Here’s a small tutorial on how to do a mind map : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb3LJNSycaM . Once a mind map is done : don’t forget to put some detailed action plans in place - and remember BITESIZE it. ANY large task can be, and should be bitesized : so as to ensure you have only a ‘small thing to do’ at any given time - and that ensures you are never overwhelmed !
4. No matter how much you plan, things can always go wrong. And it will. So, when it does, go back to point 2 - and decide whether it was something you could have or could not have controlled. Keep tweaking things that you CAN control - and also understand how you can INFLUENCE things you cannot necessarily CONTROL. If you make this a practice - you will be able to have much better understanding of your immediate environment - even though you cannot necessarily control it.
5. Finally, find reasons to rejoice too. No matter how bad a day is - or life has been, there are ALWAYS those moments of joy, and moments of success, and moments of bliss. Latch on to these - and make a habit of solemnly being grateful for these ‘little things.’ Actually, no matter how ‘sucky’ life may seem, remember, after a while, it never hurts with the same intensity : so, if things are not working out, be grateful for what HAS gone right - and then, put your head down and work on what you can do… Forget the rest…

Remember : being positive is a mindset and a habit. Don’t allow it to stranglehold you for too long. Break free…