The last few years have not been a challenge. What the world went through surpassed any challenge we have faced and most likely will ever experience again in our lifetime. Simply put, these were and still are crazy times. In a seven-country survey conducted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 51% of respondents felt the pandemic had a negative impact on their mental health. With this significant number of people who felt worse off mentally came an increase in substances used to counter the effects.
The effects are stress, anxiety, sadness, and loneliness among many, even in my circle of friends. I have not been impervious to its effect either. Being a natural optimist, there were plenty of times when it was hard to see an end to the Covid-19 way of living, yet some of my best life changes happened during this period. With the help of a mindset coach, I learned how to deal with negative thoughts and how to keep myself motivated during dark moments.
There are many ways but if I don’t set a number this blog will become a novel so I have narrowed it down to 5 ways to stay positive that have benefitted me tremendously and I hope they will do the same for you.
One positive thing that has come out of this whole situation is that mental health issues are being discussed more freely and openly than ever before in the world. It’s no longer a taboo, unfortunately, not everywhere in the world, but progress is being made. We are also becoming better at taking care of our own mental health, which is encouraging. You can enhance your energy and reduce your risk of sickness by practicing self-care. The impact of even modest daily self-care actions can be significant.
Since mental health affects our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, it is crucial since it plays a significant role in our life. On good days, it's essential that we take care of our mental health; on bad days, we should reach out for support.
These tips are in no way a substitute for seeking professional help and I urge you to do so when you feel that you need guidance and support.
How to stay positive during times of change.
In my previous blog, I wrote about how to approach negative thoughts. These are 4 steps that will help in eliminating negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. You can train your brain to become more positive. Any positive thought will create a path where positivity is expected and sought after.
Instead of dwelling on all the negative events that have occurred, this can help you concentrate on the good things in your life. Positivity becomes more ingrained when we develop the practice of thinking positively.
Tip #2:
Establishing and pursuing goals
When you have objectives in mind, it's easier to stay optimistic in the face of difficulties and disappointments. When difficulties arise along the way, having goals will motivate you to get beyond them. It can also be fun to establish new goals and discover these other facets of your personality you have not explored before.
Write down these goals and create an action plan, and most importantly execute these actions. There is no point in taking all the preliminary steps and then letting them rest on a piece of paper or in a cloud.
Tip #3: Surrounding yourself with positive people
If you are surrounded by people who are often complaining, you might be influenced by their negativity. Spend time with upbeat friends and family members to make it more likely that you will adopt their positive thought patterns. When everyone around you is so optimistic, it can be difficult to be negative.
Sometimes it means decreasing time spent with certain people or letting them go altogether. I can tell you from experience that leaving behind those who have an unfavorable effect on your state of mind will only contribute to a more positive mindset and for me, the guilt I had was much less than the relief I felt.
Tip #4:
Follow a healthy lifestyle and practice self-care
There are five different types of self-care: physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and professional care. Maintaining good health will give you the ability to think optimistically. Get lots of rest, engage in regular exercise, and work on stress management. Everyone is built differently, so find out what works best for you.
Currently, I’m working on my health. I love going for walks in the park and practice my mindfulness there. I also have a facial and a mani-pedi once a month on what I call Selfcare Saturdays. You'll have more energy to concentrate on positive thoughts if you take care of your physical and mental well-being.
Tip #5:
Use positive self-talk and practice gratitude
You can learn to change your inner conversation to be more uplifting and encouraging if you tend to be more negative. But creating a new habit requires time and effort. Your thoughts may change. You can train yourself to speak more kindly to yourself. Your self-esteem is improved by positive self-talk. It can give you the boost you need to keep going, inspire you to see the "bright side," and help you put things in perspective.
Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to observe all the good in your life. You'll feel better and more optimistic as a result. You can be grateful for major events in your life and also appreciate the smaller things. I am grateful when it’s sunny outside and for waking up in the morning. If a journal is too much, find a way to express gratitude for at least one thing every day for a week and reap the benefits.
What I have learned during these tough and troublesome times is that we have a lot in our control even when the world outside is falling apart. Change is inevitable, but how we deal with it relies heavily on the tools we use to ward off the adverse effects it has on us. Luckily, in this technologically advanced era, we have all we need at our fingertips. All we have to do is find a technique that works for us and apply it.
Resources:
https://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-behind-gratitude/
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