Life gets the better of us from time to time. In the fast-moving, dynamic world that we live in today, it is easy to get lost in all the chaos and negative media. It is therefore important to work at changing perspective and strive to adopt a positive mindset. We need positivity to deal with life’s changes, and to move forward in life. Below are a couple of tips you can start implementing today:
- Remember most challenges are not permanent: Negative events and experiences are often temporary. It is important to remember this and to actively work towards ensuring that they are temporary by taking the necessary steps to sort the problem out. If you do not see a way out engage with friends or reach out to professionals for help.
- Avoid negativity: Our cognitive biases make us fixate on the negative, rather than the positive (the negativity bias). Acknowledge that we are all prone to this bias, acknowledge negative thoughts but work towards emphasizing the positive. At the end of each day reflect on what you can be grateful for, be kind to yourself (self-compassion), remove the emotions and focus solely on the facts, ask yourself “what went well” and practice positive affirmation” I am strong, I am confident”.
- Look for the upside: We might get confronted with what we perceive as negative events, change in our workplace or at home. Look objectively at what this change entails and define the potential benefits. Is this an opportunity to lean, grow, make new friends and have new experiences.
- Find the humor in situations: By finding the humour, even if it is gallows’ humour it helps us develop a different perspective.
- Look at the bigger picture: If we continue to seek out the bigger picture, our perspective on life becomes clearer. This point goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip, try to find the positives in a difficult situation and see the reason for why it is happening.
- Practice gratitude: Being grateful for what you have will make you feel more satisfied with where you are in life. Do not view it as you must go to work today but view it as I get to go to work today.
FPD Staff writer