How to Be Positive and Happy: The Ultimate Guide

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Learning how to be positive and happy is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Whether you’re having a really hard time right now or your life just feels okay, you can probably see a huge difference in your quality of life once you’ve learned the tips and tricks on how to be more positive and happy.

In this ultimate guide to being happy and positive, you’ll learn about how powerful positive thinking can be, get 7 tips that you can apply to your life right now, plus how to be positive and happy in the workplace.

Let’s dive in!

The Power of Positive Thinking

What do motivational speakers, life coaches, and personal growth experts around the world always try to impress upon us? Many things, of course, but to sum it up in one phrase – it’s the power of thinking positively.

Being positive is an outlook in life in which thinking daily positive thoughts, and using positive words in daily language, becomes the habit, priority, and guiding philosophy in one’s life.

The power of positive thinking is all about how our lives would change for the better, as a consequence of merely changing our thinking.

Here are 3 reasons that illustrate why we should invoke this positive power in ourselves:

Positive Thinking Reduces Stress

Imagine all the times you were complaining about somebody or something – all of those negative feelings were leaving their mark on you in the form of stress.

A lot of times, an occasional complaint may seem like an instant stress reliever. But what about such an attitude in the long run?

Getting into the habit of constant grousing, particularly over trivialities or things not directly in our control (like other people’s attitude, for instance), is a sure-fire way to invite stress into our being.

Since stress feeds on negativity, reducing stress is a good reason to eliminate negativity and stay positive in our life.

Being Positive Eliminates Worry

There will not be too many who say they enjoy being in a state of worry. While worry itself has adverse effects on us (like yet more stress!), the feeling of worry is not something most of us relish.

Thinking positively and using positive words and phrases in our internal dialogue with ourselves and with others is known to actually reduce feelings of worry. And along with it, the feelings of frustration, disappointment or other negative emotions that accompany it are also reduced, if not fully eliminated.

Of course, there will be times – like health, financial or personal security situations – when it is quite natural to experience feelings of worry. It is important to realize that positive thinking is not a universal prescription to eliminate all kinds of worries from our life.

But, here is where a positive mental attitude scores:

It frees up our creative mind to enable us to possibly come up with a solution to our problem – where none seemed in sight before – or at least get us to compromise with the situation, a lot quicker than otherwise.

Most of the situations we experience in our life can easily do without the nagging worry tagging along… and power of positive thinking helps you get there quicker.

Being Positive Helps Us Overcome Fear

This is another important benefit of a positive attitude. Less fear translates to more self-confidence, and more self-esteem. This reason alone is worth the “price of admission” into the “daily positive thoughts” mindset.

Imagine what a more confident YOU can do! And imagine the wonders that high self-esteem can do for YOU!

Fear gnaws at our self-esteem and erodes our self-confidence like nothing else; and worse, sometimes these fears escalate into anxiety as well.

Having a positive mindset helps you face your fears – slowly but surely – and lets you do the things you fear, and that helps in improving your self-confidence.

With the improved power of confidence, you can repeat your performance a little better next time, and that reduces your fear even further – confidence builds on itself – until the fear is completely gone; but remember, it all begins with a single positive thought.

How to Be Positive and Happy: 7 Actionable Tips

Now that you know how powerful having a positive mindset is, here are 7 things you can do right now to be positive and happy.

Quiet Your Inner Critic

Every one of us have an inner critic. You know it, it’s the negative voice inside of you that spews out doubts, questions, and fears. Often, they stop us from trying new things, taking up new opportunities, and from going for our dreams

Learning how to quiet your inner critic can definitely help you be more positive and happy. To help you do this, I’ve put together a free ebook on this topic.

Click here to download it!

Change Your Self-Talk

Self-talk is nothing more than the continuous stream of thought that goes on in our minds every minute of the day.

Positive self-talk is about giving that self-talk a positive spin, by using positive phrases and words in those conversations we have with ourselves every day.

Our self-talk represents the core of who we believe we are, deep inside – our strengths, our weaknesses, our interests, our dislikes, everything.

