Today’s world is full of bad news if you look for it. This is partial because of the way the media cycle is designed to facilitate fear and distrust. However, that’s another story for another day. Regardless, it can be rather difficult to keep spirits high in the midst of so much chaos and constant sadness.
Add this on top of the fact that a lot of people are still dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s only logical that people would be looking for ways to become more positive and maintain that positivity.
It’s very important to note here that depression and other mental illnesses like anxiety, are very real and affect the lives of millions of people. While these tips and tricks to finding positivity can help, they are by no means a substitute for therapy or healthy lifestyles.
If you or someone you know needs serious help, or is a danger to themselves, there are a plethora of resources available that should be sought out as soon as possible.
In the context of less severe cases, there are a lot of societal influences that can simply harsh the vibe. Social media, while allowing us to connect with groups of people we’d never otherwise make contact with, can also contribute to feelings of loneliness and sadness. Plus, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are spending the majority of their weeks inside.
Needless to say, the world is in need of a healthy dose of positivity.
“We’ve all been asked if the glass is half-empty or half-full, but have you ever thought about what your answer might mean for your overall well-being? The power of positivity isn’t just a catchy phrase; positive thinking can significantly impact your mental, physical, and emotional health.”
– Freedom Physiotherapy –
Perspective Is the Key
When it comes to positivity and maintaining a positive attitude, it can actually become quite simple. The key element to keep in mind is perspective. Perspective can literally change the entire situation and context. That’s because the way we perceive the world around us and the circumstances in which we find ourselves dictates not only our mental and emotional response but also our literal physical and verbal response. As reactive creatures, your response to any given situation can in turn influence the reaction of others around you.
“It’s kind of a domino effect if you think about it like that. One person’s attitude or reaction influences the next, then they take that same mentality and reaction and influence the next person they encounter, and the cycle continues until someone actively stops it with their own controlled reaction. The way we respond to various situations is actually really influential.”
– Omid Semino, CEO and Founder, Diamond Mansion –
Perspective is really how we interpret our world and the events around us. Let’s take a silly example for instance. If you’ve planned a day to go golfing with a group of close friends, and a rainstorm cancels your plans, you could immediately be bummed and let that ruin your day. In fact, you could respond so negatively that the group you had plans with doesn’t want to make plans with you in the future. However, instead of looking at the day as ruined, you could instead, pivot with that same group. Go get a nice lunch, play some cards, and still have a great time. The result is 100% dependent on the reaction to the stimulant.
“It might sound cheesy, but there’s some truth to that age-old saying about turning lemons into lemonade. I think it’s really important to be able to take things with a grain of salt and internalize the context too. People who turn little situations into major issues are just making their own lives harder.”
– Natália Sadowski, Director of Aesthetics, Nourishing Biologicals –
We Manifest Our own Reality
This may sound a little far-fetched for some of you readers out there, but there are some very compelling case studies around manifestation. Manifestation is an aspect of meditation and is a mental exercise.
Specifically, it’s a mental exercise in which the person verbalizes, visualizes, and dedicates mental energy to something they want realized in their life. Manifestation has been recognized by many celebrities, athletes, and other popular figures, but it’s important to note that manifestation isn’t necessarily about material possession. That’s why it’s a good exercise for attaining and maintaining a positive attitude.
“I’m not saying that manifestation is the reason I drive the car that I drive or anything like that. But I will say that when I started thinking about being happy during meditation. When I started really dedicating energy to the pursuit of happiness and emotional wellness, I don’t know. It feels like everything else just fell into place.”
– Lina Miranda, VP Marketing, AdQuick –
Being in control of our thoughts and emotions isn’t always feasible. We’re all only human after all. However, we can certainly spend time training ourselves to see things in a positive light.
“It took me a long time to realize that failure could actually be a good thing. Now, I kind of get excited when I fail cause immediately I’m looking for the lesson hidden between the lines, so to speak.”
– Rym Selmi, Founder, MiiRo –
Nothing Is Perfect; Accepting the Flaws
Being human is synonymous with being imperfect. We’re all flawed in various ways. Learning our flaws, understanding them, and accepting them are important parts of the human experience. Understanding that no one, and nothing, is perfect can help us wrap our heads around more realistic expectations.
Having a solid grasp on the humanity of both ourselves and others can make it much easier to find happiness and a positive attitude.
“I think it’s important to be able to laugh at our imperfections, y’know? Even in our work, it’s like comical, to go back and see the little flaws and imperfections. I mean no one else notices unless they’re told where to look, but still. I notice. If I get caught up on every imperfection though no job would ever get done.”
– Chris Vaughn, CEO, Emjay –
Understanding that nothing is perfect and that mistakes will inevitably be made, no matter what it is you’re doing, will make it easier to let small things roll off your back, without bringing you down into the dumps emotionally speaking.
“If I’m not perfect, how can I expect anyone around me to be? That’s just an unrealistic expectation. I fully believe in leading by example, and I make plenty of mistakes, I can tell you that much for sure.”
– Shaunak Amin, CEO and Co-Founder, SnackMagic –
Embracing the Journey
When interviewing successful names, figures, idols, celebrities, and everyone in between, there is a common theme. They all speak about the journey, not the destination. That’s because it is often in the journey toward success that we see our idols as the most human. Perhaps, that’s because it’s those early years of struggle in which their flaws were most on display.
“I’m not the first person to say it and I won’t be the last, but I swear, that all of this was only made possible by the journey it took to get here. There is no reality more real than the one you experience when you’re struggling.”
– Miles Beckett, CEO and Co-Founder, Flossy –
The journey, not the destination, is where we learn a lot of the valuable lessons that we carry into our future. By embracing the day-to-day journey, and really engaging in your everyday life, you’ll find it much easier to put a positive spin on things.
“I had to sort of wake up. Like I was living life kinda halfway before then. I wasn’t really involved in my own daily life. Once I flipped that switch though, well the rest is history.”
– Adam Bém, Co-Founder and COO, Victoria VR –
The Impact of a Positive Attitude
Positivity is contagious. The entire dynamic of a room or situation can change based on a single person’s positivity. Not only that, but achieving and maintaining a positive mentality, even in the face of adversity, allows people to be flexible, and to see opportunities where others don’t. This is the mark of the truly great.
“The difference between someone who needs a bit of training but shows up with a positive attitude and the person who needs no training but shows up with misery painted on their face is just massive. I’ll take the trainee 10/10 times.”
– Lionel Mora, CEO, Neoplants –
A positive attitude can truly be the difference maker. Finding the tactics that keep you positive in your day-to-day life can lead to changing your entire world.
“I look for positivity in all my team members. I want people who like to be challenged and see the value in facing adversity head-on and overcoming obstacles. The harder something is, the more worthwhile it is. Doesn’t mean worthwhile work should come with a negative attitude.”
– Karim Hachem, VP of eCommerce, La Blanca –
A few Final Words on the Power of Positivity
The impact of a positive attitude is truly far-reaching and can actually be life-changing. By finding ways to stay positive, you’ll naturally start to attract other positive people as well. “How we think about life has a direct impact on our reality, for better or worse. And a multitude of scientific research has proven that there are countless benefits of thinking positively.”
– Kristen Butler, CEO and Founder, Power of Positivity –
