10 Techniques to Develop a More Positive Attitude

At the start of a new year, it seems like everyone is talking about resolutions and goals. While those are great, at this time of the year I also like to reflect on my personal growth from the previous year in an area that’s not always measurable. It might not be something that you think about each and every day, but It’s something that affects each and every person’s life on a daily basis – whether they’re aware of it or not. And just what is this thing I’m referring to?

Attitude. I believe that your own attitude and the attitude of those around you play a great role in your life – whether for better or for worse.

While it’s my natural personality to tend to look on the bright side of things, I’ve really made an effort over the last bunch of years to live more consciously and positively. I live by the belief that if I work hard, be kind, and have an optimistic outlook, everything has a way of working out… and thus far, it somehow always does.

Today I thought I’d share some of the techniques that I’ve implemented into my life on a daily basis. Thinking positivity requires some effort sometimes, especially when you’re going through rough times, but what I’ve found is that the more you make the conscious decision to think optimistically, the more those tendencies are embedded into your brain and become go-to reactions and thoughts.

1.) Take a few moments to count your blessings daily. 

Every day when my mind is free for a minute – such as when I’m  driving to the gym or taking a shower – I use it to acknowledge what I’m thankful for. Sometimes I think about the big things, like how grateful I am for having an amazing husband and a mom as a great best friend. Other days I think about other things, like how blessed I am to live near hiking trails or by beach.

2.) Find ways to see the good – especially in less than ideal situations. 

This one takes practice – more for some than others – but learning to see things on the bright side is a powerful technique in learning to cope with life. Things don’t always go the right way for anyone, but being able to move forward with a positive attitude can only improve your life.

Putting it into practice, for every negative thought I think about something, I try to counteract that with a positive one. In example, when I went to a conference last year where I knew absolutely no one and found myself in socially awkward situations, instead of only thinking, “I have no friends here. This sucks,” I counteracted it with, “This is a good opportunity for me to meet new people, and if I don’t click with anyone, at least it’s putting my networking skills to practice and I’ll learn from the conference sessions themselves.”

See how I flipped my thoughts? Next time you catch yourself being negative, try this technique. It gets easier with practice and becomes almost automatic after awhile!

3.) Practice mindfulness often. 

Ever catch yourself thinking ahead, worrying about how much work you have to get done tomorrow while eating dinner or thinking about what you need to add to your grocery store list while in yoga class? Well yea, everyone does it some extent. But constantly looking to what’s next steals the moment from us and elevates our stress levels.

When you’re doing something you enjoy, are surrounded by beauty, sitting at a table with your kids chatting, sipping a glass of wine with your partner, and so much more, these are moments you need to be present in. Put down your phone, take a deep breath, soak in the moment, and realize that right here, right now is pretty wonderful.

4.) Be the kind of person you’re drawn to. 

Think about the qualities that you find attractive in a friend, romantic partner, teacher, boss, etc. Now ask yourself, “How can I embody more of those qualities myself?” Be more thoughtful and deliberate with your words and actions to try and be the best version of yourself.

The truth is, you get like who you hang with…. so surround yourself with optimistic people and make the effort to be an uplifting person yourself.

5.) Let go of grudges. 

One of my favorite quotes about holding grudges is the following: “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”

It’s so true, because by holding onto anger, you’re expending your own energy and manifesting more negativity within yourself. How does that help anyone? It doesn’t. One way to become a more positive person is to let the hurt and negativity of the past fall to the wayside. No one said it’s easy, but it’ll allow you to move forward and be happier.

6.) Make a point to de-stress before you head to bed. 

Clear your mind and relax as much as you can for a restful night of sleep – whatever that means to you. For me, it might mean chatting with my hubby, having a glass of wine, or playing with my dog.

After all, getting enough quality sleep helps us to think clearer, be more energetic and to have a better attitude the next day. Instead of harping on what went wrong or what you didn’t get done, focus on what went right and what you accomplished.

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7.) Don’t take things personally. 

You get blamed at work for something that isn’t your fault… Someone rudely pushes past you at the food store…You get cut off on the highway by some little BMW with a driver that looks to be 18 years old… 

These things happen to all of us. I’ve learned that people’s behaviors towards me usually has more to do with them than me. Everyone is fighting their own battle, and people can be distracted, selfish, and angry as they try to deal with their struggles in life. Knowing and accepting that enables me to brush things off more easily – and it also helps me to be kind to people even when they’re not kind back in that moment.

8.) Notice the little things that give you pleasure. 

This goes along with #3, but most of us are so busy, it’s easy to race through life and get caught up in the hustle and bustle. Pausing to notice the beauty around you, smile at something cute that a loved one does or says, or enjoy something that you usually are “too busy” to see can only benefit you.

Take my walks with my dog for example. Right outside my front door is a view of pretty mountains, and if I don’t make a point to see them, I don’t even look up when I’m walking my dog. I also make a point to notice the pretty trees and flowers that I pass by, and if it’s a nice day, to bask in the sunshine and soak up that Vitamin D.

9.) Learn to adapt to change.  

Being able to cope with life’s changes is a major component to happiness. Just how you’re able to do so depends on you, but learning to live mindfully (#3) indirectly makes you better at adapting to change, because it allows you to bask in the now and realize that the only thing guaranteed is the present.

Accepting that things change and knowing just how to move forward can be a huge challenge, but if you want to lead a vibrant, happy, mentally stable life, you simply have to develop healthy coping skills.

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10.) Know that sometimes the only thing you can control is your outlook. 

Let’s be honest, sometimes things go wrong. Tragedies happen, we find ourselves in shitty situations, people die, and sometimes life just doesn’t seem fair. Sometimes you don’t have much control over any of that. What you always have control over is your attitude and how you react to things.

A rule that I often implement with myself is taking a day or night to let a situation marinate in my head before I react to it. This way, I’ve had time to think about it, let it soak in, and can usually come back to the situation with a more a positive attitude and be more productive in figuring out how to more forward.

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Health encompasses many things – from your diet and activity level to your mental health and attitude. If you’re looking for support in getting healthier in 2016, I might be the health coach for you! Shoot me an email at nicole@foodielovesfitness.com or visit my health coaching page to find out more about what my customized program includes. 

Tell me… Do you consider yourself an optimist? Anything you’d add to this list? 

PS – The winner of my Big Slice apples giveaway has been chosen and emailed. Congrats, Katie!