Do you ever feel depressed after watching or reading local news? Doesn’t the majority of the headlines seem to include more negative stories than positive? The news captures our attention by broadcasting all the bad things happening around us. This instills fear and negative thoughts into our minds, which leaves almost no hope for a positive outlook on life. However, psychologists say it’s normal for people to pay more attention to disasters, crime and other negative news stories broadcasted by the media. Study author Michael J. Robinson reports, not surprisingly, war and terrorism have consistently ranked at the top of the stack since 1986, where the study begins.
Below are some suggestions that may help encourage you to think positive despite facing an overload of negative situations.
Music plays a big role in encouraging our mental behavior. It has the ability to provoke our emotions to turn in to happy or sad feelings.
Listen to positive songs with lyrics that motivate positive thinking and encourage you to make progress. For example, i enjoy listening to “Beautiful Day” by India Arie. It has self motivating lyrics that give you the urge to start your day on a positive note. It also encourages me to be thankful for life, and to disregard the obstacles that discourage my ability to move forward.
Read inspiring books that will help you to be proactive.
Ever read a book that made you want to immediately make adjustments in your life? Two books that impacted the way i think about my outlook on life are “Listen to Your Life” by Valerie Burton and “Live Your Dreams” by Les Brown. Try reading books on self improvement to help you be motivated to think optimistically.
“Analyze your friends carefully
and choose them wisely”.
Keep your positive friends close to you.
Never feed into criticism unless it’s constructive. We all have our flaws, but the last thing we need is someone to continuously point them out. If you have people around you who offer solutions to help you with your flaws, make them your bestfriends. On the other hand, people who prefer to point out your faults and talk to other people about them, are of no value to you. Analyze your friends carefully and choose them wisely.
Ignore negative energy that some people bring your way.
You woke up in a happy mood and you arrive at work to meet a customer who has an attitude and is very aggressive with his or her words. You remain calm and pleasant, but deep down inside you really want to tell this customer that he or she is an A-hole. The best thing to do in situations similar to this, is to speak with a smile. Don’t be sarcastic or disrespectful, but show that person that you’re bigger than ignorance. Let your positive energy pass onto to people instead of allowing their negative energy to spoil your day.
“Let your positive energy pass onto to people instead of allowing their negative energy to spoil your day”.
Praying often will make a world of a difference in the right time.
Sometimes we expect our prayers to be answered right away. However, those of us who go to church or read the scriptures understand that prayer and faith go hand in hand. You cannot expect to receive a miracle everytime you pray for your wants or needs. On the other hand, not everything we pray for is suitable for our life. What ever is meant for you will be granted to you when you least expect it.
Pray with belief and optimism. Then everything you desire will eventually fall into place.
I suggest you read Psalms 23 and 27 for guidance on your positive journey.
