15 Practical Tips to Develop a Positive Attitude

The power of positivity is a remarkable thing. It can be an uplifting and joyful experience in your life that can bring about revolutionary change. Thinking positive is proven to be beneficial to both your mental health and emotional health.

Why Should One Develop a Positive Attitude?

Before covering how to have a positive attitude, it is crucial to understand why it is important. Developing a positive attitude is crucial because it can change the way you experience life and what comes with it. It is a known fact that positivity can help keep depression at bay. Positivity can also improve your mental strength and by doing so help you effectively manage difficult situations in your life.

The benefits of being positive don’t end there. Positivity is an uplifting experience that is infectious. This means your positivity can branch out externally and impact others; it can help others become lighter and happier.

Positivity in the workplace can make challenging tasks easier, improve relationships with your colleagues, superiors, and clients. This can help you advance in your career. Positivity in your personal life can help improve relationships with your family members, friends and partners; this can strengthen your support systems and make life happier and more enjoyable.

The power of positivity doesn’t just make it easier for you to interact with others, it makes you more approachable and makes it easier for them to interact with you.

How to Develop a Positive Attitude?

Now that we know why a positive attitude can help you in your life, here is how to improve your positive attitude in some practical ways.

1. Embrace Negativity With Solutions

Being positive doesn’t mean ignoring negative emotions or feelings. Accept negative feelings such as anger and sadness, and give them productive attention. This means, approach the negativity as a problem and see if you can find solutions for them.

2. Let It Go

Sometimes, problems do not have solutions and feelings cannot be resolved practically. This is when you need to accept that this is how you feel or that this problem has no solution, and learn to let it go and move forward to things you can solve.

3. Do the Little Things

Positivity is not something you can bring into your life overnight. Learn to consistently do the little things in life that nurture positivity. These include self-affirmations where you tell yourself what you appreciate in yourself and those around you.

4. Art

Art is, in its purest form, an expression of emotion and that can be beautiful. Positivity stems from appreciation and creativity; take up an artistic activity you do daily. Remember that this activity shouldn’t be used in comparison with others – this is your space to express your mind.

5. Exercise Regularly

It is a well-known fact that those who exercise for at least 45 minutes per day are generally happier. This is because exercise has a huge effect on the balance of your brain chemicals. Exercising regularly also improves your energy levels which keeps negativity that stems from fatigue away.

6. ‘Me’ Time

A very important distinction to make is that being social doesn’t mean you are positive; taking time for yourself is crucial to developing a positive attitude. During ‘me’ time, you should do the things you genuinely enjoy doing the most. This is the time where you indulge yourself.

7. Learn Something New

Psychologists say that learning something new shifts your brain chemistry. Being positive needs a healthy mind, and learning something new is essential to that. Constantly challenge yourself to do something new that is out of your comfort zone.

8. Try, Don’t Give Up

Positivity stems from productivity too. So, before you think something is too difficult or something is out of your reach, give it a shot. Don’t assume you cannot do something by its appearance alone. Remember that trying also boosts your confidence and self-esteem. Positivity takes effort.

9. Learn From and Let Go of the Past

Most negative thoughts come from experience. It is extremely common to cling onto your past failures and use them as excuses to give up. Change your approach, write down the experiences, find solutions to the failure, then let go of the actual failure. Keep only the lessons learnt.

10. Appreciate People

The people around you make you who you are. Learn to verbally appreciate them regularly, appreciation shown regularly to those around you will let them know you see them and their contribution to your life. Vocalize it; let them hear the positives. Keeping it to yourself isn’t going to help them recognize that you value them. Make notes of their contributions and regularly let them know that these things helped you or you valued these things. This also gives you the opportunity to do some self-reflection and see the support you receive regularly which boosts your mood as well.

11. A Healthy Sex Life

Studies have proven that regular and consensual sex makes you happier. Sex releases dopamine, a chemical that is directly related to happiness. What’s important is to not have frequent sex but regular sex. The difference is very important – regular sex that takes time can be a form of expressing your attraction to someone else and visa versa. Regular and consensual sex can boost self-esteem, build confidence and help you express your attraction to your partner. It also releases the stress built into your mind and body which is one of the biggest causes for negativity.

12. Sharing

An extremely important part of positivity is that it is inclusive, not exclusive. This inclusivity can be expressed through sharing. In the workplace, share credit. At home, share your time and your possessions. Share your experiences, your thoughts and feelings. Sharing fosters human connections in positive ways. Be careful however, as oversharing can become negative.

13. Take Initiative

Nothing good comes from being passive and letting things pass you by. Take the initiative to follow your interests and passions. Take the initiative to do things that you know you can or think you can. Take control of your actions. At work, if there is a project where you can contribute more, take the initiative to do so. If you want to learn a skill, find a way to do it. By taking the initiative, you are reinforcing your belief in your capabilities which will nurture a positive attitude.

14. Incorporate Healthy Activities

Your habits play a big part in how your attitude is presented, incorporating good healthy habits will help bring out your positive attitude. Try meditation, yoga and tai chi. Read a book every week. Sleep for a minimum of 8 hours every day. Eat healthy and on time. All these are small routine activities that bring about an attitude change for the positive.

15. Make Time for Recreational Activities

Working non-stop to build wealth doesn’t help nurture positivity and can actually be counterproductive. Make time for recreational activities to give your mind a chance to recuperate from the exhaustion of work. Listen to music, go to a show, play a sport or visit an art gallery. There are plenty of recreational activities you can do for free like going on a picnic, a hike or a walk in the park. Make time every day to do something recreational.

When developing a positive attitude, there are a few things that you should avoid doing. These things can negatively impact your life; here are a few of them.

• Limit the amount of time you spend in front of the TV.
• Get outdoors for at least an hour every day.
• Don’t dwell on negative thoughts; write them down and try resolving them.
• Don’t make excuses for your failures or blame them on anyone else.
• Share the credit but accept responsibility for the setbacks.

Developing a positive attitude is a process, don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away. Consistency and patience are very important when bringing positivity into your life. A great and effective way to nurture this positivity is by gauging if you can do something small within thirty minutes. A good rule of thumb is, if you can do it in half an hour, do it immediately.

It is important to remember that sometimes, negativity is not a choice; conditions like depression and anxiety can cause it. Consult a psychologist if you feel you may have any issues with emotional imbalance.

Also Read:

Laws of Karma and Its Impact on Life
How Spirituality Enhances Your Health
Tips to Achieve Spiritual Enlightenment to Transform Your Life