Definition of being positive:thinking about the good qualities of someone or something : thinking that a good result will happen : hopeful or optimistic.

Let's be Real, No Sugar Coating Here!

Being positive is something, I recently noticed, my character lacks. There's a difference between being a nice person and being a positive person (I still feel that I am a nice person). I mean lets be honest, year after year we are jaded by the hardship of life and it gets more and more difficult to be a happy-go-lucky person. I'm not saying I'm depressed, all I'm saying is that I tend lean on the pessimistic side and lately it's been bugging the crap out of me. It's a vicious cycle when you get pissed off for being pissed off; come on, some of you may know what I'm talking about #winkyface. So much energy is spent on being mad about the most meaningless things because we feel that they are so meaningful. We tend to say thing like "it's not being pessimistic, just realistic". When opportunities arise, we see them difficult to achieve, which in turn makes us upset. We just can't win, right? If that's you're attitude, then welcome to my Pessimist Party!

Putting an End to the Negativity!

Since I am a social media addict (#confession), I see positive quotes all the time. I even preach them to some of my friends.

Practice makes BETTER!

No one ever became an expert at something overnight, unless you're a genius. But for us non-geniuses, we have to put things into practice. So practice practice practice my friends and let's put an end to our negative minds. Flick that little devil off your shoulder and embrace the good because we are good people, and we can be so much better.

Game Plan #1 - Start a Gratitude Journal

Photos by www.takenbythewind.com

Ughhh I know... who has time to write anymore! Stop right there! Making the time to write in a gratitude journal is said to have many great benefits. Why wouldn't you want to start something that is simply for YOU and no one else?

What Is A Gratitude Journal & What Do I Write?

Alright, so what is a Gratitude Journal? A Gratitude journal is like a diary where you write down things you are thankful for. Try to write at least 5 things down every night from that day. If you don't have 5 things DON'T stress out about it just write down 1 or 2 if that's all you truly feel thankful for that day. If you forget to write one night, it's not the end of the world! Don't write any negative things in it, only good stuff. If and when you have a bad day, you can look in your journal and see all the awesome things about your life. Keep it by your bed! Go buy a cute notebook that you absolutely love, with different colored pens if you'd like, and enjoy having your gratitude journal! It's yours, it's private, write down whatever you're grateful for, be honest, there is no judgement here! Celebrate the world around you!

The Science Behind It

Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky from the University of California at Riverside has found that taking the time to conscientiously count your blessings at least once a week significantly increases your overall satisfaction with life over a period of six weeks.

Benefits

Lowers stress levels, helps you wind down before bed, you start to learn what's important in your life, helps you learn about what you like, on days when you're down it can remind you of how great your life is!

Game Plan #2 - Meditate

Photos by www.mindfulmuscle.com

Meditation, this is definitely something new for me. Working full time, going to school full time, training full time, life full time, when do I have 10 minutes to spare? Starting with 10 minutes a day is only 0.7% of your day, so let's make it happen. Alright so how do we do this? Before we start meditating though, lets talk about the obvious that needs to happen before we go into zen mode. Turn your phone(s) off, don't even let it vibrate, avoid having distractions and we all know that our phones are super distracting. Also, change into comfortable clothes to avoid physical discomfort that may also distract you. Since I am not meditation expert here are some ideas from the articleStress Getting You Down? Learn to Meditate in 5 Easy Steps . I didn't want to bombard you guys with a ton of steps, let's start small. 

What's the purpose of Meditation?

Meditation is a practical means for calming yourself, for letting go of your biases and seeing what is, openly and clearly. It is a way of training the mind so that you are not distracted and caught up in its endless churning. Meditation teaches you to systematically explore your inner dimensions. It is a system of commitment, not commandment. You are committing to yourself, to your path, and to the goal of knowing yourself. But at the same time, learning to be calm and still should not become a ceremony or religious ritual; it is a universal requirement of the human body.

