A positive mindset involves recognizing and cultivating your strengths and resources. It also involves being more aware of the world around you.
Negativity is part of life, but if it becomes your default state of mind, it can negatively impact you and those around you. Changing your mindset takes time, but it is something that you can develop over time.
Focus on the positive
A positive mindset and attitude can help you see the world in a more hopeful light. It can also help you better deal with life’s struggles and challenges.
Research has shown that people with a positive outlook on life tend to be happier, healthier, more connected, and more satisfied with their lives. They also perform better at work and are more likely to be successful. Psychologist Sonya Lyubomirsky calls a positive mindset “psychological capital,” which includes hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism.
The power of positivity is something anyone can cultivate. However, excessive positivity can be toxic if it ignores or denies negative emotions such as sadness or frustration. This is often referred to as “toxic positivity.” It’s important to find a balance between positive thinking and negative emotions. You can create this balance by incorporating techniques such as gratitude, mindfulness, and integrity into your everyday routine.
Focus on your strengths
Positive thinking and building upon your strengths are the foundation of a positive mindset. If you struggle to think positively, start small by identifying areas where you have negative thoughts or attitudes. Whether it’s work, your daily commute, or relationships, try to shift the focus of these negative thoughts and behaviors towards a more positive perspective.
Consider focusing on your signature strengths, which are unique talents and attributes that you use to accomplish goals and overcome challenges. These can be personal characteristics, like empathy or creativity, or skills, such as writing or public speaking. Think back on past successes and how you used your signature strengths to achieve them.
Help students understand that they can become good at things over time through hard work and persistence, a concept known as the growth mindset. For example, encourage them to look for constructive criticism of their work and see it as an opportunity to improve.
Focus on the future
Positive thinking is a popular concept that can sometimes feel cliche. However, the benefits of a positive mindset have been proven by multiple scientific studies. A positive outlook can improve your mood, increase your confidence, and reduce your stress levels. It can also have a direct impact on your physical health, improving things like your heart health and sleep quality.
Having a positive mindset means being able to look beyond a difficult situation and see a silver lining. It’s important to acknowledge and process negative information, but it’s also important to remind yourself that you will get through the hard times.
A future-focused mindset can also help you to be more proactive in your work. It can help you to avoid being caught by surprise by a disruptive technology or competitor and allows you to plan for the long term. This kind of mindset can also help build strong networks, as research has shown that people who spend time with positive and trustworthy individuals are more likely to be happy in their lives.
Focus on your goals
It’s easy to lose focus on your goals when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed. But when you take the time to refocus, you can make progress towards the life of your dreams.
This is the principle of “silver lining” that Gandhi referred to, which states that a positive mindset can turn any challenging situation into one you can manage and even benefit from. People with a positive attitude and outlook on life are happier, healthier, more connected, more productive, and wealthier than those who do not.
Shifting your mindset can feel challenging, but the more you practice these strategies, the easier it will be. Remember, the most important thing is to keep working toward your goals and celebrate the small victories along the way. You will reach your destination sooner than you think! -Danielle DeGroot, Ph.D., CSP, MAPP, CPCC, CHSP, is the founder of womenBusiness.
Focus on the people around you
Positive thinking is not about burying your head in the sand or turning away from life’s challenges. It’s about viewing life in a more optimistic light and using proven techniques to become happier and healthier.
It’s also about surrounding yourself with positive people. Negative people drain your energy and can lead to rumination, stress, and anxiety. Research has shown that spending time with positive people can make you happier.
Try writing about the people in your life who bring you joy or reasons to be grateful. This is a powerful way to create a positive mindset.
Creating a positive mindset may seem difficult, but it’s doable with small, consistent actions. Try starting with one of the strategies above and then adding more over time. The more you practice, the easier it will be to think positively. Positive thinking can increase your self-esteem, improve your immune system, and help you cope with adversity (Seligman, 2006). It can even help you achieve more success at work.
Focus on the present
If you’re feeling anxious or down, smile and laugh as much as you can. It might feel forced at first, but even if it’s just for yourself, you will likely start to feel better immediately.
Many people find it difficult to focus on the present, especially when they are experiencing negative emotions. This is because the brain tends to dwell on thoughts about the past or exaggerated imagination of future events. This constant stream of negativity can cause people to feel down and out of touch with their own emotions.
Cultivating a positive mindset requires practice and patience, but the benefits are real. Positive thinking can improve your well-being and give you greater confidence, self-esteem, and stability (Barry & Folkard, 2014). Practicing mindfulness meditation can help train the mind to be more focused on the present. Start with just a few minutes per day and gradually build up to a longer duration.