7 Effective Ways to Cultivate a Radically Positive Mindset
How to eliminate toxic negativity from your life
Positivity is a true superpower.
Even though “positive thinking” sounds a bit fluffy, its benefits are indisputable.
Positive thinking is, in fact, a well-researched scientific field, and many renowned psychologists such as Barbara Fredrickson describe how a positive mindset can strengthen your immune system and bolster your productivity.
Better still, a positive mindset reduces your anxiety, internal stress, and susceptibility to anger.
But what does positive thinking entail in practice?
In simple terms, a positive mindset is an overriding attitude that guides your decisions, actions, and emotions.
If your mindset is radically positive, you’ll always prioritize positive deeds and thoughts. And this prioritization can have a major impact on your life.
On this basis, here 7 effective ways to cultivate a radically positive mindset.
1. Start your day with positive affirmations
A positive day starts with the right morning routine. And this morning routine should contain positive affirmations.
I favor 10 minutes of meditation preceded by a few positive thoughts.
Today will be a good day. I will edge a little bit closer toward my goals. Today, I will perform actions that my future self will be thankful for.
These sentences might sound banal, but they are highly useful.
Your mood for the day will have a positive undertone if you internalize positive thinking patterns right from the getgo.
Problems may arise today, but you’ll tackle them with a positive preconception. Thanks to your morning affirmations, you subconsciously know that you want a positive day.
That’s why you’ll encounter potential hurdles with positivity rather than negativity. In simple terms, you’ll adopt a problem-solving approach.
2. Live in the present
“There is only one time that is important — now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.” — Leo Tolstoy
Focusing your thoughts on the present is another powerful tool to cultivate a positive mindset.
Of course, you shouldn’t ignore the past or disregard the future — that would lead to recklessness — but you should fixate your energy on what you can achieve today.
The secret lies in finding the right balance between learning lessons from the past, preparing for the future, and enjoying the present.
Always ask yourself: what I am doing right now? What can I do now that will change my situation for the better?
Most negative thoughts stem from memories or uncertainty about the future.
If you want to build a radically positive mindset, focus your thoughts first and foremost on this present moment.
Try to identify the actions you can take right now. Not in five minutes, not tomorrow, now.
As an example, you might be nervous about next week’s job interview.
You could lament your recent job interview that didn’t go so well. You could also think about next week — increasing your nervousness. Or you could think about the steps you can take right now to improve your chances.
3. Celebrate small, positive things
Positivity is not just an overriding attitude but also an accumulation of small habits. And these habits often concern the celebration of small acts.
Being kind to restaurant staff, helping fellow passengers with their luggage on the train, or even saying “thank you” more often can stimulate your positive mindset.
These acts may seem mundane on the surface, but they add up and create an overall sense of positivity in your everyday life.
The same goes for the celebration of small wins.
Your business scored a new client? Celebrate with some kind of ritual.
Your last article had more views than the one before? Find ways to mark that achievement.
The idea is simple. Build a habit around finding small, positive things everywhere.
Once you slow down your busy routine, you’ll realize that mini-signs of positivity are ubiquitous in everyday life.
4. Surround yourself with positive people
“You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” — Jim Rohn
This quote may have a cliché ring to it, but it certainly applies to positive thinking.
If you surround yourself with negative people, chances are you’ll suck up that negativity without even noticing.
Of course, we all have friends with problems and we feel obligated to help them. But we also need to consider the repercussions.
The best way to measure the impact of your social circle on your positivity is to imagine a pendulum.
Next time you’re having dinner with your five closest friends, ask yourself: in what direction is the pendulum swinging?
Is the overall vibe negative? Do your friends criticize other people more than themselves?
If you pay close attention to people’s opinions, ideas, and thoughts, you’ll identify the pendulum’s direction rather quickly.
And if a person’s general outlooks on life, the world, and other people are negative, this person might not support your positive mindset.
5. Always look for positives amid negativity
To cultivate a radically positive mindset, you need to adopt a Stoic mindset when it comes to negativity.
Being positive is not about negating problems. It’s about finding ways to turn adversity into opportunity.
Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest scientists of all time, gradually lost all of his senses due to a motor neuron disease. In the end, he couldn’t speak, walk, or get dressed.
When it started at the age of 21, the brilliant Oxford student briefly fell into depression. He couldn’t accept his fatal diagnosis and nearly threw away his bright future.
After a while, however, Hawking recognized that his disease had no impact on his scientific genius. His senses would go, but his brain would continue to function.
This realization changed everything.
Hawking started to focus on the positive traits of his persona and dedicated his entire life to science. The rest is history.
The lesson here is simple: no matter the situation, there are always positives to be found. And to cultivate a positive mindset, you need to look for positives when a situation seems bleak.
6. Keep a healthy sleep and exercise routine
A radically positive mindset is not just a combination of thought patterns, but also a sense of physical wellbeing. And this wellbeing is a direct result of your habits.
A healthy sleep cycle and a proper workout routine have an immense impact on your positivity.
We all know the feeling. We wake up after a sleepless night and suddenly complain about everything. Breakfast doesn’t taste good and our beloved dog is suddenly an inconvenience.
As such, the quality of your sleep can have a major impact on your positivity.
The same applies to physical exercise.
No matter if you’re a gym fanatic or a yoga enthusiast, working out regularly adds a positive background feeling to your days.
You feel like you’re taking care of your body, and that sensation certainly adds to your positive attitude toward life.
7. Don’t see the world in black and white
Finally, one of the most powerful ways to adopt a positive attitude is to stop seeing the world in black in white.
The Chinese symbol of Yin and Yang is a great illustration in this regard.
There are various meanings, but in Taoism, the dark swirl (symbolizing dark forces) has a small white dot inside it and vice versa. Consequently, nothing is 100 % good or bad.
Today’s world is extremely polarized. The “us vs them” message is everywhere and people insult each other at every turn.
In short, many people see the world in black and white. Many people have fixed definitions of “good” and “bad.”
I don’t agree with this social movement. They are bad people.
I love this social movement. They are great. Everybody who opposes them is XYZ.
The only result of such a dichotomous world view is negativity.
If only one part of your world is positive, the other part will inevitably be negative.
Going back to finding positive elements amid negativity, it is essential to assess political, economic, and social topics in a thorough manner.
A deeper analysis will help you develop differentiated views, and your feelings toward a certain topic will be less polarized.
In a nutshell, you’ll reject “us vs them” biases. And this rejection will ultimately let your positive mindset flourish.
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