How to Meditate:

1.) Set an an alarm clock to help keep track of the time. Begin with three minutes, and work up to five.

2.) Find a comfortable, seated position (feel free to sit in a chair if you’re not comfortable on the floor).

3.) Sit up tall, rest your hands in your lap and close your eyes. Your palms can face up or down. Simply choose the one that feels the best.

4.) Take a few moments to relax and settle in. If any part of your body feels uncomfortable, mindfully shift to a new position.

5.) Once you feel relatively comfortable, redirect your mind to your breath and begin counting your exhales. Set an initial goal of counting a total of 21 and build up to 108 with practice. When your mind wanders, refocus by drawing awareness back to your breath, and begin the count again.

For best effect, practice this meditation for three to five minutes each morning, noon, and night to counteract the effects of stressful situation throughout your day.

The Science Behind It

Studies show that meditation changes brain physiology to slow aging. “Cognition seems to be preserved in meditators,” says Sara Lazar, a researcher at Harvard University.

Stress creates agitation and is something most of us deal with on some level. And it’s increasing, given the rising use of anti-anxiety medications, notes Stanford University researcher Emma Seppälä. Meditation allows people to take charge of their own nervous system and emotions. “Studies have shown improved ability to [permanently] regulate emotions in the brain,” adds Seppälä, who is also the associate director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford. “It’s very empowering.”

Benefits

Reduces Stress, improves concentration, encourages a healthy lifestyle, practice increases self-awareness, increases happiness, increases acceptance, slows aging,

Game Plan #3 - Perform Kindness

Photos by www.themindfulword.org

Do you all know what being kindness is? I'll tell you,. So how many of us practice being friendly even when someone does us wrong? How about being generous, giving to those in need? Or being considerate and being careful not to cause inconvenience, cause hurt to others, and show care. I sure don't practice kindness religiously, after all it's all about me right? Wrong! This is something that I most certainly struggle with, I'm not going to lie. When performing kindness as a pessimist my thought is "well what's in it for me"? Have you ever done something for someone else that costed you either time or money simply to make another person in need feel important? Maybe you have maybe you haven't. If you have, how long has it been since you did that? Can you imagine a world where everyone is kind to each other? Oh man, I do pray for that to happen one day. But today we PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE :D . Change starts with us, no one else.

How Do I Perform Kindness?

Some examples on performing kindness can be maybe visiting a nursing home, where you don't have any family members. Simply to say hi to a stranger and talk to them. Maybe it's helping someone's child with their homework. How about maybe mowing a neighbor's lawn? It could be as simple as writing a letter to your grandparents to make them feel important, to let them know you're thinking about them. Other examples can be getting involved with a charity of your choice, buy a toy for a child in need (the holidays are coming), or simply be present and in the moment with a friend or family member when they are in need.

The Science Behind It

Doing five kind acts a week, especially all in a single day, gave a measurable boost to Lyubomirsky's subjects.​

Benefits

Doctor Ben Dean from the University of of Pennsylvaniacan give you 3 reasons why acting with kindness offers the following "selfish" benefits (his words not mine, promise):Doing something kind reduces the tension created by our experience of empathy and inaction.A kind act allows us to avoid social sanction or personal guilt for failing to help.Kindness confers social and personal rewards.

Final Overall Fact

Psychologist Robert Emmons from the University of California found that Gratitude exercises can improve ones physical health, raise energy levels and, for patients with neuromuscular disease, relieve pain and fatigue.

Pick one to start with, don't overwhelm yourself. That's it! Let's do this team!

Signing off with my own little meme this time!

References:

"Authentic Happiness." Kindness and the Case for Altruism. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.

Magone, David. "Stress Getting You Down? Learn to Meditate in 5 Easy Steps." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.

Rama, Swami. "The Real Meaning of Meditation." Study And Download Yoga Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.

Wallis, Claudia. "The New Science of Happiness." Time. Time Inc., 2005. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.