There is so much doom and gloom in our everyday lives that it easy to fall in a rut of negativity. It doesn’t have to be this way! We can change before it is too late.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” If you choose to be happy and positive and kind and thankful, than only good things can happen to you — especially if you only see the good!
Kindness is Contagious, and that’s a Good Thing!
The power of a single act of kindness could change someone’s entire day for the better…or it could change their entire future.
Why does being nice benefit us?
— When you are nice to others it lowers your stress levels.
— When you are nice to yourself as well it can help reduce your own anxiety.
— When you are kind to someone, they will likely be kind back to you and can boost your mood immediately.
— The more you give, the more you will get back.
Gratitude — Train your Brain to be More Optimistic
Practicing thankfulness regularly will increase both happiness and life satisfaction. With a bit of effort and desire, you can ‘rewrite your brain for positivity’. There are lots of ways to practice gratitude.
Changing the way you think, feel, and behave is not going to change overnight though. But, it only takes a few minutes each day to start practicing this new habit.
Make a conscious decision to show appreciation for something you have or that has happened to you. Return a kindness that has been given you. You can do this by paying it forward, meaning giving your kindness to the next person you see, no necessarily the same person who gave you the kindness.
Positive Thinking — Happier, Healthier, More Successful
Psychologist and CEO of Good Think Inc., Sean Achor argues that happiness inspires us to be more productive. Through his extensive research he demonstrated that if you perform random acts of kindness for two minutes a day for twenty-one days, you can truly retrain your brain to be more positive. Studies such as his show that when your brain is more positive you are more likely to be productive and innovative.
What can you do if you’re not an inherently positive person? Here are some suggestions to help you start looking on the bright side more often:
— Smile more
A University of Kansas study found that smiling — even fake smiling — reduces heart rate and blood pressure during stressful situations. So, try a few minutes of YouTube humor therapy when you’re waiting in line or furious over a Facebook post. It’s difficult not to smile while watching a funny video.
— Work on your ability to adapt to stressful situations.
Experts recommend:
o Accept that change is a part of life
o Maintain good relationships with friends and family
o Take actions on problems instead of complaining or waiting for them to resolve themselves
— Practice reframing
You can look at any situation from multiple perspectives. Instead of stressing about a traffic jam, for instance, appreciate the fact that you can enjoy a few extra minutes of your favorite music of the news. You can always reframe your situation from another, more positive perspective.
Focus of thinking positively on a regular basis and you will be happier and healthier now. Positively thinking in your current situations, keeping an optimistic outlook when problems arise, will help you to be more successful.
20-day Positivity Challenge
I leave you with a call to action. I know you want to be healthier, happier, and more successful. I have a challenge for you to try out. Think of this as trial run.
Try doing each of these for 20 days. At the end of the challenge reflect on how your attitude and outlook may have changed. If you can, keep up with some or all the below activities.
1) Every day before you go to work, say at least one kind thing to each member of your family / household.
2) Every day, perform 3 random acts of kindness for complete strangers.
3) Every workday, send an email to team member praising or thanking them for something they have done for you. Describe how they assisted you or your work.
4) Every day, share with a friend or partner 3 good things that happened to you.
5) Journal about a positive experience you had each day (take time to relive that experience).
6) Write down one thing each day that you are grateful for.
7) When (If) you begin to get stressed out, think to yourself, “Keep calm, everything will work out…” (or some other positive internal voice).
8) Find at least one positive (outlook) in every situation you are in (especially those you get most frustrated or upset).
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