Be Positive - Life is an adventure

Have you created a life that you want?

One of the keys to having a life you love is adopting a positive attitude. Have you ever met someone who is always so positive and a joy to be around – someone with lots of energy and who can see the sunny side to everything? You can be that person too.

Often we cannot do anything about certain circumstances such as the loss of a job, the end of a relationship or bereavement. But it is how we react that really determines how long we stay down.  Without playing down the trauma and pain of life changing events, it is really up to us to decide how we will continue with our life. It is an old cliché, but when the going gets tough, the tough get going. We always have a choice and we can choose to see the positive side to everything.

Is your glass half full or half empty? To help you get it full over the coming weeks, here are my tips towards adopting a more positive attitude at all times.

1. Ask yourself what’s the worst thing that could happen or has happened. Often things that apparently go wrong for us are a blessing in disguise. Many people who are divorced by their partner, and who wished for the marriage to continue, realise years later that their ex-partner had actually done them a favour. Their life takes on new meaning and helps them grow in previously unimaginable ways.

2. Be willing and ready to forgive when you feel you have been slighted. Have the awareness that everyone is doing the best that they can, with the understanding and knowledge they have. Assume the best in others. Forgiveness can take time and a lot effort, but it brings us so much relief and healing.

3. If something didn’t quite go the way you would have liked ask yourself – does it really matter?  In the scheme of things, so what if someone cuts you up in traffic? Have NO expectations about how things “should” be, and see how quickly you lighten up. One of the biggest causes of upset is our expectation of how things should be.

4. Life is an adventure. Take on the attitude that no matter what happens today, you are going to enjoy whatever the day brings you. Each day brings us an abundance of gifts – it is up to you to open your eyes to them.

5. Adopt a can do attitude. Cultivate a belief in your ability to cope with whatever life may bring to you.

6. Stop dwelling on the past, and begin to work on your present circumstances, which will ultimately help you create the future that you seek. You can learn key lessons from the past but this does not mean that you wallow in the past.

7. Build up your self esteem – review all the good things that you have got going in your life and all your achievements to date. Include “minor” achievements too.

Adopting some or all of the above will rapidly bring about a very positive outlook in your life. Stay focussed on your goals, and keep the motivation going. Above all, be enthusiastic about life and all that it brings – remember everyone loves to be around a positive buzzing person, and you can be such a person.

And just chill out and have fun. Laughter, playfulness and relaxation are beneficial to the mind as well as the body. By having some fun in your life, you affect how rapidly you age, your immune system and how your body reacts to stress. You also learn to see potentially stressful situations as challenges and not as insoluble problems. Always remember - life is an adventure.