Here’s a checklist for keeping a positive attitude; because somedays you just aren’t all mental sunshine and easy attitude right out of the gate. The thing is, it’s completely normal for your moods to fluctuate. Hello Human!!! Remember, our overall aim isn’t to be super ‘happy’ all the time. If we reject parts of ourselves, we aren’t really being positive in a holistic way. So instead of opting for toxic positivity, recognize what’s going on with you with love and acceptance, and then consciously decide where to go from there. Regardless of the situation, we serve ourselves best when we remember that our temperament in any given moment is both temporary and totally pliable. This is especially important when being stuck in a mood is veering your life off track. A positive attitude doesn’t always happen on its own, and that’s okay. Besides, we know just how to help you soak up a little perspective and turn things around.
A positive attitude is the result of your beliefs, expectations, habits, and focus.
A positive mental attitude can have a positive impact on your relationships, creativity, career, and overall enjoyment. Vis-a-vis, you’re more capable when you feel good and have high expectations. In yoga, we might refer to this in terms of ‘raising your vibration.” Without bypassing, you can examine and address any underlying sensations keeping you stuck in a rut while taking action to lean back into an optimistic point of view. So, here we go:
Use a Checklist:
Checklists can help you maintain your positive attitude by prompting you to scan and explore where you are so that you can start migrating to where you want to go.
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_ Take a smile with you everywhere you go.
Smiles are free, feel good, and can lift your mood. Physical postures & movements reinforce the more subtle energies of thoughts and emotions. Science has shown that your physiology and body can not only support your emotions, but can change them as well. Yet another reason why taking your ‘tude to the mat is often enough to tip things back into your preferred direction. So smile, stand up straight and steer your outlook somewhere fabulous.
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_ Create a morning routine that focuses on happiness.
You have a morning routine to get yourself cleaned up and out the door on time. Build a routine that boosts your attitude too. Consider the things that fill you with feelings of positivity.
Take a walk.
Read something inspiring.
Eat a healthy breakfast.
Listen to inspiring music.
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_ Ask yourself optimistic questions.
Questions change your focus. Ask positive questions and you’ll receive positive answers. Set aside any criticism and judgment to get curious with yourself in ways that help you grow.
What’s great about this situation?
How can I use this to my advantage?
Whom do I love?
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_ Spend time with others that have a positive attitude.
It’s challenging to maintain a better attitude than the people you spend time with. Seek out others with a positive attitude and spend as much time with them as you can.
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_ Create a gratitude list.
It’s easy to focus on what you don’t have in life. Change your focus and remind yourself of all the great things you already have. Each morning and evening, rattle off a list of the people, things, and experiences that make you feel grateful. When we trade a mindset of lack in for one of abundance, we really begin to thrive. Gratitude is the key.
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_ Think happy thoughts.
Left to its own devices, your mind will run wild. Grounding down is the best way to keep your mind in touch with it’s mind-body-spirit counterparts. Again, you’re bound to think negative thoughts some of the time, but you can control which patterns you automatically latch on to. Feed your mind more of what you want to bring into your life.
- _ Make exciting plans. It’s easier to be happy with a few exciting things planned for the near future. Gift yourself something to look forward to! Planning a trip to Paris would be nice, but simple things work well, too. A planned trip to the movies or the spa with a friend can make the entire week more enjoyable. Mindfully cultivate and set up things that you can look forward to each week, month, or year.
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_ Remember happy memories.
When you’re feeling down, remember some of the good times you’ve had. Spend a few minutes remembering your favorite holiday or the first time you road a bike, finished a project, or did something that made you feel victorious or otherwise all warm and fuzzy inside. Five minutes of remembering positive experiences can get your attitude back on track. What is your happiest memory from childhood? What about the last five years?
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_ Enjoy the simple things.
Many of the simple things are the most meaningful. Playing with your child or enjoying an ice cream cone in a park can be as enjoyable as making a million dollars or scuba diving in Hawaii. Enjoy the simple things you do each day. Cuppa tea anyone?
- _ Change your expectations. Part of unhappiness comes from either comparisons or unreasonable expectations. Life isn’t supposed to be easy. Sure, you’ll have many easy days. But you can decide to find happiness in the challenging days, too. What you consider to be a “good” day or a “bad” day is influenced by your expectations. Don’t worry so much about labeling each day and focus on living it to the fullest instead.
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_ Do something nice, anonymously.
It’s thrilling to do something nice for someone without their knowledge. You kinda feel like a superhero. Mow your neighbor’s grass or send someone flowers. Give a gift card to the elderly couple down the street. Pay a few dollars towards the customer’s total that’s behind you in line. Doing things like this are a powerful reminder that we have more power for spreading the good than we can often imagine.
Embrace Life As It Is
All healing begins within. We can’t always change the aspects of the world, but we can always evolve the attitude of our own experience. Sink into your life with an outlook that keeps you feeling & seeing the good. Go over this checklist each day, or whenever you need a little pick me up and check off the items you accomplished. Even that small step provides a pivital boost. Box 1 = CHECK! Soon, these activities will become a habit – and so will your positive attitude!
Namaste.
~Meg