There are many people in the world, but I have found that most of us fall into one of two groups; Optimists or Pessimists. A pessimist is the type of person who routinely sees the negative in every situation; relationships, work, finances, health etc. Struggling to find contentment in their every day lives. However, in contrast an optimist sees the bright side in every situation and seems to find life much easier. Which type are you? If you could do with a little help with feeling optimistic, read on. 

Happiness is contagious. When we surround ourselves with happy people, we feel happier in ourselves, even feeling motivated or inspired. In fact, laughter itself is a great way to connect with people. Having fun or sharing a joke helps us to bond and get to know each other better.  

Negative thinking is a very common habit that most of us fall prey to, but it is just that, a habit.  It also causes us to talk negatively to ourselves, and if our inner dialogue is negative, our experiences tend to follow suit and become more negative also. Pessimistic thinking is almost always self-limiting.  It causes us to doubt ourselves and seeps into our subconscious. Luckily for us, we are able to reframe our thoughts by practicing positive self-talk, recognising our achievements and so on. Some people feel that keeping a gratitude journal can help with this, as writing the things that we are thankful for in our lives helps us to acknowledge the good things. 

It is said that we become like those people that we surround ourselves with. The company we keep is thought to have a big impact on our lives.  Take a look at the people in your life. Do you admire them? Respect them? Do you want to be like them? If you don’t wish to be like the people you spend time with, think of spending more time around people you do admire or aspire to be like. This may mean taking steps to meet new people – a new club or hobby maybe? Investing in ourselves can never be a bad thing.

There are many other ways to bring more positivity into your life, ways that can suit everyone; 

It could be by bringing fresh flowers or plants into your home. This simple act can often make you feel a little brighter.  

Positive quotes are also a great way to get a daily hit of inspiration. 

Placing pictures of loved ones or happy times around your home can be a great visual reminder of things, places or events that are important to you.  

A musical, upbeat playlist to get you singing joyfully to your favourite songs whilst driving, exercising, doing housework or even just relaxing can really help to lift the mood.  

Reading a book that inspires and/or motivates you. 

Being productive and ticking things off of your to-do list can help you to feel like you have achieved something and be a weight off your mind.  

Distancing yourself from negative people who bring you down is not always easy but is a great way to increase positivity. Sometimes it is easier to surround yourself with more positive people than it is to distance yourself from negative friends or family. 

Share – things or time. Whether it’s giving compliments, holding a door for someone, helping someone to carry their shopping or with a project, even volunteering.

All of these things help us to experience feel good emotions.  

Positive people forgive freely, don’t tend to hold grudges, attract more positive people, experiences and tend to have reduced stress – who wouldn’t want less stress? 

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” - Winston Churchill. 

If you would like Make Me A Plan to help you to feel more positivity or achieve your goals in 2020, check out our website and get in touch.