To be more positive 5 fantastic ways can help.

“It's not the situation, but whether we react negative or respond positive to the situation that is important”. - Zig Ziglar

Who hasn’t been told “to be more positive” when you’re having an off day?

Friends. Family. Co workers attempt to “lift us up” with simple words of encouragement. The problem, when you’re in a funk “being positive” isn’t motivating your present attitude. Survival is!

The problem with “being more positive”, is our brain is wired to recognize danger. Since the beginning of man we were created to “react” to imminent threats.

Although these threats no longer exist, our brain can’t resist swimming through a sea of erratic thoughts attempting to find one.

As a result, we manufacture imaginary adversaries which spoil our mood and weaken our ability to stay positive.

Being more positive is a daily practice that requires constant improvement, but it’s well worth the effort. 

Here’s a few reasons why being positive makes a difference . . .

Virtually nothing is impossible in this world if you just put your mind to it and maintain a positive attitude. - Lou Holtz

Being optimistic impacts your health

Optimistic people are healthier and happier than pessimistic people.

Studies have been conducted by; Martin Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota and researchers from the University of Kentucky.

They discovered weakened immune systems, increases in cardiovascular disease and shorter life expectancy were all associated with pessimism.

Pessimism adversely affects your health! 

Being positive impacts performance

The same studies concluded that optimistic people were better performers at work. Optimistic salespeople sold 40% more than pessimist people did.

Staying positive improves performance!

Here are 3 ways to improve positivity!

Focus on stopping negative thoughts

People become their own worst enemy.

A constant barrage of negative thoughts culminates in a chorus of unpleasant chatter dedicated to interfering with our ability to be optimistic. 

In the process, we provide these “thoughts” with validation that ensures they become a reality. A reality predicated on fiction.

People need to stop! Reflect on your thoughts and immediately end the negative momentum that is entirely self-induced.

In a moment of self-awareness, you can recognize how irrational and unproductive these internal conversations become. 

When you recognize your proclivity to infuse words like; never, always and worst you begin to appreciate how untrue these statements really are.

Are you always stumbling when you walk down the stairs? Of course not. Perhaps you do on occasion, but it isn’t something you always do.

When it feels like something always happens, it’s just your brain distorting the reality of an infrequent occurrence. Identify fact from fiction and start to crack the cycle of negativity!

Focus on finding positive thoughts

When you start to recognize your propensity to ruminate on negative thoughts and begin to stop yourself from entertaining these embellishments, you can start creating a new narrative.

It all begins with concentrating on something positive. You must force your brain to emphasize something optimistic. 

Once you identify a positive thought, focus on that each time you catch yourself drifting in a negative direction.

The first step removed the power of negative thoughts by separating fact from fiction. Step two replaced a negative thought with a positive thought. Step three requires focusing on that positive thought each time your attention gravitates in the direction of a negative thought.

Focus on being grateful

Something that can really help alleviate our tendency to focus on negative thoughts is to concentrate on being grateful.

When you appreciate your good fortune, you reduce the stress hormone cortisol by 25%!

In addition, energy increases as your mood becomes more positive and anxiety dissipates.

When you practice an attitude of gratitude you begin to train your mind to manufacture a positive reality. Over time this reality becomes a habit which obviates the negative thoughts from dominating your attention. 

Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will. - Zig Ziglar

Sum it up

I know these tips seems super simple, but they have remarkable power. It’s how you begin to train your brain to be positive! It’s all about creating new habits and this is where being more positive begins.

How do you stay positive? Please include your thoughts in the comments section below. I love learning from you as well.

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.  Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming. Steve is an author and host of the post program Anatomy of Success. Reach out and connect with Steve on LinkedIn!