For instance, if we believe we are good at something, our self-talk will typically be positive about it. We justify our success on that task based on that belief.

And in the event of an occasional failure, we don’t dwell on it; we treat that failure as an isolated, temporary setback, or blame an external circumstance for that particular failure. We know we can turn it around, and get back on our feet if presented with that opportunity once again.

On the contrary, if we believe we are not good at something, our self-talk will have a negative spin about it. We justify our failures on that task based on that belief.

And if we do run into an occasional success, we downplay it by treating that success as an isolated, temporary chance; we don’t believe we can easily duplicate that success a second time.

In other words, we think and feel, and eventually act, like the person we believe we are. And we use the incessant chatter that goes on in our head, called self-talk, to reaffirm that belief every time.

Why Should Our Self-Talk Be Positive

Now, consider this: what if we can consciously change our internal dialogue to only reaffirm certain beliefs that we hold, and possibly change the rest of them?

That can be a powerful tool in our hands – the ability to slowly alter our beliefs to align with our overall success.

And that is exactly what positive self-talk can do for us. By putting a positive spin on any negative dialogue going on within us, we have the potential to turn that negative belief around and increase the likelihood of success in that area.

For our beliefs affect our thoughts, our thoughts determine our feelings, shape our outlook, influence our attitudes, and ultimately decide our actions.

How to Practice Positive Self-Talk

According to some experts, as much as 77 percent of the average person’s self-talk is negative. But the good news is, there is plenty of scope for improvement.

The first step in making your self-talk positive is to make a conscious effort to become aware of our thoughts in the first place.

The moment you hear yourself having a negative thought, put a pause to it. Can that be expressed using positive phrases?

In all your internal exchanges with yourself, consider any setbacks that you are bound to run into on your path to success, as isolated and short-term, and not permanent. Try to externalize the bad things, and internalize the good things that happen along the road.

Such a shift in our thought process will likely take some time and need some practice. But the rewards will be well worth the time and effort. Making positive self-talk our natural mode of functioning will improve the odds of success happening in our lives, sooner than later.

Use Positive Affirmations

It may sound woo-woo but using positive affirmations is a great way to change your self-talk and be more positive and happy every day.

Speaking to yourself with kindness and unconditional love can go a long way towards affirming yourself as an individual and develop a more positive mindset.

We beat ourselves down when we make a mistake; we are quick to see our flaws and shortcomings; we have moments of doubt, fear, and feeling rejected.

As you read above, the negative thoughts and beliefs that we have about ourselves and the world can take a toll on our mindset. Over time, this negativity becomes so ingrained in us that we take it as truth. After all, we believe what we repeatedly tell ourselves.

So how can we counter these negative vibes?

Positive affirmations are one way we can reprogram our negative self-talk and beliefs so that we can stand in our own power and truth. These short powerful statements reaffirm the positive in ourselves and give us a chance to break the negative cycle of self-talk.

Instead of being your own worst enemy, you’ll become your own best friend.

With positive affirmations, you can build new patterns of positive thoughts and self-talk that will empower you to the best version of yourself. Whether it’s loving your body, appreciating your inner strength, or acknowledging your best qualities, using affirmations will get you closer to loving and accepting yourself fully!

There are various types of positive affirmations and they can encompass different areas of self-improvement. Check out our articles on affirmations for more on how to incorporate them into your daily life plus epic lists of affirmations that you can start using:

Practice Gratitude

What you focus on will grow. So if you want to be more positive and happy, then it is essential to learn to acknowledge the good in your own life.

Research has shown that gratitude can have a profound impact on your life. It can lead to a range of physical, psychological, and social benefits including a stronger immune system, more joy and optimism, and feeling more connected to others.

Why does practicing gratitude work so well?

For once, the act affirms the goodness in your life, helping to refocus your perspective on the positives. Secondly, gratitude allows us to identify the source of goodness… which is not just our own traits and behaviors but also outside of ourselves. We’re able to see that we aren’t isolated beings but rather part of a rather beautiful Universe.

