What can you do when you’re fed up with grumbling and complaining? How do you stop being negative? How do you go about it, and where do you start? Negativity has become like second nature, and we find it hard to adopt a more positive attitude to life. That’s why here are my 5 tips to help you change your mindset for the better!

1 – Understand why we’re negative

The first thing that helps us to adopt a more positive attitude in life is to understand why we are so negative. In fact, our brain is more sensitive to the negative, meaning it picks up negative information more easily. What’s more, it dwells on it for longer. In other words, negativity is a vicious circle.

And understanding this helps us to feel less guilty about ourselves. Yes, we are negative, but it has to be said that our brain doesn’t help us to be and stay positive – quite the contrary.

2 – Make a powerful commitment to stop being negative

So, our brain has a clear tendency to be negative. But that doesn’t mean we’re doomed to negativity either. In fact, it does mean that we’re going to have to make an effort to be more positive.

Indeed, we don’t become positive by magic; it’s a real work we do on ourselves. Fortunately, this work is pleasant and does us a world of good!

Because we don’t make the commitment to stop being negative by chance, it’s because we know it’s going to transform our lives in a very positive way. And it will.

That’s why the second thing to do when we want to develop a positive mindset is to make a powerful commitment. This is a phrase we repeat to ourselves every day to remind us of our goal. It should motivate us!

Example: “I resolve to make my life sparkle with positivity from now on!” or “I resolve to become a positive, smiling person from now on!”

What will your phrase be to remind you of your commitment? Once you’ve found it, write it everywhere so you’ll always have it in mind.

3 – Start a gratitude journal to adopt a positive attitude

Now, let’s move on to my more concrete tips for stopping being negative. So, the third thing to do, to put more positivity and joy into your life, is to start a gratitude journal.

To do this, you take a notebook, a notepad or even a sheet of paper and every day, you write down at least 3 things you appreciated in your day. The aim of this exercise is to focus on the things that went well, rather than on the other things.

That’s why, at first, this exercise won’t be easy. Your brain isn’t really trained to see the positive things, but rather the negative ones. And that’s precisely why this gratitude journal will do you a world of good! So, what are you waiting for?

4 – Learn to talk about things that are going well and stop being negative

Because stopping being negative isn’t just about our thoughts, it’s also about the words that come out of our mouths. You’ll notice that it’s probably easier for you to talk about the things that have gone wrong lately, rather than the things that have gone right.

But, if you want to stop being negative, you need to make a real effort by completely changing the way you converse with others. In other words, you’re going to have to talk about the things that are going well, talk about the good news.

To start practicing, always start a conversation with good news and always end with good news. It’s a great new habit to get into that will change your life, and even your relationships. After all, it’s great to converse with positive people, isn’t it? So become that positive person.

Now, of course, I’m not telling you never to talk about what’s wrong, because it often feels good to talk about the things that are bothering you. I’m just saying don’t only talk about things that aren’t going well. And secondly, to talk more about the things that are right and less about the things that are wrong. What do you think? Will you do it?

5 – Cut yourself off from the negative to stop being negative

Finally, to develop an increasingly positive attitude, we also need to cut ourselves off from the negative, i.e. negative information from TV, radio and social networks. I’m not saying to cut out everything, but first to set aside moments of pause. Then, little by little, we need to increase these breaks.

What’s more, to stop being negative, we need to cut ourselves off from the negativity of others. That means daring to redirect certain negative conversations. For example, when someone has been grumbling for the last 15 minutes, we can say: “I’m really sorry. But, are there things going well right now, things that are making you feel good or even one or two pieces of good news tell me.” Can you see how this might change the conversation? So, will you do it?

And if it’s not possible to redirect some negative conversations, then find an excuse and walk away from that conversation. After all, you don’t have to receive negativity from others; you have the right to protect yourself from it, and therefore to distance yourself from it.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover What to do when you wake up in the morning: 10 things to stop doing
Discover How to have a good day: 50 quotes to put a smile on your face

I recommend this inspiring book:

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

Norman Vincent Peale’s book serves as a guide for those seeking to overcome negativity and cultivate a more positive state of mind. Through practical strategies and inspiring anecdotes, Peale explains how positive thinking can lead to a more fulfilling and successful life. The book encourages us to change our thinking patterns, adopt a positive attitude and overcome difficulties with resilience. By embracing the power of positive thinking, individuals can transform their lives and perspectives, fostering a more optimistic and constructive approach to everyday challenges.

A beautiful book that can be summed up in one sentence: fill your days with the light of hope.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself