I Embrace a Slow Approach to Positivity, and It works

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g.</p><p id="f3c6">If you feel negative, the answer is not to suddenly try to turn into a ray of sunshine. After all, going from one end of the line to another in one big whoosh isn’t easy. Instead, take small steps in the right direction by re-framing events to see their lighter side.</p><h1 id="3902">How to reframe events</h1><p id="19f5">When you reframe, you surround events with a new context that changes your emotional and mental perspective. Consequently, those incidents that used to cause anguish take on a new meaning. They stop being negative memories that bring you pain and turn into something positive.</p><p id="6583">You recognize the past situation helped you grow or thrive in some way. Or, you see how it helped you strengthen your resolve or turn in another, more promising direction.</p><p id="2fff">Examine painful memories and look for ways they assisted you. Maybe they taught you a helpful lesson, stopped you from continuing on a difficult path, or inspired you to change for the better. When you’re miserable, you can also remind yourself all circumstances alter naturally over time, and things won’t be as they are forever.</p><p id="0639">Those times you can’t help imagining you’re down on your luck, consider ways life treats you well too. Count your blessings,

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and your mindset will improve.</p><p id="a24e">When you reframe and use positivity, your mood shifts. Change might be gradual, but it happens all the same.</p><p id="8da0">Remind yourself, as well, that it’s okay to experience the whole gamut of emotions — even negativity. We aren’t built to feel terrific all the time. Occasionally, we must experience setbacks and gloom, so we recognize when the good stuff happens.</p><div id="f085" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/stop-waiting-for-someone-to-make-you-feel-special-f1a9247bfb75"> <div> <div> <h2>Stop Waiting for Someone to Make You Feel Special</h2> <div><h3>undefined</h3></div> <div><p>undefined</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*GsvvN1Z6IuPBcbAhy5DG4A.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="9769">Don’t want to miss new stories? <a href="https://bridgetwebber.medium.com/membership">Click here</a> to join Medium. Your membership fee directly supports Bridget Webber and other writers you read. You’ll also get full access to every story on Medium.</p></article></body>

You can’t change your mood in one big swoop, so why not take the snail’s road to happiness?

We hear so much about positivity in the media. Articles, TV programs, and books tell us we must be positive if we want to be happy, and they are right. But, sometimes, it’s hard to shift from one mind state to another because you’re experiencing an extreme.

Imagine, for a moment, that positivity is at one end of a line and extreme negativity at the other. If you’re at the opposing end and someone tells you to “smile” or “perk up,” you’ll probably feel irritated by the sunny individual.

It isn’t easy to relate to the opposite end of the spectrum. Positive people can’t always understand why negative folks don’t cheer up. And negative folks find positive ones unrealistic, if not downright annoying.

If you feel negative, the answer is not to suddenly try to turn into a ray of sunshine. After all, going from one end of the line to another in one big whoosh isn’t easy. Instead, take small steps in the right direction by re-framing events to see their lighter side.

How to reframe events

When you reframe, you surround events with a new context that changes your emotional and mental perspective. Consequently, those incidents that used to cause anguish take on a new meaning. They stop being negative memories that bring you pain and turn into something positive.

You recognize the past situation helped you grow or thrive in some way. Or, you see how it helped you strengthen your resolve or turn in another, more promising direction.

Examine painful memories and look for ways they assisted you. Maybe they taught you a helpful lesson, stopped you from continuing on a difficult path, or inspired you to change for the better. When you’re miserable, you can also remind yourself all circumstances alter naturally over time, and things won’t be as they are forever.

Those times you can’t help imagining you’re down on your luck, consider ways life treats you well too. Count your blessings, and your mindset will improve.

When you reframe and use positivity, your mood shifts. Change might be gradual, but it happens all the same.

Remind yourself, as well, that it’s okay to experience the whole gamut of emotions — even negativity. We aren’t built to feel terrific all the time. Occasionally, we must experience setbacks and gloom, so we recognize when the good stuff happens.

Don’t want to miss new stories? Click here to join Medium. Your membership fee directly supports Bridget Webber and other writers you read. You’ll also get full access to every story on Medium.