Focus on the Positives!

Sometimes when we go through life, it can be easy to think of all the things that are going wrong or the things that are not working in our favor. It can be easy to resort to negative thoughts when looking at what is going on around us, giving us waves of anxiety and sadness that are not enjoyable to be in. A study from Harvard explains why we should break away from this and gives us a helpful tool to do so as well.  The study found that those that wrote about what they were grateful for compared to those that wrote about what irritated them or wrote about something that had affected them for a 10 week period were more optimistic and had a more positive outlook about their lives. This study has two implications. The first one is that it is important to remember what is good in our lives and to appreciate all the wonderful things about ourselves and others around us. In doing so, it can boost our happiness and allow us to not think so negatively. The other implication is the way we can practice this. Try to write down what you are thankful for from time to time in a journal, your notes, or a phone and see how your mood progresses as you start this exercise. Reflect on what is going well in your work, your relationships, your family, your friends, your interests, etc. Slowly we can train our minds to think more positively and be a more optimistic individual!