The mind is a powerful tool. As Descartes said - “I think, therefore I am”, being positive expresses itself as an outward-looking attitude toward daily life situations. Having a positive attitude is rejuvenating to both the mind and the body.

All of us wish to have inner-peace, enjoy pleasant moments and be happy. Yet circumstances are not always within our control as we experience negative feelings in situations. While it is not always easy to stay positive, it is useful to remember that we can control the thoughts in our minds. Being positive is thus within our capability, in spite of negative influences in our lives.

Here are some other ways to be positive, pick ourselves up, perk-up and move on:

Be contented – Being contented and grateful for what you have is an important aspect of positive thinking. Thinking about what you don’t have will only make you worry and lead you to be more dissatisfied with life. For example, instead of comparing your job and pay with others, focus on the positives instead and appreciate the amiable colleagues or opportunities that your job offers. When you are contented, you are also motivated to achieve your dream.

Be optimistic – “Impossible is Nothing” so the famous sports brand slogan says. If you think positively you will look for a solution and not dwell too much on the problem itself. When problems seem overwhelming or difficult to overcome, break down the problem into smaller parts and then seek to solve the individual parts bit-by-bit. Consulting friends or referring to books may also lead to surprising solutions.

Interpret objectively – There are many times in life when you may perceive situations to be negative or worse than they actually are. Such situations may lead to unnecessarily harsh self criticism or self blame. For example, when your boss gives feedback on how you can improve your proposal – don’t think of yourself as being lousy at your job or let it affect your mood after work.

Instead, interpret the situation objectively – there may be many reasons why you did not do a good job on the proposal – perhaps you misunderstood the brief, or you did not do enough research. Take the feedback positively, learn from the experience and move on. Analyse what went wrong and focus on what you can improve on.

Do not let any negative feelings spill over to other aspects of your life, or let the 'perceived' negative situation be a yardstick of your own capability.

Take a break – When faced with a problem, give yourself a break. Get into a relaxed state of mind. Temporarily disengaging your mind from a difficult problem helps to rejuvenate and refresh your mind. You may then “attack” the problem with renewed energy and zest. This will help you stay positive when you encounter difficult challenges or problems.

Need more help? Here are a few other easy to implement tips you can start using today.

Tips

1. Use only positive words while thinking and talking. Use words such as, 'I can', 'I am able', 'it is possible', 'it can be done', etc.
2. Remember the positive feelings associated with your strengths and successes. Recall them when you are faced with negative circumstances.
3. Listen to inspirational music or watch a movie that makes you feel optimistic.

1. Which of these methods will not help you to be positive?
   1. Changing our perspective on situations
   2. Using positive words while thinking and talking
   3. Dwelling hard on difficult situations to come up with the solution

   

2. Why is it important to change your daily routine once in awhile?
   1. The process helps rid boredom
   2. The process stimulates my mind and helps me stay positive and energised
   3. The process helps me to visualise my future success and stay positive

   

3. Which of the ways below will help you solve difficult challenges and stay positive?
   1. Have positive thoughts and use positive words
   2. Break down the problem into smaller and more manageable parts
   3. Don’t dwell on the problem but encourage yourself to stay positive and look ahead
   4. All of the above