7 Ways to Staying Positive

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These days it is easy to get down about your own personal situation. With so many people out of work, or worried about losing their current job, on top of the day to day challenges we all face, it is easy to give into that nagging negativity signal in our heads. We all know that simply repeating to ourselves the phrase "I'm going to be positive and have a good attitude" just doesn't quite remove the negativity. Sometimes the motivational posters or that great quote posted next to your computer may help, but they don't keep you motivated. You have to work at staying positive and motivated every day. It's not easy. You have to take deliberate action to have a positive attitude. You can't just think about being positive, you have to act! 1. Misery loves company One of the biggest mistakes we all make at times is sharing our troubles with others in a similar situation. Before long, the conversation turns into story after story of negativity. If you find yourself betting pulled into one of these "pity parties", politely excuse yourself. These sessions are a waste of time and energy and are not at all productive. Avoid misery. 2. Poison People Then there are those individuals that are always telling you how bad your ideas are and why they will never work. These same people are usually negative most of the time and quick to complain about the slightest thing. You can not remove these people from your life, but they should be avoided or taken in small doses. Especially at times when your positive attitude meter is running low. 3. Spending Time with Family, Friends When I am feeling less than positive, the best medicine for me is to spend time with my kids. Spending time with a family member or friend who is positive can be beneficial. Putting it simply, get your mind off of yourself and onto someone else to generate a more positive attitude. It won't necessarily solve your problems, but it will put you in a positive state of mind for addressing your issues in a more productive manner. 4. Read something that Motivates you There are plenty of motivational books out there these days. Some of us may have a story we like because it motivates us in a similar way. Take a few minutes or an hour to immerse yourself in a book or story that motivates you and puts you in a more positive state of mind. 5. Learn something New, Become an Expert Find a topic you are interested in and learn about it. Get onto Google and search for a few terms, visit the resulting web pages, learn about your topic and become an expert. The effort will give you a feeling of accomplishment, generating a more positive attitude and motivate you to continue towards your goals. 6. Exercise Get out of the house (or office). Go for a walk. Go to the gym. Just get some exercise and sweat a little bit. Burn off the excess energy that is feeding that negative attitude. 7. Reward yourself These days, getting praise for a job well done is almost non-existent. So go on, you did a great job. Go get something nice for yourself. Not food, a beer or a bottle of whiskey, but a tangible item that you can set on your desk or computer that reminds you that "you are doing a good job". Summary I hope this information helps those that read it. We all go through periods of negativity that can really damage any progress we have made so far. Feel free to bookmark this page and save it for later. If things get really tough, leave me a comment ... always glad to listen.