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It’s a tough world out there;  once in awhile, we all need a
little reminder about the good things in life…
12 Ways to be More Positive
Read two easy to be more positive and then share these with
your partner. Together, you should know four ways.
1. You can choose to be optimistic. You’ve probably heard a
pessimist described as someone who sees a glass of water as
half empty while an optimist sees it as half full. The
pessimist focuses on the negative (the missing water), while
the optimist sees the positive (the water that’s there). Who
has a better outlook? Who’s likely to be happier; more
confident and sure?
2. You can choose to accept things as they are. This doesn’t
mean that you wilt and give up. It means that you don’t
struggle, whine, and bang your head against a brick wall
when things don’t go right—behaviours that make you a
helpless victim. (It’s what eats you that puts the pounds of
weight on your spirit.) Instead, you get on with your life.
You move forward.
“You accept things as they are, not as you
wish they were in this moment … The
past is history; the future is a mystery; and
this moment is a gift. That is why this
moment is called the present.”
3. You can choose to be resilient. Have you ever watched a
tree swaying in a storm? A tree that stands rigidly will
never win a battle against the wind. Trees that bend with
the wind are those that survive. Like a tree, you can bend
and sway as life batters and blasts you—then bounce back
again, supported by your strong, deep roots. When you’re
resilient, you can survive almost anything—being hurt,
frustrated, or let down; losing friends, making mistakes,
and much more. Remember the image of a tree in the storm.
You can learn a lot from nature.
Developing positive attitudes doesn’t mean that you’ll never
experience pain, suffering, or disappointment. You will.1
But having good attitudes will help you to turn your
problems into teachers so you can learn from them and grow.
Developing positive attitudes doesn’t mean you should ignore
problems. If someone steals your bike, you won’t say “So
what?” Instead, you’ll contact the police and report your
stolen bike. You’ll do everything you can to get it back.
But if you can’t get it back, you’ll accept the fact that
it’s gone. And you won’t let that drag you down.
Flip a coin in the air. What do you get? Either heads or
tails. Problems always have a flip side, too. If you fail a
test, you can flip the coin and learn to study harder or
find a tutor. If you lose a friend, you can flip the coin,
repair the friendship, or find a new friend. If you don’t
like your looks, you can flip the coin and develop a
fantastic personality
4. You can choose to be cheerful. Have you spent time around
cheerful people? If you have, then you know that they
energize you. They’re like human battery chargers. You can
be one, too. Start by refusing to say gloomy things. Bite
your tongue. Count to 10. Pull up the corners of your mouth.
When you send out positive words, thoughts, and feelings,
positive people (and things) are attracted to you.
5. YOU can choose to be enthusiastic. Greet each new day
with excitement. Approach tasks and chores with zest.
Enthusiasm is catching! The more upbeat you are, the more
people around you will feel and act the same.
6. You can choose to be more alert. If you’re more alert to
potential problems, you can be better prepared for them and
even dodge some. Exam p le: A friend invites you to a party
at her house on Saturday. But you remember overhearing her
tell someone else that her parents are going out of town for
the weekend. Parties without parents can spell trouble. You
say “No, thanks!”
Of course, you can also be alert to positive experiences.
You hear an announcement about a team tryout or new club.
You write down the time and place and plan to go.
7. You can choose to have a sense of humour: When you do
something silly (everyone does), don’t miss the opportunity
to laugh at yourself. It’s one of life’s great joys. I’ve
done lots of loony things, and I’ve provided myself (and
others) with many happy hours of entertainment. Once I was
invited to give a talk to some senior citizens at a rest
home. Without checking the address carefully, I mistakenly
charged into the Board of Realtors and announced to their
startled faces that I was there to teach them a lesson on
honesty!
If you laugh a lot, you’ll be healthier. Laughter releases
good chemicals in your body that stimulate you and can help
you to grow.
8. You can choose to be a good sport. This attitude can win
you friends even if you don’t win the game or competition.
Being a good sport means losing gracefully—smiling, shaking
hands with the winner, not blaming other people or
circumstances for your loss. As 16-year-old Alissa Harman
explained, “I ran in the race even though I knew I wouldn’t
win.” Being a good sport also means not pounding your chest
Tarzan-style or gloating when you’re victorious. In other
words…
9. You can choose to be humble. People who toot their own
horns seldom attract an audience. If you’re genuinely
interested in others, they’ll see your good qualities even
if you don’t advertise them. They won’t feel that you’re
trying to one-up them. They can relax around you and be
themselves.
10. You can choose to be grateful. Think about it: You
probably have a lot to be grateful for. Gratitude puts a
smile on your face. It makes you feel good about your life.
And other people feel good about being around you.
11. You can choose to have faith. For some people, this
means believing in God or another Higher Being/Higher Power.
Others put their faith in their country in other people, in
things, or in themselves. Having faith means believing that
things will work out for you—and that you can work things
out for yourself. If you expect to fail, you probably will.
If you expect to achieve, you’re much more likely to reach
your goal.
“When the legends die, the dreams
die. When the dreams die, there is
no greatness.”
12. You can choose to have hope. Without hope, life ‘has no
meaning or point We expect nothing, plan
and don’t set goals for ourselves (why bother?). Hope may be
your most important positive attitude – the basis for all
the others. What do you hope for? What are your dreams? What
are your ambitions? Your purpose in life? If you’re willing
to consider these questions, you’re already a hopeful
person.
“’Hope’ is the thing with feathers –
That perches on the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all—“
Emily Dickenson