That may sound a bit too woo-woo for you… but the truth is that the action of being grateful helps moor you in the present. It attunes you to the value of the great things and people we have in our lives and that focus can help magnify positive emotions.

You cannot feel bad and grateful at the same time… and this is how practicing gratitude is a great way to cultivate more happiness in your life.

So ask yourself: what am I grateful for?

Start your gratitude practice today by taking a few minutes either at the start or end of your day to reflect and give thanks for 3 things that you’re grateful for. You can write them down if you like or simply recite them or share them with a loved one.

No matter how big or small, recalling moments of gratitude and pleasure on an ordinary day will boost your positivity and happiness.

Develop a Growth Mindset

Believing that you have the power to change your life is integral to being positive and happy. And by taking a closer look at your mindset, you can set yourself up for success.

Postulated by psychologist Carol Dweck, the concept of a fixed mindset vs a growth mindset can help you unlock the key to changing your life and living in a more positive and happy way.

Having a fixed mindset essentially means that you believe that your qualities are set in stone; that you either have them or don’t. This can apply to intelligence, skills, etc. As you can imagine, this mindset locks you into a perspective that there’s a limit to your capabilities and what you can achieve.

With a fixed mindset, you think that life is what it is, that there’s no possibility for change. Why try to improve yourself if you’re not going to succeed? You’re only meant to have this level of happiness and satisfaction in your life.

What does a growth mindset look like?

A person with a growth mindset believes that they can grow and improve themselves through effort. With time, knowledge, and experience, you can become better. There’s no limit to human potential.

Developing a growth mindset opens you up to the possibilities of life. Yes, you can be positive; yes, you can be happy; yes, you can be successful. Seeing the world as full of opportunities can certainly inspire you to do more, be more.

To learn more about how to develop a growth mindset, check out this video:

Surround Yourself With Positive People

According to Jim Rohn, we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with.

The truth is that our attitudes and moods are often be influenced by those around us. If you’re surrounded by people who are negative, angry at the world, or feel like the world is out to get them, then chances are this attitude has infiltrated into your mindset as well.

It’s hard to be upbeat and optimistic about life if the people closest to you are unhappy and dissatisfied with their lot in life.

So, take a moment to consider your social circle and the 5 (or more) people you’re closest with. If there’s someone who has a negative mindset, you may have to reduce your interactions with this person as their negativity is impacting you!

It may sound harsh but the road to healing often means that we have to leave situations and people who don’t align with us anymore.

On your journey to being positive and happy, you may have to seek out new friends and groups who support you on this journey and are themselves working on their own mindset and attitude. It’s much easier to go through change when you’re surrounded by like-minded people!

You can also have an impact on the people around you by using more positive words and language in your conversations. Remember, positivity breeds more positivity!

Seek Support When You Need It

It’s impossible to be positive and happy all the time; life just doesn’t work that way.

If you’re truly struggling with negative feelings and thoughts, it’s a good idea to unburden yourself to loved ones that you trust. This could be a family member, a good friend, or a mentor. You can just choose to vent and let out your bad feelings or you can also ask your loved one to offer any insights or advice.

Often, getting a listening ear and encouraging advice from someone you trust can help you get a new perspective on the situation and on yourself.

There’s also no shame in seeking professional help. It may take the expertise of a professional therapist to help unpack years of pain, negativity, and trauma. Luckily, the stigma against therapy has greatly reduced in recent years, making it a viable option if you have trouble healing your heart and mind.

Plus, you now have access to therapy online which is a total gamechanger. At the click of a button, you can easily find a therapist that vibes with you and have virtual therapy sessions without leaving the comfort of home. It’s also quite affordable.

Check out Online-Therapy.com where you can get a 20% discount on their online therapy services. Right now, during the pandemic, they’re offering free access to some sections of their online therapy platform!

How to Be Positive and Happy in the Workplace

While employee incentives and other employee recognition ideas are generally part of performance management efforts by employers, are you wondering what you can do, as an employee, to maintain a positive attitude in the workplace?

That’s an important question. Here’s why.

