You can only aim to be better than the person you were yesterday
FOR many people January can be a gloomy old month. The festivities are over and the days are short and grey and spring seems a long way off. But what would happen if you decided to get happy today, to just make a conscious decision to be more positive.
Isn’t it true that life feels so much better with a positive attitude, yet so many people seem to stay stuck in a negative mindset. And, of course, when you get caught up in the negativity loop you tend to only see all that is negative and wrong within your life, which of course will result in you feeling even more negative and miserable!
I realise that some of you may be thinking right now it’s easier said than done, but let me remind you that happiness is a choice. What if you decided today to go for it, to fully immerse yourself into feeling positive about some aspects of your life – to let go of all that overgrown negativity and just be more positive?
I challenge you right now to get out a notepad and pen and write down an action item list of what is it you will need to do, to think and to say in order to be more positive? You may find this difficult initially, particularly if you are caught up in the negativity trap. Here are some ideas to help get you started.
Challenge yourself. Negative people are certain that their future will be bleak and so remain in a helpless mode of functioning. Positive people do the opposite – they create their future by challenging themselves to do different things rather than stagnate. Challenging yourself does not have to be a big deal – you can start by doing a cookery course, learning a new language etc. Start with activities that are manageable to build fun and confidence and then get more daring!
Stop judging yourself. Get out of the habit of comparing yourself to others. There will always be someone greater and lesser than you. Accept yourself for all that you are and learn how to use your strengths to their full potential.
Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want. A very common habit for many is to focus on what you don’t want rather than on what it is that you do want. A natural law of the universe is this: ‘ What you focus on grows, what you think about expands and what you dwell on determines your destiny. Are you dwelling on all that you lack? Then you will get more of what you think. Keep your focus on what it is that you desire and be sure to appreciate all that you have no matter how insignificant to you that may feel.
Research suggests that if you want to live a longer and happier life, then you need to develop and maintain a positive attitude. Studies consistently reveal that living a negatively-oriented life does indeed increase your chances of a short-lived, stressed and unhappy life.
Remember being positive or negative are only habits of thought that can determine your outcomes in life. And remember the only person you can really be better than, is the person you were yesterday.