How Positive Is Your Perspective?
by Elizabeth Savino

If asked to visualize your future, is your perspective filled with excitement and possibilities? Or do you envision the life you would like to have but are burdened with the distractions of the obstacles you may have to overcome to create it? If asked to describe yourself, what comes to mind first? Are you quick to sight your shortcomings or would your more attractive qualities come to mind first?

Sadly, many of us are living lives defined by negatives. Such negative thoughts are beliefs as to what we cannot do and have in our lives. Though there is no doubt that negatives, hardships and individual limitations exist in our lives, clearly positives are present as well. Perhaps we are more programmed to look at what is wrong, so we can correct it, as opposed to having love and appreciation for the positive aspects of our lives and the relationships associated with it.  By merely acknowledging and focusing on what is right, what is positive and what is a gift in our lives, we actually promote feelings of happiness. The truth is, if we look carefully, both positives and negatives exist all around us. Why not shift our focus to what is positive?

According to Dan Baker and Cathy Greenberg, in their recent book, What Happy Women Know, when one engages in any positive emotion they cannot simultaneously be miserable. This is so because the brain is not wired to process both positive and negative emotions at the same time. Thus, by consciously practicing focusing on gratitude and the joys that are present in our lives, our level of happiness increases.  The more we practice such gratitude, the more we are open to the positive possibilities both in our present and for our future.

In moving on or transitioning after any hardship in life, possessing a positive perspective is crucial in allowing us to build the momentum needed to recreate the lives we envision for ourselves. To begin practicing gratitude and focusing of the positive that exists in your life, follow these tips below.

1. Be an optimist. Hold fast to the possibilities that are always available to us. Look for the joy in life and allow yourself to wonder about what possibilities exist in any situation.

2. Believe in the power of you. Despite any hardships that come your way, have faith in and tap into the inner power you possess. Dig deep and pull from the tremendous strength that lives within you. We all possess this strength, but it is up to each of us to grab on to it and use it as our fuel.

3. Know your true passions. Give thought to what really excites you. What do you love? Know what your passions are and what brings you your greatest joy. Once you are aware of what this is for you, do everything in your power to hold fast to living out your passion.

4. Take personal responsibility for your life. Life is about choices. Make them wisely and with thought. Then, understand that you and you alone are responsible for the choices you make and the life that you create for yourself.

5. Learn from your mistakes. Though most of us strive to do what is right, mistakes are an inevitable part of life. View mistakes as an opportunity to grow and learn. Assess what happened and take proactive steps to remediate what caused such a mistake to occur.

6. Look for the joy that already exists in your world. Make a commitment to taking a five minute break each day to focus on gratitude. For five minutes do nothing but acknowledge what is positive and what you are grateful for.  The more you do this the higher your level of happiness will become.

7. Be courageous. Life is a wonderful journey! Follow your dreams in the pursuit of happiness while holding fast to the knowledge that fear is merely an emotion. Feel the fear, and do it anyway!

print this page