Developing A Positive Mindset To Live Better And Happier

A life unexamined is a life not worth living is a famous quote by the Greek philosopher Socrates. 

When you take a moment and become introspective, what do you see? Do you envision what could be, or are you too centered on what isn’t available to you? 

Examining your life and taking stock of all that you have that is good is a crucial habit to form in your life. 

By establishing a positive mindset that includes being open and optimistic about what you do have versus what you don’t, you’re giving yourself the tools and mechanisms to overcome adversity as you experience it throughout your life. 

And let’s be clear, there will be adversity. Having a positive mindset doesn’t make everything unicorns and rainbows, but like storm clouds, eventually, they pass, and rainbows may appear if examined in just the right light. 

As a teen, things can seem so overwhelming sometimes. But it’s not as bad as it may seem. In fact, nothing is as it seems. Instead, those issues are how you perceive them to be and allow them to inhabit your ways of thinking about the problem. 

Learning to handle adverse situations and overcome them is a life skill that teens should be encouraged to learn. The more you can adapt to adverse conditions, the more flexible you are in handling adversity, and the more you will be able to accomplish in life. 

Finding the good in everything, creating a support network, and developing a positive mindset is crucial to living a better life. 

How To Develop A Positive Mindset

Developing a positive mindset isn’t something that just happens; you can make it happen. It may take a period of time to build and nurture the skills to stay positive in the face of adversity. Still, once you learn those critical skills, you’ll reduce stress, have a better disposition, and emote good energy for the rest of your life. 

Focus On Your Internal Monologue:  Our internal monologue is the main force behind how we act and react to the world. Your inner thoughts are the catalyst for outward action. You become what you think, so if making a positive change is your goal, then you need to begin by believing in positive ways. 

Of course, what you can’t change is your inner critic overnight. That noise will still be there. But recognizing those negative thoughts as they happen and beginning to tell yourself more positive affirmations start to change the habit of listening to negative thoughts and instead listening to positive thoughts. 

Changing your internal monologue changes your outward perception, and slowly, your mindset shifts toward a more positive one. 

Associate With Positive People: Finding accountability with others is something that helps keep you on track. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people creates an atmosphere where those behaviors are acceptable. 

Surrounding yourself with positive people who avoid drama and look at the positives in every scenario are generally happier. Plus, by surrounding yourself with positive people, you’ll reinforce the attitudes and behaviors that you’re trying to adopt on your own. 

Social groups for teenagers are incredibly powerful, so surrounding yourself with people that lift you and encourage you rather than make you feel inferior is crucial to helping you develop and maintain your positive internal monologue. 

Be Mindful: Being mindful is the practice of existing at the moment and being emotionally regulated rather than fearful, anxious, and reactive. Creating a morning routine is also crucial for your outlook. 

Begin each day with some exercise and quiet meditative thought to help set a tone for your day. Then, focus on what you appreciate, what is essential, and what you cherish and are thankful for in your life. It could be friends, family, a pet, or whatever you love and are motivated by, and focus on your appreciation for those things. 

Focusing on what is in the moment helps you navigate stressful moments. In addition, this muscle memory causes us to calm the mind and stay emotionally neutral, which leans toward the positive. 

Practice Kindness: By acting kind toward others, you’re creating an environment that is usually reflective toward you. In other words, being kind to others will be treated the same way. This concept is known as reciprocity and is a byproduct of happier individuals that exist with a positive mindset. 

Find Positives In Every Negative: When asked about perseverance after years of failure, when finally inventing the lightbulb, Thomas Edison famously once said, “I haven’t failed. I just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” 

This quote is powerful in the proof that every negative has a positive if the results are analyzed accurately. 

Sometimes, staying positive is beyond our grasp, no matter how hard we try. 

Outside resources may be necessary in those instances, and expert help may be what’s in order. In those cases, finding professional service can be a phone call or Google search away. 

For example, you could conduct a localized search, such as Sonoma County mental health resources, and contact them for guidance and ideas. The key is to live a healthy, long life. And a positive mindset is the foundation for that quality of life.