Creating a more positive environment in your life is achievable through intentional changes. How we perceive situations, manage our emotions, and respond to challenges isn’t always just right, but you can improve it. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s about nurturing habits and acquiring tools that enable us to better navigate negative experiences and moods. I remember a time in my life when I was enveloped in negativity, often complaining and filled with fear about my inadequacies and unrealized dreams.
This chronic pessimism took a toll on both my self-esteem and confidence. Recently, I found myself slipping into those old habits, and it’s certainly an uncomfortable place to revisit.
So… what changed?
When I felt lost once more, I began to explore how and when my mindset had shifted in the past. It became clear that meaningful changes often unfold gradually, making them harder to detect. I realized that I was procrastinating on my self-growth and healing, repeatedly telling myself, “I’ll try again tomorrow,” only to say the same the next day.
“Life is an echo. What you send out, comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get. Remember, life is an echo.”
It’s challenging to make progress, heal, or achieve your goals when you concentrate primarily on negative aspects. To invite more positivity into your life, simply wishing for change isn’t enough. You need to acknowledge your feelings about those changes and cultivate realistic expectations. Adopting new habits requires effort, but small adjustments can ultimately lead to significant transformations. Here are some effective practices that can help you remember: life truly is what you make it.
HOW TO ATTRACT MORE POSITIVITY INTO YOUR LIFE
LEARN TO PAY ATTENTION
Being mindful encourages you to protect your energy and develop your focus. It’s all too easy to slip into negativity unconsciously, whether you’re alone or in the company of others. Conversations filled with gossip or complaints can lower your energy levels and lead you to reflect negatively on your own circumstances.
We often overlook what we pay attention to.
These interactions can drain your spirit, making it vital to monitor your conversations. Learn to detach from others’ negative emotions and avoid becoming an emotional sponge (explore more here). The secret to attracting positivity lies here: if you spend most of your time focusing on negativity, that’s all you’ll notice.
GUARD YOUR SPEECH
We’ve all found ourselves in heated moments, about to say something hurtful, only to instantly regret it. Yet, we often engage in negative self-talk without a second thought. Why is it deemed cruel to belittle others but acceptable to do so to ourselves?
A little self-criticism can be beneficial, but excessive negativity hinders you. If you continuously tell yourself, “I can’t,” you’ll eventually believe it. This cycle of negativity can hinder your motivation and your ability to act. Shift your focus to nurturing self-compassion during your inner dialogues. Practicing self-compassion is linked to increased motivation and reduced levels of procrastination.
REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS BLACK AND WHITE
Refrain from making assumptions or jumping to conclusions. Life often exists in gray areas; things are rarely as clear-cut as they seem. When under stress, you may struggle to evaluate situations objectively. While it’s easy to think you are always right, this belief can blind you. By distancing yourself from stressors, whether large or small, you can see the situation more clearly. Remember, things are usually not as dire as they seem. Changing this perspective can be challenging, especially if you’re naturally anxious or impulsive.
JUDGE LESS
As friends and family, we sometimes struggle to accept decisions made by loved ones, whether about relationships or career choices. While we genuinely want the best for them, it’s essential to understand that our perspective isn’t always the best. Loving someone does not give us the right to judge their choices. It’s not our role to impose our values or rules on others. As you work on reducing judgments of others, you’ll find that you also become kinder to yourself. Letting go of harsh judgments can help you uncover the compassionate voice within you.
Also see: Self-Growth + Judging Yourself: How to Judge Yourself, Less
DON’T RESIST
Resisting negative emotions won’t make them disappear. To embrace positivity, you need to generate it. Just as you can’t fill a half-empty glass without adding more water, you can’t cultivate happiness by merely resisting negativity. All feelings have their purpose. Offer kindness to yourself rather than discouragement in difficult times.
You can’t always swap “bad” emotions for “good” ones.
Sometimes, the path to feeling better lies in allowing yourself to experience negative emotions. This practice helps build trust within yourself so that when a low mood arises, it won’t overwhelm you. By understanding that dips in energy are a normal part of life, you can recover more quickly from negativity.
LET GO + FORGIVE
The burden of resentment and anger, whether directed at yourself or others, detracts from your joy and fulfillment. You can spend years regretting past mistakes, but nothing will change unless you forgive. It’s easy to fall into the cycle of self-blame, becoming too upset to take action. This pattern is defined as insanity: doing the same thing repeatedly while expecting different outcomes. Everyone makes mistakes; instead of reliving them, focus on moving forward. Without letting go, you won’t invite more self-love, fulfillment, joy, or positivity into your life.
