Living life with a “glass half-full” perspective means having the ability to find the positive in every situation. It’s knowing that not every day is going to be sunny, but you make the most of the cards you’re dealt. It’s one of the more important things you can learn in life: to keep a positive perspective no matter what happens … but it’s also a tough concept to grasp.
Human beings are naturally negative (a.k.a. the “glass half-empty” mentality), and history has a lot to do with it. Thousands of years ago, paying attention to threats was literally a matter of life or death. Those who were most aware of danger were the ones most likely to survive. Nowadays, we don’t typically have to think about our safety on such a large scale, but the negativity bias lives on, nonetheless. Here are a few ways to kick that bias and adopt a more positive outlook on life.
Look at setbacks as opportunities.
What if instead of letting setbacks completely throw us off course, we looked at them as opportunities to reroute our way to success? Need some inspiration? Just take a look at these stories of people who’ve made incredible comebacks in life from the worst circumstances. Do you think they let anything stop them from achieving their goals?
We could tell you, “Just push through the difficulties and you’ll find success,” but we know it’s not that simple. It’s tough to be enthusiastic when roadblocks come up and reroute our plans. Here are some ideas to help you keep your perspective in the face of adversity:
- Remind yourself of your goals.
- Reflect on what you can improve.
- Think outside the box.
- Seek advice from a mentor.
Surround yourself with positivity.
The people you choose to spend time with, what you read, what you watch, and what you’re seeing when you scroll on your phone may all seem harmless, but they are everything when it comes to your mindset. If you’re constantly spending time with people who seem to hate their life, guess what? You’ll be more likely to start questioning your own life and everything in it. Alternatively, if you spend time with people who strive to see the good in everything, you’ll probably find yourself doing the same.
Find friends who are positive, uplifting, and who push you to do your best. Read and watch media that inspires you to be the best version of yourself. Unfollow people on social media who make you feel badly. Your time and energy are precious—spend them on things that are meant to improve your life, and you just might find that they do.
Laugh.
The most important thing you can ever learn is not to take yourself too seriously. It’s okay to laugh—in fact, there are tons of health benefits associated with it! Laughing has been proven to lessen depression and anxiety while making you feel happier overall. Plus, is there anything better than a good, hard laugh that makes you forget about the negatives going on in life? We sure don’t think so!
Some people are naturally wired to take a more serious approach to life, and that doesn’t make you a bad person. But it never hurts to loosen up a little bit, especially if you’re trying to gain a more positive outlook on life. Read this article for some ideas on how you can learn to relax and have some fun every now and then … it’s good for you!
The negativity bias in all of us is strong, but it’s important that you don’t let it win. Life is so much more enjoyable (and a lot less stressful) when you’re looking at it from a glass half-full perspective.
Becoming a glass half-full type of person changes your life for the better! Read this post for a few other habits to implement into your routine.
