Are you a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty kind of person? I used to be the latter, but I’m fortunate enough to have married someone who has taught to me focus on the positives instead of the negatives. My husband is one of the most positive people I know, and over the last 13+ years, he has helped me see the world through a completely different lens. He’s taught me so much about love, life, and happiness, and for that, I will be forever grateful! If you’re trying to figure out how to be a positive person, I’m sharing 9 tips I use to help me maintain a positive mindset.
How to be a Positive Person
1. DEVELOP A POSITIVE MORNING ROUTINE
If you want to know how to be a positive person, make sure you’re setting yourself up for success each day. Whether you hit the gym, meditate, journal, or sit down to a full breakfast with your family, developing a morning ritual helps you start each day on a positive note. Getting up earlier and being more deliberate with your time first thing in the morning also helps reduce stress and boosts your productivity.
Not a morning person? CLICK HERE for some of our best morning hacks and ideas!
2. FIND YOUR WHY
Rather than just going through the motions, knowing your why gives you a reason to get out of bed each morning. It gives you clarity on what you want out of life – and what you need to do to get there – allowing you to set meaningful goals and crush them like a boss. When you have a clearly defined sense of purpose, it boosts your self-confidence and allows you to pursue your dreams unapologetically, and when you’re focused on something that sets your soul on fire, your commitment to your goals and dreams becomes unwavering. Knowing your why adds depth and dimension to your life, allowing you to feel more fulfilled and handle setbacks and adversity in a healthier way.
Struggling to find your why? We’ve written an entire post to help, which you can read HERE.
3. PRACTICE DAILY GRATITUDE
Another great tip for those who want to know how to be a positive person is to get into the habit of writing down 3-5 things you’re grateful for each day. I like to do this first thing in the morning as I find it helps to set the tone for the day ahead, and I use The Five Minute Journal to keep me accountable. It’s a guided journal you can use to train your brain to start and end each day with an attitude of gratitude so you can learn how to be a happy and positive person. And it only takes 5 minutes to complete! It encourages you to create change from within while also reminding you to count your blessings and resolve conflicts before the day is done.
Find out more about The Five-Minute Journal HERE.
4. REPLACE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS WITH POSITIVE ONES
If you want to know how to be a positive person, get into the habit of challenging negative thoughts with positive ones. This is a practice that is much easier said than done, and can be particularly challenging in the moment when you’re engaging in negative self-talk. A great way to master this concept is to write down all of the negative thoughts that creep into your mind over the course of a few days. Next, set aside some time to sit down and turn each negative thought into a positive one. Remember to use factual, positive, and present-tense words. Continue practicing, and over time you will become more comfortable and familiar with the process, allowing you to stop negative thinking in its tracks.
5. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE
Our lives are a direct result of the choices we make and the people we surround ourselves with, and if you’re trying to figure out how to be a positive person, it may be time to do a little housekeeping. We all have people in our lives who have a way of pushing our buttons and making us feel inadequate, and while it may not be possible to avoid these people completely, it’s important to find ways to ensure our interactions with them don’t negatively impact us. This may be as simple as engaging in something positive after interacting with people who trigger you, but sometimes you need to take things a step further and set clear boundaries or limit/stop contact to protect yourself.
If you’d like tips to help you deal with toxic people, we’ve written an entire post on the topic HERE.
6. BE PRESENT WHERE YOUR FEET ARE
If you’re navigating your way through a particularly challenging time in your life – or you’re in a phase where you’re stretched way too thin and can’t keep on top of all of the things that are pulling at you day in and day out – being positive can be really difficult. One thing that works well for me during times like this is to remind myself to be present where my feet are. Instead of trying to juggle a million things half-heartedly, I find it helpful to give everything I’ve got to one thing at a time. This allows me to be more intentional with my time and energy, and I find when I give 100% of myself to whomever or whatever needs my attention instead of trying to do a million different things at once, I feel more accomplished, which makes me feel lighter and happier. Give it a try!
7. TAKE CARE OF YOUR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH
As much as you probably don’t want to hear it, adopting and maintaining positive habits is key to living a happy and positive life. Eating good-for-you foods, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep helps you look and feel your best, improves your energy and focus, and helps combat certain diseases. Moving your body for 30+ minutes per day releases feel-good endorphins, which boosts your mood and helps manage stress, anxiety, and depression. If you struggle to maintain a positive outlook on life, make sure you are prioritizing your physical and emotional health!
8. PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE
Self-care is key to our emotional health because it helps us manage stress and handle things, both positive or negative, in a healthy way. Engaging in regular self-care has been show to decrease feelings of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, increase motivation and productivity, boost our immune health, and improve our relationships with ourselves and with others. If you want to be a more positive person, schedule a little time each week to engage in a little TLC. I think you’ll be surprised at what a positive impact it has on all aspects of your life.
If you’re looking for simple self-care ideas you can find time for, we’ve got 21 ideas for you HERE.
9. TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY OVER YOUR LIFE
My final tip for those who are trying to figure out how to be a positive person is to take ownership over your life. You – and only you – are responsible for your own happiness, so stop waiting for someone or something to magically make things better. Take accountability and do the work – you’re worth it!
If you’re trying to figure out how to be a positive person, I hope the tips and ideas in this post inspire you! Remember to start your day with a positive morning routine, practice daily gratitude, challenge negative thoughts, surround yourself with positive people, and prioritize your physical and emotional health. Take time out for regular self-care, and when life feels overwhelming, remember to be present where your feet are.