Think Positively

If there’s one thing that’s universal, it’s that every single person in the world is beset by some problem or the other. Just when you think that your issues are unbearable and you can take it no more, you hear stories from other people that are even more heartrending. The thing with problems is that they are always around; if one disappears or is resolved, another is waiting in the wings to take its place. The only way to deal with them is to think positively – there’s nothing that beats the power of positive thinking. But because we’re human and so prone to all faults that are innately human, we have trouble staying free of stress and thinking positively no matter what. It takes conscious effort, but it’s possible to stay positive if you:

1. Count your blessings at the end of every day – don’t focus on the problems you’ve faced that day; rather, think of all the good things that happened and the happiness they gave you.

2. Think of others rather than yourself – when you do things, even the smallest favors, for other people who mean something to you, you feel good about yourself.

3. Be proactive rather than reactive – instead of fretting over a problem and letting it stress you out, focus on how to resolve quickly and effectively. When your mind is busy trying to find a solution, you stop feeling sorry for yourself and start thinking positively.

4. Don’t allow your mind to remain idle – it may be clichéd, but it’s also true that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. So stay busy and keep doing something or the other to prevent negative thoughts from creeping in.

5. Get an hour of exercise every day – even a brisk walk in the morning or evening will do your mental health a world of good.

6. Allow yourself some “me” time – set aside some time every day or every few days for yourself when you get to choose what you want to do; read a book, listen to music, catch up with friends, or just laze around. When your soul is nourished, you find that positive energy flows.

7. Stop negative thoughts before they form completely – if you find yourself becoming depressed because your mind is taking a negative bent, stop those thoughts in their tracks and start consciously thinking of positive things.

8. Spend time with people who love you and make you feel good about yourself – quality relationships make life worth living.

9. Anytime you feel that the weight of your burden is hard to bear, talk to a friend or someone with a sympathetic ear – even if they cannot do anything to help you out, just the fact that you have someone on your side is uplifting enough.

10. And finally, look around you before you start to feel sorry for yourself – there are people in situations that are a hundred times worse than yours, yet they manage to get through each day.

So tell yourself that you have a good life, count your blessings, and learn to stay positive no matter what.