All of the negativity over the last few years is really taking a toll on our collective mental health. So, I’m trying really hard to live a more positive life these days. Below are some of my favorite inspirational quotes and tips to help me do just that. Keep reading!
Tips & Quotes to Help You Live a More Positive Life
Before we get started, I just want to clarify something. I am in no way telling you to stick your head in the sand and ignore the bad stuff going on in the world right now. That would be monumentally unhealthy.
However, it’s just as unhealthy to only focus on the negative in the world, or even to make the bad stuff in your own life “front and center” all of the time. We need to find joy where we can. Besides, countless studies show that a positive outlook on life helps us live longer, fight off dementia, and even think more creatively.
So, with all of that in mind, let’s jump into my favorite tips and quotes for a more positive life! FYI, I’m including a few product recommendations below (they’ll make sense when you see them). I used affiliate links for those, which means I earn a little money if you buy anything through them, but it costs you the same.
1. Start each day with gratitude
Remember that each day is a gift and a new opportunity to make your dreams come true. So, start each day by saying, “I am grateful for this new morning.” Better yet, write it down in a journal (I like the one below) along with some of the other reasons you’re thankful. Even if the rest of the day doesn’t go according to plan, at least you’ll have that few moments of peace and tranquility each morning.
2. Be happy for others. Your time will come.
Never rain on someone else’s parade just because you’re grumpy that they have something you don’t. Don’t let petty jealousy take over your life. You expect people to be happy for you when good things come your way, so give others the same respect. Don’t just pretend to be happy…be genuinely happy for them. Your day will come!
3. Focus on the lesson, not the pain
Everything that happens in our lives teaches us something and shapes us into the people that we ultimately become. While I can’t say that I’m genuinely grateful for the worst experiences in my life, I do find a certain peace in focusing on what those moments taught me rather than on the pain that I feel because of them.
4. Remember that everything in life is temporary
Life is so fleeting, as is everything that happens in it. Make the very most of every single good moment that comes along. At the same time, remember that the sun sets on even the very worst of days.
5. Find a strong circle that you can rely on
There are two versions of the quote below, with the word “can’t” changed to “can” in the other version. However, I chose this one because I think it makes more sense. If we’re willing to admit that we don’t always have all of the answers and willing to ask for help, there’s really nothing we can’t do.
The key is to find people that you can trust and rely on. That’s why I keep my circle small and filled with true friends who support me, and who I support in return.
6. Stop comparing yourself to others
If you want to live a more positive life, you have to appreciate YOUR life, not someone else’s. Stop comparing yourself to others or trying to compete with them. Just be the best version of yourself, whatever that may look like.
7. Follow the Golden Rule
If everyone followed the Golden Rule and treated others the way they wanted to be treated, I really believe like 99.9999% of the negativity in the world would vanish. If you want people to be kind towards you, be kind towards them. It’s pretty simple!
8. Know when to press “pause”
Knowing when to stay quiet and when to speak up can go a long way towards helping you live a more positive life. Sometimes you just have to press the pause button on your life, take a few steps back, and gather your thoughts before you act or react. To paraphrase the quote below, don’t reply when angry or make monumental life decisions when you’re having a rotten day.
9. Choose someone who is proud to be with you
It’s better to be alone than spend your life with a jerk who doesn’t appreciate you. Choose someone who truly loves you. Someone who doesn’t try to change you. Most importantly, someone who is PROUD to be with you.
10. Play your cards close to the vest sometimes
It sounds like a strange piece of advice for living a more positive life, but sometimes you just need to keep your plans to yourself. I’m not saying you should be sneaky, shady or dishonest. To me, it means recognizing that your life is YOURS. You don’t need to run everything past a committee and seek approval before acting.
11. Do what makes YOU happy
Don’t worry about what others say or how they see you. Be the person that you want to be. Do what makes YOU happy and NEVER feel like you have to justify the things that bring you joy.
12. Be a good person
There’s a great quote that says, “Be strong, but not rude. Be kind, but not weak. Be humble, but not timid. Be proud, but not arrogant.” I feel like we can probably sum all of that up into four words: be a good person.
Honestly, as long as you focus on that- and the golden rule- the rest of the quote falls right into place.
13. Surround yourself with peace, beauty and joy.
Surround yourself with things that bring you joy. I don’t mean that in the Marie Kondo “throw out perfectly good stuff” sort of way. You don’t have to ditch stuff that doesn’t bring you joy if it serves a purpose. That’s just wasteful. But when you find something that makes you happy or gives you a feeling of peace, go ahead and splurge on it even if it’s not entirely practical.
I have this Himalayan salt lamp, for example. It’s not exactly the most practical lamp as far as light goes, but it does invite peace and tranquility into my home. That’s enough for me! “Because I like it” isn’t just a good enough reason to buy/make/do something, it’s the best reason.
14. Find a way to relieve stress and practice it often
I was going to say “meditate daily” here, but not everyone enjoys meditating. For some people it actually causes more stress than it relieves. It’s hard to live a more positive life when the tips you’re following to help you get there actually make you more miserable, right?
So instead, focus on finding one thing that helps YOU relieve stress. Maybe it’s curling up on the sofa with a good book or a favorite movie. Perhaps it’s a hike in the mountains or a good workout. For me, there’s nothing like the beach to soothe my soul. When you find it, practice it often!
15. Remember, life is short!
Last, remember that this life is really so very short in the grand scheme of things. Live it to the fullest. Take that trip. Eat that cake. Stop waiting for a “special occasion” to drink the wine or wear that dress. Find joy where you can and grab it by the reins. Love often and fervently. Don’t waste a single moment on regret.
Finding a way to be positive may not always be easy, but it’s essential to our overall well-being. Now more than ever before we’re constantly bombarded with negativity. It gets to the point where we feel guilty if we feel anything but sadness and misery. Like, how can we be happy when so many people are suffering?
Empathy is important. Standing up for others is important. Fighting to make the world a better place is important. But you can’t do any of those things if you let the weight of the world crush you. You can’t take care of others- be it your family or the entire planet- if you’re not taking care of yourself.
So, do your best to live positively. Maybe you’ll rub off on someone, and they’ll try to live a more positive life, too. Then they’ll inspire someone else, and so on. Don’t do it for that reason, though. Do it for yourself because you deserve peace and happiness.
Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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