Developing a Positive Mindset

Mindset refers to one's beliefs or attitudes which shapes one's response and interpretation of situations. It influences one's life in a positive or negative manner. During challenging times, it is important to develop a positive mindset.

What is Positive Mindset?

It is the practice of being positive or tendency to be optimistic?in attitude. You tend to look at the good things in life. It does not simply mean being?cheerful but is to look at one’s?overall perspective in life. It may not mean that you ignore or avoid the reality - it is important to?acknowledge the current situation; but it is necessary to overcome the?negative aspects and make the best out of the situation rather than stressing or getting upset.

Why should you adopt a Positive?Mindset?

Positive Mindset is very crucial for?your?physical and?mental well-being. It?helps in your overall well-being as well.?Positive Mindset has a lot of positive impact on health, reduces the rate of depression, increases physical and?mental?health along with better performance in day-to-day activities including creativity and problem-solving skills in comparison to negative mindset that has negative impact on?the physical and mental health of the individual. Negative mindset increases the?risk of diseases along with reduced lifespan. Stress, Anger, Pessimism, and other?negative feelings can disturb the well-being of the individual.

Positive Mindset increases?longevity. A person?with positive mindset tends to?succeed more likely than one with negative?mindset.

Ways to stay Positive

There are?several ways?to stay positive and develop a positive?mindset. Below listed are a few of them:

• Express Gratitude - It is important to reflect on things you are grateful for on a regular basis and?remind?yourself of the good things that?you have going for?you. Feel free to express your gratitude to people around you or even writing them down in a gratitude journal. Everybody?functions differently, and it is important for?you to choose the one that you are most comfortable with.
• Prioritizing?Self Care - Taking care of yourself is more important than you think. It is important that you take care of yourself before you can take care of others around you. Everyone has a different way of?prioritizing self-care. It can be?through meditation,?yoga, exercise, listening to music, taking some?“ME” time, pursuing a?hobby or anything?else. You can?identify what?suits you best and helps in maintaining your sanity. Self-care is not being selfish; it simply means self-love.
• Surround yourself with your support people - For many,?surrounding yourself with support people or positive like-minded people can really?help to?focus on staying?positive. It can be your?family, friends,?support groups, mentor, colleagues etc. or even listening to podcasts, watching videos, or reading books. You may also choose to discuss it with a?therapist if you prefer.
• Focus on today rather?than regretting about yesterday or worrying about tomorrow. You have to stay focused on the current situation?instead of?procrastinating about the future. Be happy with what?you have, today. Enjoy every moment?as you cannot predict?what is in store for you in the future. Be kind?to people around you and try to learn from every?experience.
• Smile and the world will smile with you. Smile is a great mood booster and has great health benefits. It reduces stress, improves your mood, reduces your pain, and?helps you live longer. And hey!?It is contagious too. So why not spread happiness than?sorrow!
• Maintain a journal / diary - Studies show that writing?helps you relieve your daily stress and can act as a relaxation technique helping you stay?positive.?
• Work on solutions rather than worrying about the problems. While you continue your search for?solutions, you come out as a warrior and finding solutions sooner than otherwise. You?also appreciate everything that?you have and not take things for granted. It increases optimism in you and helps you to come out of a pessimistic?mindset. You also tend to feel more control of?the situation rather than feeling?helpless.?
• Stop Negative talks. This?helps you improve your?pessimistic attitude and?helps to build a more positive?mindset.?
• You can work on focusing on long term goals?rather than short term?goals. It is okay if you did not entirely?succeed in your short-term goals. You can learn from your failures and turn them?into lessons. Learn from them and work towards the larger goals.
• Focus on what you can control rather than getting bothered about things that are out of your control.
• Listening to music can also be?helpful as?music can?have a positive and immediate impact on your mental state. It?helps in?energizing yourself.?
• Meditation or?yoga or exercise can also be a great mood boost. It can?help balance energy?and relax your mind and body. It?helps develop your coping skills and improve your mental?health. It also?helps to change your outlook of life along with?improving your thoughts and attitude.
• You can also start your morning with?positive thoughts, and it can?help you?spend the rest of your day with?positivity.?
• ?Having a routine or schedule can also help stay?positive and overcome tougher times in life.
• ?Do not let others’ negativity bring?you down.
• Forgive yourself for your mistakes and?apologize if you need to. Learn from your mistakes and do not repeat them!
• Stay true to yourself always - Be Authentic!

Ways to spread Positivity

Spreading positivity can be?highly satisfying as it?helps you feel a sense of accomplishment and great joy to see a?positive change in someone. Here are some ways to do that:

• You can be a supportive ally to?someone and a great?motivator too. It is important to give.
• Pay?a compliment to others even if it is a stranger.
• Crack jokes or make someone?smile.
• Share your knowledge with others and you may do wonders.
• Empathy can be a great tool when you are able to connect with someone at a?deeper level.
• Give positive feedback and avoid?criticism.
• Express genuine interest in others when you connect with them.
• Be an active listener.?
• Thought of the day could be a great way to start a day. A motivational or inspirational?thought or a quote can spread so much positivity.

Conclusion

Negative thoughts do not disappear overnight but with?persistence, consistency and practice, you can develop a positive outlook in life.?Developing a positive mindset is an ongoing process. You have to?stay committed and?constantly remind yourself of the good, acknowledge the reality and avoid negative thoughts.

You can?achieve your goals with optimism, resilience, gratitude, self-care and much more. Change of attitude is helpful along with your?determination to?succeed. You can?implement?positive?techniques to stay focused. Surround yourself?with your support people. The roots to succeed are in your mind and in taking control of your life.

Stay positive, stay strong and be happy!

Note: There are so many ways to stay positive. I may have only listed a few but feel free to add more in the comments section.

If you are a visual person, check on my YouTube Video on "Developing a Positive Mindset" on KriTalks.

Let's spread positivity!