Bringing Positivity Back: 3 Simple Ways to Live Better by Being Intentionally Positive

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Last week was my 35th birthday, and friends, it was a doozy. I wasn’t particularly dreading this birthday, so it caught me a bit off guard when I found myself sobbing in the bathroom that morning. After some reflection, I realized that my birthday this year was in the midst of some pretty tough milestones related to the loss of my father-in-law earlier this year (the 6 month anniversary of his death and my in-laws’ wedding anniversary). These tough days, coupled with my kids heading back to school and me becoming of “advanced maternal age” just hit me like a ton of bricks, and I threw a rather fierce pity party, truth be told.

And then when the dust settled, I got up, stood in front of the mirror, and told myself that it was time to honor my father-in-law in a way that he would have appreciated: it was time to look for silver linings, to find opportunity in the midst of crisis, and to seek out the joy and adventure every situation had to offer. Simply put, it was time to bring positivity back into my life.

That’s something I’ve been very intentionally focused on this past week, and it has been like a balm to my soul. I’ve been going back through some of my favorite self-help books (Daring Greatly, anyone?), and practicing some serious self-care. I’ve also been working on changing the narrative in my brain.

Three things, in particular, have been especially rewarding for me as a daily practice, and I feel that they are each helping me live my day-to-day life a bit better than before. I hope they might help you, too!

3 Simple Ways to Practice Positivity

1. Live in a Positive Environment

Is the area in which you work throughout the day peaceful and uplifting, or is it chaotic and stressful? I work from home, and while I can’t keep my entire house clean on a daily basis, I try very hard to make sure the area where I’m working is clutter-free and even inviting. From where I sit at the kitchen table (AKA “my office”) I stare right into the kitchen. So every day, I make sure the table and the kitchen are clean. I can promise you that my attitude on the days when my space is fresh and clean is VERY different than my attitude on the days when it is junked up.

In addition to having the space where my gaze falls nice and tidy, I also keep my environment positive by burning a beautiful candle or diffusing some great essential oils. And if I can get my hands on some fresh flowers, I love to have them on display as well. We often get a bouquet with our weekly CSA share, and if not, here’s a little floral secret: carnations, in addition to being quite affordable, are shockingly hardy! I have been able to keep them looking vibrant in bud vases for 2 full weeks!

And finally I always have a tasty beverage on hand. On particularly tough work days, I’m especially mindful of what type of fuel I’m offering my body to ensure that what’s going in isn’t causing any trouble! Neuro Bliss is a great option to reach for when you need to rehydrate, recharge and tell stress to take a hike at the same time.

2. Let Your Attitude Play Make Believe

Think about the dreams you have for yourself and your family for a minute. Now ask yourself how much time you spend thinking about them at all (probably not much!) and of that time, how much time do you spend telling yourself that those dreams will never happen versus telling yourself that they WILL happen? And finally, how much time do you spend imagining that they have already happened? Most people, myself included, are excellent at squelching their own joy by thinking about something wonderful, only to immediately poo poo all over that wonderful thing with negative self-talk. I want to encourage you to resist that urge, and to let your mind fully believe that your dreams and goals have already come true.

I have some goals that I’m working on right now in my business. They are crazy, audacious goals. They are VERY easy to categorize as impractical and unlikely to happen. But I’ve made a vision board for myself to look at every day, and every single day I’m going to spend time imagining that I’m walking along the beach in Hawaii, and that I’m riding shotgun in my husband’s new Tesla. And guess what happens when I imagine those things, friends? I become euphoric! Try it for yourself with your own goals and dreams and see how it makes you feel, and then choose to grab a dose of that feeling every single day. Even my Vita Coco is a reminder of the tropical fun that awaits me. Envision it, claim it, and watch it transpire!

3. Add Something Positive to Someone Else’s Day

Doing something nice for someone else is one of the fastest and easiest ways to feel SO good, isn’t it? But as we get caught up in our own lives, we sometimes lose sight of that fact (at least I do). I am trying to remember now that each and every day, I want to do something that is going to bringing some happiness and joy to someone else’s day. This could mean making a donation to a nonprofit they are raising money for, or it could mean sending an email or even a handwritten postcard to let someone you care about know you are thinking of them. Or it can be as simple as stocking the company fridge with a yummy beverage treat or your home fridge as a special welcome for visitors.

My father-in-law was such a happy person, and he often said, “Happiness is a choice!” In many ways, he was right. Making some of these simple daily changes in my own life has been a very positive thing for me, and it was all really simple to do, honestly. I hope you can take away some great simple solutions for your own life, be it dusting off some of your candles that you forgot about a putting them to work, or taking a moment to treat yourself to a sip of something that will put a smile on your face, such at Vita Coco Pure, Snapple Diet Peach or Neuro Bliss. You can find all these great options at your nearest Walmart. And you can save .50 on your purchase by printing this coupon! And if you are on Ibotta, there’s a rebate, too! See how I just added something of value to YOUR day? 🙂