Because work is where many of us spend most of our waking time. Except for those lucky few who work from home, the people that we interact with for most of our time on a daily basis is not our family – but our co-workers and colleagues.

And how we interact with these people is important not only because it can directly affect our productivity at work, and our career prospects; but a lot of times, the effect of those interactions is carried over to our home and to our family, and to the most important people in our lives.

A positive attitude in the workplace is not only important to how you do at work but also how you do at home.

3 Tips for a More Positive Attitude in the Workplace

Show Appreciation

Take time to appreciate the people you work with on a regular basis. Let your co-workers know if you think they did a good job. Thank them if someone helped you out, albeit indirectly, with your work.

An occasional pat on someone’s back, or an acknowledgment of their efforts, goes a long way in fostering a positive relationship with them, and it radiates back to how you feel about your workplace.

The converse of this – if you notice someone did something that messed up his or her work, or your work, be kind about it. Instead of reminding whose fault that was, try to be positive about it and work towards a resolution.

Be Enthusiastic

Make it a point to show enthusiasm in everything you do. Be enthusiastic, and show it. Of course, if you really enjoy what you do, that comes naturally.

But how about if what you do is not necessarily something you really enjoy, but more of an in-between, temporary thing? Having a positive bounce in what you do, and showing it around, still out-benefits a sulking attitude any given day.

At a minimum, it will help your day get by quicker. It will leave you feeling a bit better at the end of the day than otherwise – because, despite the circumstances, you know you have given it your best shot, and you take that feeling home.

Positive energy is usually contagious, and chances are your energy will rub off on your co-workers, making for a better work environment as a whole – and you, as a part of that environment, will ultimately benefit from it as well.

Have Fun

The workplace is not just about work, for the simple reason that we are more than just machines. It is about people, interactions between them, and developing interpersonal relationships.

There are lots of things that can be done at workplace, that are not directly related to work; but they end up affecting how you feel about your workplace in general, and that indirectly affects your work as well.

Celebrating occasions like a co-workers birthday with a lunch out or similar; having fun socials or competitions on a regular basis; little acts of kindness like bringing a busy teammate something from the drink machine; and volunteering for company-sponsored fun activities – all help in making you feel part of a big family.

And that helps foster the positive spirit, which is necessary to keep the “work train” chugging along as it should.

The above tips can help you stay motivated and maintain the all-important positive attitude in the workplace; and that translates to a better work environment – a place you wouldn’t mind going day after day, for the simple reason that it feels like a home away from home.

How to Be Positive and Happy: Resources

Looking for more helpful resources on how to be positive and happy? Check out our recommendations below!

Self-Hypnosis Audios

Using self-hypnosis audios is a simple and effective way to reach your unconscious mind and reframe unhelpful patterns of thinking that have held you back. If you’re new to self-hypnosis, check out our guide on how to use self-hypnosis for self-improvement.

Below are the top 5 self-hypnosis downloads that can help you on your journey of being more positive and happy:

10 Steps to Overcome Negativity Course – This comprehensive package has everything you need to help you tackle your negative mindset. You’ll get 10 hypnosis downloads, covering topics from self-sabotage to negative thinking and more, a 128-page ebook with practical advice and tips, plus a progress checker. It’s also 50% off during the pandemic which is a great offer!

Develop Powerful Optimism – This self-hypnosis download can help you cultivate more optimism so that you can approach life with more confidence and positivity.

How to Develop a Powerfully Positive Mental Attitude – Calling all pessimists: this is the course for you! Using hypnotic suggestion, this audio download can help you instill a mindset that will have you focusing more on the positives in your life.

How to Think More Positively – Automatically – This gentle hypnosis session can help you respond to the world in a more positive manner. Train your mind to see the best in things, be less hard on yourself on setbacks, and notice more love and light around you.

Become Your Own Self Talk Coach – Learn how to be your own best friend and life coach with this self-hypnosis download. Transform your self-talk so that you can be more supportive and encouraging of yourself!

How to Be Positive and Happy: The Ultimate Guide