Research has found that a negative outlook can contribute to everything from depression, increased body pain, heart disease and lowered immune system function. It can affect sleep, weight maintenance, the quality of your relationships, your social life, and even your ability to hold a job.
Finding the positives in everyday life can be a challenge but if you exercise the process of being positive like you would your muscles, it can start to become a more natural instinct. Here are some suggestions:
- Go complaint-free. Try going an hour without complaining and see the positive things in your life. Next, try a day, a week, and so on.
- Keep a gratitude journal. Each evening, list 10 or more things that you are grateful for.
- Give compliments freely. Notice the good in others. Praise every person you interact with.
- Find beauty everywhere in your world. Notice its gorgeousness.
- Share your good news. Studies show that sharing happy events brings even more happiness.
- Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.
- Find the positives in your body. We are often consumed with where things hurt or are painful but try to focus on areas that are not in pain.
- Compliment and thank your body for working so hard to keep you healthy. This is especially helpful when you are recovering from illness, an injury or after surgery.
