Way to stay positive

Most likely, you've heard advice like "just be positive" or "look on the bright side" from someone. And even while they may have the best of intentions, as anyone who has ever been unprepared for a breakup, cared for a sick family member, or been fired from a job can attest, it's frequently easier said than done.

The truth is that being optimistic may have less to do with always remaining upbeat and more to do with responding in a resilient (not to mention realistic) manner. "The most helpful definition of being positive is having hope and confidence in one's ability to handle what's tough, along with remembering that nothing is all negative all the time," says Jo Eckler, PsyD, a therapist with a practise in Austin and the author of I Can't Fix You—Because You're Not Broken.

Instead, she characterises positivity as the capacity to draw brighter conclusions or find solace from troubling circumstances, which may have an impact on both your quality of life and, possibly, your longevity (studies show optimistic people tend to have better mental and physical health). In fact, a 2019 study indicated that those with the highest levels of optimism lived an average of 11 to 15 percent longer than those with the lowest levels of optimism.

Better still? There is still hope if you tend to think negatively. There are several ways to train your brain to have a more optimistic view, including positive thinking. We've asked a range of mental health professionals and psychologists to provide their top tips on how to be happier, healthier, and more confident. These include reciting a positive affirmation, going outside, and practising gratitude.

This information was pulled from a poll. At their website, you might be able to discover the same material in a different format or more details.

Talk to yourself by telling yourself positive things
Relying on self-affirmations might help you retrain your brain to feel more positive when you're beating yourself up about a particular event or situation, says psychotherapist and trained sex and couples therapist Lee Phillips.

These affirmations can read, "It's acceptable if I've outgrown certain relationships in my life, for instance. Simply put, it indicates that our lives' adjustments and evolution have led us in distinct ways, according to Phillips.

The following are few more to try that Phillips adores: "I deserve to show up for myself and set a boundary when I am getting frustrated"; "I am doing the best I can right now"; and "I am human, and I will make mistakes." "Rejection is hard, but it just means that something better is waiting for me"; "I deserve to use my voice and speak up about the things that matter to me" are some quotes that emphasise the importance of how one responds and moves forward.

Choose a personal mantra and repeat it to help you be more optimistic and confident.
You can select a mantra that can aid in defining your vision of yourself, similar to self-affirmations. "We're often harder on ourselves than we would ever be on someone else, so one trick is to talk to yourself like you would to your best friend," says Erin Parisi, a certified mental health counsellor in Orlando, Florida.

Yes, it may seem strange at first, but studies have shown that talking to yourself can affect your thoughts, feelings, and behavior—especially if you do so in the second or third person (for example, instead of saying "I can get through this," try saying "You can get through this" or "Jane can get through this").

Not yet persuaded? Try saying a personal mantra to yourself to start your day or when you're feeling downhearted to make it more comfortable for you to accomplish this. It might be a motivational quote (like "I'm allowed to take up space" or "I deserve to have joy in my life") or a catchphrase (like "It is what it is" or "When one door closes, another one opens"). Or perhaps Oprah gets her inspiration from these words: "'Everything works out for me every time,'" Make that your motto, she stated in a graduating speech in 2019. Parisi continues, "Mantras can bring you a smidge of relief and remind you that things will get better, even if they suck right now."