The Pillars of a Positive Mindset: 7 Ways to Live A More in a More Positive State of Mind

Having a more positive mindset is going to be one of the best things you ever do for yourself. But, it isn’t always easy to get there, especially if you have been dwelling in a negative mindset for too long. When you’re living your life in that negative headspace, you can have increased anxiety, depression, and a lack of productivity in your day to day life.

Setting yourself up to live in a more positive state of mind will take time and you do have to put in the work but it is beyond worth it. You’re talking better overall mood, increased productivity, and a general feeling of wellbeing. Here are 7 ways you can live in a more positive state of mind: 

1. Do not Waste Time & Energy on Things You Cannot Change

I think a lot of my negativity, personally, came from certain things that I really had no control over. I think this is a pretty common occurrence. However, it is a waste. If you are spending time trying to change people’s opinions on social media, worrying about what others think of you, or comparing your lives to that of other people – you are wasting time and putting yourself in a negative mindset.

Focus on yourself – what you can control and change to make your life and yourself better. 

You’re never going to change somebody’s mind via social media and most of the time, you’re just going to work yourself up for no reason. And, why? Because you have a strong belief about something? That’s great but don’t expect your passion for an idea to be transferrable to another person who holds an entirely different position than you do.

And, you will never alter what somebody else thinks about you or what people say behind your back. Worrying about it will only cause you angst. It isn’t worth focusing on because you cannot change it.

Comparing your lives to others without any type of plan to make changes is also pointless. We are all walking in different shoes and the path of one person isn’t going to be the same as somebody else’s’. If you admire somebody and the life they live, great. Try to get yourself there! The comparison game is not one you can ever win.

2. Become Aware of Your Mindset

Sometimes people who are super negative don’t even realize it. And, even if they do, they have no idea how to change it or why they should. Self-awareness is a powerful tool that we should all have in our bag. 

Be able to look at the way you are thinking about things in an objective way. Ask yourself questions like:

• Am I dwelling on things I have no control over?
• Do I spend too much time focusing on the negative aspects of my life without taking direct steps to change them?
• Am I being my authentic self?
• When X happens, why do I always turn to Y?
• Am I hanging out with positive people or people who tend to be more negative?

Be able to look at the way you think and the way you react to certain situations. Once you are actually ready to make a change, it is easier. Acknowledging that you are living with a negative mindset is virtually the first step to making actual change. Be aware of yourself and how you view the world around you.

3. Know Your Areas of Negativity

What is causing you to be so negative? Typically, there is always some type of root cause or things that trigger you to be more negative. This is why, often, talking to a therapist is a great idea for those who are super stuck in their negative ways.

However, if you are able, you can identify those areas of negativity on your own. Be mindful and notice when your emotions or mood takes a turn. Maybe there is something in the past that you’ve never gotten off of your chest. That likely needs to happen.

Perhaps there is a certain person who just pushes your buttons. Address it. Maybe it’s politics that has you dwelling in the negative space? That can be a trigger for a lot of people.

Find out what is causing you to be negative so that you can address it with change or action.

4. Seek Out Positive People & Positive Experiences

Surround yourself with positivity. Hanging out with negative people or those who love drama just makes everything less enjoyable. Ditch the toxic people in your life and seek out those who are more positive.

It’s also important to seek out positive experiences. Try new things. Get out of your comfort zone.

5. Be Goal-Oriented

Focusing on goals is a great way to keep yourself in a positive mindset because you are looking towards the future and looking to reach goals. The goals can be related to your career, your personal life, your finances, your physical health, your mental health, and more.

Setting clear goals for yourself along with a plan to reach those goals is going to lay down the foundation of a positive mindset. When you become goal-oriented, you don’t really have the time to focus on the kinds of things that do bring negativity into the mind space.

Here are some Quick Goal Ideas: 

• Building a Savings or Emergency Fund that reach X amount
• Hitting a Certain Weight Goal
• Taking Classes, Reading Books Or Anything Else that can Advance your Career
• Home Improvement Projects
• Learning Something New (A language, a skill)
• Eating Healthier
• Exercising X times per Week

6. Alter Your Self Talk And The Way You Look at Setbacks

Every setback is a learning experience and it took me a long, long time to learn that. Dwelling on that setback did absolutely nothing to push me forward. However, analyzing what went wrong and how to better approach a similar situation in the future did. All I had to do was change the way I looked at it.

And, that’s one of the main changes you need to make to push towards a more positive mindset.

7. Make Self-Improvement a Priority in Your Life

Focusing on self-improvement is going to get you into a positive mind space and it’s going to keep you there. No matter where you are in life, there is always room for improvement. You can always learn a new skill, become healthier, become more socially responsible, and so on.

You should always keep self-improvement at the forefront of your daily life. This is going to help you stay positive, reach goals and find new experiences.

You Can Be More Positive, But it is All Up To You

Look, I can go on and on about how much being more positive has made my life better. But, that isn’t going to matter if you are going to continue to dwell in a negative mind space. You have to make the choice to be more positive for yourself and the betterment of your own circumstances. 

What do you struggle with the most when it comes to negativity? Are there certain things that have helped? Things that haven’t? Let me know in the comments!

You can have a more positive mindset.