How to keep a positive mental attitude

Being positive is not just about being happy, it's about holding onto what makes you happy.

A positive state of mind can help you overcome those moments in life when you are faced with challenges, tough situations and on those days where you just feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. However, we all know that remaining positive isn’t always easy.

Believe in yourself

Ultimately, you are the most powerful driver of your feelings and have the ability to change or make improvements to things or situations that will have a positive impact on your wellbeing. It’s important to try and understand what makes you happy or what you believe would make you happy, and then how you achieve it. Life isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, therefore putting small steps in place to get you to your ultimate goal is a good place to start.

Focus on the present

It's often easy to focus on past regrets or to glance into what the future might hold but the most important time is the here and now. Our mind is a very powerful thing and can bring to the fore past shortcomings or expected hurdles and turn them into bigger issues than they were or need to be. By concentrating on the present it enables us to make sure we are taking meaningful steps that can affect the now.

Use positive language

By focusing on using positive language we can foster a more confident and positive environment for ourselves and for those around us. The use of positive language promotes leadership, encourages those around us, and boosts general wellbeing. Instead of focusing on what can't be done, adapt your language and focus on what can be achieved.

Seek out positive people

Sometimes keeping a positive outlook can be difficult, but those around you can be a great help (or a burden). Feelings can be contagious; if everyone around you is only focusing on the negatives then it is easy to adopt this viewpoint as your reality. Equally, if you have people you can turn to who are positive in their outlook, it will foster a sense of being in control of your own actions and outcomes.

Step away from the news cycle

We all like to keep in touch with the news to find out what’s happening outside of our own lives. However, the news isn't always positive, and can greatly affect our mood and our ability to achieve goals we might have set ourselves. Fill the time spent away from traditional news by seeking out podcasts, articles, or news that will help you stay informed but also improve your mood.

Only you can control your emotions

It's inevitable that we hear news, or have events occur that have the ability to cause negative thoughts and dent our confidence. This can very easily cause us to spend time focusing on how frustrated we are and what these developments mean for our own lives. If you prepare yourself for the unavoidable fact that we will have to endure these events at times, then we can better cope with them. Accept your emotions and that you won't always have the right answers immediately, or sometimes at all. Only you have the ability to control how you react, choose to do so in a positive manner.

Accept that things won't always be perfect

If we can say that we will try and be positive, despite hurdles, we can look at areas of our life that aren't perfect and process them in a more constructive way. Perfection is an ideal and not always one that can be achieved. There will always be things outside of your control, therefore accepting this and knowing that you've done your best will help give you peace of mind, instead of lowering your confidence or your positivity.

Look for opportunities

We've all been told to 'make the best out of a bad situation', yet sometimes this is a challenge. By remaining positive you can focus on how to change or minimise these situations and seek out solutions that can make a positive difference to your life or the lives of those around you.

Make healthy lifestyle choices

Making changes to your lifestyle can also change how positive your outlook on life is. Exercise releases endorphins which can improve your mood. Small steps such as changing your routine to include a walk or some stretching, or basic exercises like press-ups and sit-ups can help to put you in the right frame of mind to tackle your day. The food you eat can also determine your mood. Sometimes comfort food isn't always the best food to make us happy; foods such as mushrooms, chocolate, and whole-grains contain enzymes and vitamins that will help our mood become more optimistic and confident.

Keeping a positive mental attitude has its challenges, but by incorporating these tips and small changes into your life you should start to see the difference without having to dramatically alter how you live your life.