Is it just me, or is our world becoming increasingly negative? Nevermind what we see on the news, but our access to information and countless platforms to express opinions has resulted in a culture where opinions are treated as facts and it's okay to bash anyone who disagrees with you. I have always considered myself a positive person, but even I found that I was struggling with all of the negative chatter that we consume on an hourly basis. While I don't consider myself immune, I do have a few practices that I keep and have implemented in my life to keep things positive. Here's what I do to keep an upbeat attitude and stay positive in a negative world.
1. Love Yourself
This tip sounds so cliché, but it is honestly the most important step to having a positive outlook. Be kind to yourself, and make a conscious effort to quit the negative self-talk. It's amazing how when you truly learn to love and accept yourself, how little you pay attention to the opinions of others. I know myself that I definitely have a hard time maintaining this for the long-haul and do experience periods of insecurity; and honestly, it's when I'm being cruel to myself that I get sucked into the negativity of others to try and make myself feel better. If you don't believe me, just try it out for one day. Don't indulge yourself with any negative self-talk, give yourself compliments and celebrate your little successes. I guarantee that you will have a more positive, stable energy that is way less likely to be shifted by the negativity of others.
2. Cut Out Toxic Friends
Okay, cutting out toxic friends is easier said than done. Sometimes a toxic friend may not be someone who's being mean to you but is someone who is constantly putting others down and thrives off of being negative. A few years ago I consciously let go of a very negative friend that, while never cruel to me, was always very negative towards others. I found myself adopting this negative attitude and even my family noticed a shift in my personality. While it took over a year to completely let go of this friend and was a very painful experience, I can definitely notice a lightness in myself. I also make an effort to surround myself with very supportive, positive people and that has made a world of a difference!
3. Give Yourself Permission to Tune Out
I absolutely love the internet and appreciate having so much information at our fingertips, but sometimes knowing absolutely everything can get very heavy and overwhelming. While I definitely don't advocate for sticking your head in the sand on world issues, I do think that giving yourself permission to tune out for an hour or two when things become overwhelming is essential for maintaining a positive outlook. I'm also very selective on where I consume my information from and try hard not to succumb to sensationalist media after a major world event has happened; watching hour upon hour of CNN after a crisis doesn't do anyone any good. Know yourself, know your soul's capacity for human suffering and know when to take a break.
What do you guys think? I know these tips sound simple and cliché, but they have made a world of a difference for me when trying to keep a positive attitude. I would love to hear some of your own tips and tricks. Let me know!
xo Joëlle
