Goals & the New Year
…Goals, goals, goals! We all make them as we enter into a New Year. This year, I thought very carefully about what is important to me and what is achievable, and then wrote it down with an actionable plan to help me achieve my goals. I also made the mental commitment to be flexible because life happens and maintaining an attitude of positivity is key to anyone’s mental well-being and health.
With that said, it is so easy to fall back into old habits, find excuses, or be bogged down by the negativity that can come from a friend, family, colleague, or even social media! I guess, “having a positive mental attitude is asking how something can be done rather than saying it can’t be done” – Bo Bennett
I’ve listed below a few ways to stay positive and effective in the New Year.
Staying Positive This New Year
“It makes a big difference in your life when you stay positive” – Ellen Degeneres
“STAYING POSITIVE does not mean that things will turn out okay. Rather it is knowing that YOU will be okay no matter how things turn out” – Unknown
“You cannot change reality, but you can control the manner in which you look at things. Your attitude is under your own control. Weed out the negative and focus on the positive” – Helen Steiner Rice
These are just a few of my favorite positive quotes that I love reading every once in a while because it reminds me to improve my outlook on life and build a more optimistic attitude. Without further ado, here are the 3 powerful ways to stay positive in the New Year.
- Finding the optimistic viewpoint in any negative situation: This is usually easier said than done but in my experience there are two kinds of people, the ones who see the glass as half-full and the other that see the glass as half-empty. I have always been the kind of person that isn’t too phased with a setback or negative situation. I use this as a way to reflect. My thinking is more along the lines of “how do I learn from this experience and look on the positive side of what I can do”.
- Cultivating positivity and weeding out the negatives: The older I have gotten, I have become more particular on who I choose to spend my time with and what sources I get input from. I am very careful with my time these days since I also want to maximize my free time with my family. It is hard to find the motivation to focus on the positive when positivity seems like nothing more than wishful thinking. My advice, surround yourself with people that support you and lift you up instead of dragging you down. You are in control of your life and you must be intentional about staying positive if you are going to overcome the brain’s tendency to focus on the negatives.
- Don’t let doubts hold you back from achieving your dreams or goals. Cultivate gratitude: Stay steadfast in believing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. Also remember that in all you do, you should add value in someone’s life. I’m a believer in karma and the practice of gratitude. It is important that when you are doing a good deed it is for the right reasons and you are also making a conscious effort to cultivate an attitude of gratitude to improve your mood and energy.
In a nutshell, to stay positive is to start your day in a positive way and that means starting your morning right, incorporating a healthy lifestyle and mindfully moving through your day. These may sound fundamental but breaking old habits in the new year and training your brain to have a positive outlook will eventually become a way of life.
What other ways are you planning to stay positive in the New Year? I would love to hear about it. xoxo Louise
