Stay Positive and Excited, Even When It Seems Hard

“Don’t think too much. You’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place.” - Unknown

Over the years I have shared with you my belief (and the science behind) the fact that positivity is better for us than negativity. Seems basic and obvious, but despite that fact we all struggle to stay positive, motivated and excited. 

The isolation and loneliness of the pandemic didn’t help matters, so wherever you are in your positivity journey, here are some tips based on my process, on how I keep positive even though it’s not always the easiest thing to do:

1. Use Affirmations. Affirmations are specific and positive statements that help you overcome your silly mind when it wanders into negative and self-sabotaging thoughts. I know it may not feel authentic right away if you are not used to it, but over time it can make a difference and help improve your mindset.
2. Get familiar with yourself. Know your triggers. Know what shuts you down. Know what impacts you emotionally. Know who impacts you negatively. Most importantly, know how to manage yourself when all these things happen.
3. Find your song. Music is a powerful thing. Identify a song that makes you happy and makes you want to dance every time you hear it. Mine is getting dated, but I still love "Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars. I love this video so much, if you challenge me, I will show you I can do all the dance moves.
4. Focus on your strengths. When something gets to me and brings me down it is usually something that makes me doubt myself. When this happens, I stop, remind myself of my strengths and remember what I feel like when I’m fully using them.
5. Move around. Simply get up and go somewhere else. Sometimes I just take a walk around the block, or even head outside for a bit of fresh air. Changing my geography helps me just step away from a challenging situation and enables me to see a different perspective.
6. Celebrate the small wins too. Don’t wait until you’ve reached a big goal or milestone. Understand along the way that you are doing incredible work right now and stop to acknowledge it. Being an entrepreneur, this is hard at times, but I have begun to reward myself for these small achievements that encourage me to keep up my good work. Big wins are the collection of all the small ones that happen every day. 
7. Phone a friend. When I start to feel negative, I call my friend and positivity partner. Find someone you can reach out to without warning and ask, “Tell me three things you love about me.” Then, be available to do the same for them. There is nothing better than to hear someone say something wonderful about you that perhaps you forgot.
8. Keep going and keep trying. Being positive may not come easy or even happen overnight. And I know it can seem easier to give up when things weigh us down. But I challenge you to believe in yourself and keep working at it. I know you’ll thank yourself in the end. 

“When life shuts a door…open it again. It’s a door. That’s how they work.” -Unknown