Have a Happier Day With Four Easy and Actionable Tricks
Simple steps toward a more positive life.
There’s a lot of pressure put on people these days just to get through the day.
It can be exhausting.
But why let it?
There’s no reason why you have to accept having a bad day after a bad day. It’s totally within your power to flip that.
It’s surprisingly easy.
Perceive Positivity
Life is a mixed bag of ups and downs. Too often, we focus on the negative, which then, in turn, attracts more negativity. It turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy of doom.
That’s no way to live.
If you can find the positive in the things happening in your life today and focus on those, you’re already at an advantage.
Are you fretting about your job? Or being behind on some bills? Worried about the future?
Think about the good things instead. It might be being in a relationship, or weekend plans with friends, or a good book you’re reading. Little things can mean a lot.
I’m not saying to ignore bad things entirely. Late bills, for instance, need to be dealt with. But if you’re spending all your time worrying about the bad, you aren’t giving yourself enough time for the good.
Cut Out Toxic People
Maybe you’ve got a racist aunt or gossiping neighbor. Perhaps a coworker is constantly blaming others for their misfortunes. They don’t have a nice thing to say about anyone.
They believe that lifting themselves up means dragging others down.
Why do we put up with them?
Cutting ties with toxic people can be tricky. We’ve been told we need to get along with others all our lives — even when we disagree with them.
At some point, you have to say enough is enough. A toxic person not only affects you negatively but also those around you. You’re doing everyone a favor by cutting ties with a toxic person.
Unfriend that gossipy neighbor on Facebook. Stop inviting Aunt Racist to dinner. You might get a little blowback from some people, but when all is said and done, ridding yourself of that negativity will boost your positivity.
Don’t Obsess Over the News
This one has often been my Achilles heel, but I’ve been getting better at it.
I tend to follow a lot of political news. Maybe I liked being enraged? I don’t know. But it was killing me — perhaps not literally, but it was taking an emotional toll.
I had to put a halt to all of that noise.
Once I eased up on obsessively following the news, I began to feel a lot less anxious. I play a lot of music and podcasts instead.
I listen to about fifteen minutes a day now. That’s enough to get a general idea of what’s happening in the world. If something really important has happened, someone will let me know.
Try it. You’ll feel better.
Good Exists In Everything
You can find something good in everything if you try.
This may seem like a challenge at times. How does someone with a grave illness or catastrophic debt find something positive?
Take a wild shot and ask the ridiculous-seeming question, “What is good about this?”
Does a severe illness lead to an opportunity to fix a long-time health issue? Could something like a serious illness bring a family closer together?
Could having a large amount of debt inspire your search for a better-paying job? Could those debts encourage you to cut out wasteful expenditures?
It might seem a stretch, but if you can grab a hold on to something positive about a serious challenge, you push back against the darkness and come out better for it.
Life Is Great — If You So Will It
Nurturing positivity doesn’t have to be a large undertaking. It can sometimes start with something as simple as a smile.
Hokey-sounding, I know, but it’s worked for me. It might work for you.
Give it a shot, and see what great days come next.
Thank you for reading. I’d love to share more with you via my Bi-Weekly Word Roundup newsletter sent to subscribers every other Sunday. It will feature news, productivity tips, life hacks, and links to top stories making the rounds on the Internet. You can unsubscribe at any time.