Being positive is viewed as some kind of new age theory that is little more than fluff. In all honesty being positive gets a bad rap.
It’s this kind of thinking that leads me to believe that somewhere along the line, we have lost the essence of life and living. The ability to generate your own sunshine and live to the pinnacle of your being takes effort and it takes renewed love and commitment every single day of your life.
In order to fill your life with the juice and the passion that it needs to flow, you will need to begin making more positive choices and the truth is, it begins with you! Every thought, every action, every decision is something that you can deliberately and mindfully choose. Just as much as deciding what you wear in the morning.
YOU ARE GREAT!Do you hear me?
But guess what? My telling you this is not going to suffice. You have to be lit from within! Your fire, your passion and your drive has to be an intrinsic force that drives your life forward. If you need the spark for your self-esteem, let me act as your bridge and help you pave the way. I am lighting the match and it will become the conflagration that you will need in order to take you from where you are to where you need to be.
1. Take a deep breath
Have you been holding your breath all your life? If you feel stuck in a sense of suspended animation and you are in a state of reactivity to everything that goes on in your life, it could be time to take a breath. Become conscious of what you are doing. Your calm will be the source from which everything in your life emanates. You may have to do some breathing exercises to get yourself into the habit of mindfulness.
2. Walk over and talk to someone
We live in an era of connected-disconnection. After staring at your screen for over the last few hours, is your mouth not dry from disuse? If you started researching the power of positive thinking on YouTube and eventually ended up watching a video about ‘how to become a unicorn?’ then you know it’s about time you get up and connect with somebody face to face.
3. Break out of your routine
When was the last time that you did something new? For that matter when was the last time that you reinvented yourself in the current things that you do? Have you been drinking the same brand of coffee for the last five years? Work, gym, home and sleep? What about the salsa dancing pamphlet that’s sitting at the bottom of your handbag that has been whispering your name? Break out of your routine and try something new. If you’ve always wanted to go skydiving or study a course in journalism, now is a good time to get started.
4. Step out of your comfort zone
You... yes... you! You deserve to see the silver linings, the sunshine and feel the fun. You need to let new things in. Get a breath of fresh air and breathe new life into your life. When you play outside your comfort zone, you allow new people and new experiences in. You will be able to challenge yourself and get new information. There are many ways to do this. Meet new people, acquire new skills, and go with your wildest and most creative idea.
5. Get some rest
If you are in a tailspin of negativity and you feel as if you are only going to head downhill from there, it sometimes helps to just pull out the plug dramatically and take a step back. This can take the form of a nap, falling off to sleep, going on a short weekend getaway if possible. The rest and rejuvenation will help get your mind back on track.
6. Eat healthily and exercise
Your mum probably told you this a million times before and yes, there is truth to this. Getting back to a state of health and balance is the ultimate reset button. When last did your taste buds encounter a vegetable? For that matter, when last did you feel the healthy afterglow of having moved your muscles? You can also reset your mental state by feeding your mind with positive quotes and positive affirmations.
7. Get quiet
With all of the distraction and physical noise that we have to deal with, it is sometimes tough to be in touch with who we are at the core. Having to articulate ourselves, defend our decisions and jockey for position in the outside world can be exhausting. Take the time for some deliberate quiet time in whatever shape or form suits you best. Drink that exotic blend of tea, listen to that piece of music with your eyes closed... do whatever it takes.
8. Cut the ‘I’ specialists out of your life
Life is all about a little bit of ‘give and take’. If your communication with friends and colleagues feels a little one-sided, it might be time to cut ties with those self-obsessed energy vampires. Admittedly it takes a critical eye to step back and evaluate the relationships in your life, but every so often it has to be done.
9. Take another route
Yes, you may argue that the route that you are on is the most efficient one to get to your destination. But is it the most interesting? If you change your route you have the chance to meet new people, see new things and change your perceptions. This might seem like such a simple practice, but it helps your mind with problem-solving, absorbing new information and you will challenge your brain to interpret new experiences. On a different level, you may need to take a different route in your life from a professional point of view, maybe enrol in a management course to find out new information or build an important skill.
10. Listen to your inner voice
We all have that thing. That little voice that resides at the heart level. Our inner voice has a way of guiding us and steering us when we least expect it. Call it intuition, an inner voice or spirit, it helps by giving you the gut feeling about a situation, a person or a thing. Never ignore how you feel at the core about a situation. It may not be the only platform from which you make life decisions, but it is an amazing resource to have at your disposal.
Do you need a mental boost to build a stronger, better you?
The journey towards a more positive and fulfilled life is one that fuels us all with more purpose. The secret to our daily success lies in the decisions we make and examining the motives behind each one. May these 10 positive choices add richness and value to your life and set you on a path of discovery.
