Your viewpoint on life can affect your physical and mental health as well as your emotions. It can raise or lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, and stress levels. If you feel negative about everything, then things usually become more difficult. You can get sick easily, find it difficult to face adversities and hardships in life.
Thinking in a negative light makes it harder for you to enjoy the little things in life. Focusing only on the negative, or blaming everything that goes wrong only on yourself, makes things seem worse than they actually are. If you do one or any of the above, then you’re setting yourself up for failure even before you start.
It’s important to look for the positive things as they happen during your day. Looking for the positive, really does wonders for your self-esteem, overall mood and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
Here are 10 ways to help you approach life with a more positive viewpoint. It will be overwhelming to try several things at once. Instead, choose one to try for a week and if it doesn’t work for you, try another. If it resonates with you, but you didn’t remember it part of the time — stick with it a little longer and it will become a habit. Be intentional and incorporate what works for you and your life over a period of time for a new lease on life.
Turn failures into lessons
Acknowledging that no one is perfect puts things into perspective. You’re going to make mistakes, but instead of focusing on your failure, break down what went wrong. You can learn from your experience, and use it to your advantage.
Start your day by recognizing that good will comes from being around other people.
As we all know, not all persons being cared for are rays of sunshine. Some are cranky as they are healing. Some have behavioral issues as part of their illness. Some were never kind to you, even before their illness. Surrounding yourself with other people who are grounded and upbeat helps you maintain a positive outlook. Positivity, as is negativity, is contagious. So, choose your friends wisely. And take good will and positivity where you find it – the pleasant delivery person, the cheerful receptionist at the doctor’s office, the helpful clerk. Let them know how much your appreciate their attitude and the positivity.
Be Thankful
Each night before going to bed, write down 3 things you’re grateful for. It may be as small as a great cup of coffee or something bigger as completing a chore that has been bothering you for weeks. Make it a habit and you’ll soon realize thankfulness has become part of your daily routine.
Seek humor
Watch funny movies or listening to comedy routines on a podcast opens you up to laughter which signals the brain to release ‘feel good’ hormones. Wheels stood on a sit-to-stand machine for an hour before bed each night so we watched really old comedy tv shows – like Carol Burnett and Dick Van Dyke – during that time. A good belly laugh makes for sound sleep! Wherever you find laughter, it reduces stress levels a great deal. It may even allow you to see the silver lining, perhaps, in the most difficult of situations.
Assess what you’d like to change
This could be hard to do at first and may require several attempts, but it gets results and you’ll feel empowered. You may want to make changes somewhere, but fear – or lack of time – is holding you back. Maybe it’s your car that needs to be replaced with a mobility van, the vibrant color of bedroom walls that do not support calm and quiet your loved one needs, an old phone that won’t hold a charge.
Many things can be affecting the level of negativity in your life and once you put your finger on it, you can consciously change it for the better. As a caregiver you are juggling so many different issues. Try to prioritize issues so that the most immediate and the most important are handled first. That step will help you focus your energy and you know that the other things will eventually have their turn.
. Start your day with positive affirmations
Begin your day on a high note by recognizing the good things that can happen throughout your day. Even the littlest thing Everything counts! No laundry, an appointment with a helpful provider, sun is shining, medication delivered on time. Pessimists tend to start their day worrying and thinking about all that can go wrong. Don’t go down that road! This makes you see everything in a negative light and magnifies a series of unfortunate events like a domino effect. Sometimes it will help to make an affirmation card and post it where you can see it everyday. Like this one
Stop the flow of negative thoughts
It might need lots of practice at first but be patient and make the effort. Observe your thought patterns. You can do this by taking notes every time you focus on the negative. Even just making a mark on paper, counts. Each time you feel negativity creeping up — being overly critical or judgmental, or focusing on failures, consciously think a positive statement. It helps, if you have time, to write notes every time you focus on the negative. Even just making a mark on paper, counts. Each time you feel negativity creeping up — being overly critical or judgmental, or focusing on failures, consciously think a positive statement. It helps, if you have time, to write those down.
Sometimes caregivers get overwhelmed with what life throws our way. But it’s up to us to decide how we’ll come out the other end. You can decide whether you’ll have a positive perspective.
Find something you love to do
Take time to engage in something actually enjoy fills you with a sense of joy and fulfillment. Cuddle with your pet, stand at the window and weather watch for a few minutes, set down with your favorite coffee. Pay attention to the peace this brings to you, how much you enjoy those little actions. Being mindful of your reaction to such simple joys is fuel for the day.
Live a healthy lifestyle
Eat right, exercise regularly and you’ll see a definite boost in your mood. Plus, you’ll feel more confident and this helps you see things in a brighter, more positive light.
Practice makes perfect
Reinforcing positive living requires practice. The more you do it, the better you’ll be at it. Then, one day when you’re in the midst of a crisis, you’ll find that the first thing that comes to your mind is not what can go wrong. Instead you will wonder how can I use my strengths to overcome this adversity. And have the confidence to use those strengths.
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