You may have heard the long told and very wise story of the wolves and the old Cherokee. If not, we have it here just for you:
Here at Global Health we couldn’t agree with this tale more. You can blame the downs in your life on fate, poor decisions or just bad luck, but at the end of the day – the only thing that can change your life is you! We spend many a day helping our clients to realise that they can very much change their own lives if they feed the right wolf, or if they are just a bit kinder to themselves. Negative self-talk can have a massive impact on yourself and how you live your life, making it seem a lot more miserable than what it might actually be. So here are some ideas that you can start utilising today to live a more positive and prosperous life:
1. Take Responsibility
Today, it is very common for people not to take responsibility for their own circumstances and instead blame other people for their problems. In truth, everything that is going on in our realities is of our own creation, so at the end of the day we really have no one to blame but ourselves. When faced with a challenge, taking ownership of it will empower and uplift you, as well as put you in a better place to manage that challenge.
2. Be an Individual
We are all unique creatures, and without our differences this would indeed be a very boring world to live in. To be a more positive person, drop the need to compare yourself with other people. Your talents are unique to you, and by attempting to measure up with someone else, you will overlook what makes you great. Furthermore, in a world where social media is rife we don’t know the ins and outs of others’ lives and so we often may find ourselves comparing our own troubles to just the highlights of others. Let your uniqueness shine, and allow yourself to appreciate the greatness in others without feeling like you need to measure up to it.
3. Find your Own Validation
Many times we look for outside validation of our greatness. We allow how popular we are or how many “likes” we get on social media to define our self-worth. Realize that you are great no matter what anyone thinks. You have a lot to offer the world, and whether or not other people recognize it, we need you here doing what you do best. To be more positive, only worry about impressing yourself!
4. You Don’t Need to Play Games
Many of us play coy with our emotions. We don’t give love, hugs and kindness freely because we don’t want to be perceived as being too clingy or needy. This withholding of love creates a society where we are all a little afraid to connect with each other because we’re too busy playing it cool. Realize that everyone appreciates a compliment, a kind word or appreciation. Give your love freely to others, and you will receive more in return.
5. Be Assertive, Not Confrontational
Confrontation has been put on a pedestal these days. We love reality shows and talk shows where people fight and get in each other’s faces. Positive people, however, try to find common ground with all people. They don’t get caught up in the hype. When faced with opposition in another they look for a way to love and accept. The people who are the most confrontational are usually the ones who need the most love, so to be more positive try to find empathy for those who are struggling to be kind.
6. It’s Okay to be Wrong
This item goes hand in hand with the last one. Often times, we feel the need to defend our perspectives. When we receive any kind of criticism we feel the need to explain our position and why it is the right one. Becoming more positive requires that you let go of the need to be right. Trust that your perspective, while it might be the right perspective for you, may not be the right perspective for someone else. It is impossible for us to step into another person’s shoes and see an issue from where they stand because there are too many differences (physical, mental, emotional, environmental, etc) that stand between us. At the end of the day, it’s a good thing that there are so many opinions because it means that there are more options for all of us to choose from. Again, if we all agreed on everything our world would be boring and stale.
7. Appreciate Today
We often forget to stop and smell the roses. We feed into this idea that we need to be constantly busy to be productive and respectable people. However, the best times in life occur when we allow ourselves to get lost in the moment. If you feel pulled to admire the night sky, give your children a long hug or take a day off from work, do it! To be more positive we must enjoy the opportunities around us and stop racing past all of the good stuff.
8. Give to Give, Not to Receive
Sadly, we currently live in a world that promotes separation. Many of us believe that what’s ours is ours, and that we need to protect our assets from others. Greediness is a manifestation of this concept. To be a more positive person, realize that we are all in this together. If everyone gave just a little bit more, what a beautiful world this would be! So pick up that cup of coffee for a friend, or buy your mum a gift just because. You can’t take your possessions with you when you die, so try to share them a little more with the world while you are here.
There are many things that we can do to become more positive people, so this is just a starting place. Many of these behaviours have been engrained in us for a very long time, so some of them may be a little difficult to erase. However, as we start taking steps down the path of positivity, we are sure you will begin to notice differences to your own circumstances.
At the end of the day, realise that what you can do to benefit you! Life becomes a lot easier and happier when we stop allowing negativity to permeate our lives. Find your inner peace and life will become more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Stay Happy. Stay Healthy