How to be positive Many of us have realized that having a positive attitude in life helps us to be happier. Unfortunately, on a day-to-day basis, we tend to be negative, so how can we make this change? I invite you to follow 6 tips for being positive today.

1 – Decide to be positive for yourself

First and foremost, being positive is a decision – for yourself!

You may have noticed that things we do FOR others or LIKE others don’t work. We start, but soon give up. Simply because we’re not doing it for ourselves.

Let’s decide today that we want to be happy and that being positive is the best decision we can make to be happy.

How can we be positive? By deciding to be positive, and to be positive first and foremost for ourselves!

The main obstacle to this first step is remembering our decision every day. Bad habits, and especially our tendency to be negative, are tough.

So I wholeheartedly invite you to write down on a piece of paper: “I resolve to be happy today, and every day thereafter.”

And to put this paper where you can see it several times a day.

2 – Being positive: changing the way you think

Most of the things we think we’ve inherited from other people. In fact, our thoughts and beliefs come from our parents, our teachers and our society.

Today, let’s realize that we don’t have to think like our parents or the adults we’ve met in the past. In fact, we can decide on our own thoughts, those that suit us and inspire us to give the best of ourselves.

To sort out your thoughts and beliefs, do this little exercise:

List all the “I shoulds” and “musts” you constantly repeat to yourself.
Then, change the “I shoulds” and “must haves” to “could haves”.
Then, ask yourself why you haven’t already done your “I coulds”. By answering this why, you’ll see if it’s really what you want, or if it’s something you thought you had to do.
An example: I should do more sport. I could do more sport. I don’t do more sport because I don’t have the time / I don’t feel like it…

How can I be positive? By regularly taking the time to check that what you want to do is your idea, not something you force yourself to want to do.

Yes, as soon as we sort out our thoughts and they really reflect what we want to do, then we become much more positive.

3 – Cultivate gratitude to stop being negative

Being positive means learning to see everything that is good and beautiful around us. In fact, it’s about cultivating gratitude.

And why is that? Because it’s not being happy that makes us grateful, but being grateful that makes us happy.

In other words, if you want to be positive, find something around you to be positive about.

That’s why I invite you to do this exercise every day: list the 3 things or moments you enjoyed in your day.

It could be as simple as having read a good book, shared a good meal, had a laugh with a colleague, heard your favorite song on the radio, the sun shining…

How can we be positive? By realizing every day how lucky we are to be alive.

4 – Being positive: believing that anything is possible

Doubts and fears are poisonous to our spirit. We only see what’s wrong in our lives, and fear prevents us from moving forward and changing.

It’s true that we believe everything is possible. It’s just not verifiable. Just like that belief: “It’s impossible!”

Yes, we don’t know what’s possible or impossible. So we might as well say it’s possible, right?

In the end, your beliefs are up to you. Yes, it’s a choice you make.

So, do you decide to believe in things that make you feel good, or in things that make you feel negative?

How can you be positive? By cultivating the positive belief that anything is possible!

5 – Repeating positive thoughts to yourself all day long

Being positive means learning to feed our minds with positive thoughts. Why do we do this?

First of all, to counter our negative thoughts and criticisms. We need to remind our mind that we’ve decided to be happy and positive, that there’s good in our current life and that anything is possible!

What’s more, thoughts have a creative power.

“I believe that life is very simple. What we give is given back to us. The Universe confirms us in whatever we choose to think and believe.”

When we nourish positive thoughts, we attract positive ones to us. The reverse is true, which is why it’s so important to decide to be positive today!

That’s why I invite you to surround yourself with positive quotes. Write them on post-its and stick them all over your home: bedside table, fridge, mirror, diary, at the office…

“Life is beautiful.

“Don’t take yourself too seriously and allow yourself to taste the joy of living.”

“There’s no such thing as a banal moment.”

“Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday, and you see, everything’s just fine.”

“Don’t judge the day by the evening harvest, but by the seeds you’ve sown.”

How can you be positive? By repeating beautiful phrases to yourself several times a day.

6 – Remember that being positive is a learning process

Like any change, being positive takes practice and time.

In fact, let’s be careful not to want to go too fast and do too well, because fear may well come. And fear is the worst enemy of change, preventing us from moving forward and pushing us to give up.

How can we be positive? By being kind to ourselves, respecting our efforts and celebrating our progress, however small.

That’s why you shouldn’t be afraid to be negative at times, because remember, it’s by making mistakes and falling down that we learn.

So, whenever you catch yourself being negative, smile and renew your decision to be positive! No more, no less.

Don’t expect too much of yourself, because you’re still learning.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Happy people: their 15 favorite habits
Discover Personal fulfillment: 6 simple questions to ask yourself

I recommend this inspiring book:

Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the 3-to-1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life by Barbara L. Fredrickson

Leading positive psychology researcher Barbara L. Fredrickson explores the transformative impact of maintaining a 3:1 ratio of positive to negative emotions in our lives. Drawing on extensive research, Fredrickson reveals the profound effects of cultivating positivity on overall well-being, resilience and personal fulfillment. The book provides ideas and practical exercises to help us improve our positivity ratio, fostering a more optimistic and fulfilling outlook on life.

This book brings together science and great wisdom in simple language. As you progress through the book, you feel as if barbara is speaking directly into your eyes, into your mind and opening the doors of your heart, guiding you in the direction of becoming a positive person.
You won’t be able to resist the temptation to finish the book in one go and work on your transformation.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

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

Take care of yourself