A positive attitude may do more than make you smile when times look dismal. In fact, a study by the University of Pittsburgh, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School and published in a 2009 issue of Circulation, the journal for the American Heart Association, found that pessimism can raise your blood pressure and put you at risk for heart disease. Those who stayed positive actually lived longer than their pessimistic counterparts. To stay positive, you must embody the principles of positivity to adjust your attitude and outlook on life.
Simplicity
A complicated and busy life can make you feel upset and stressed, reducing your ability to stay positive. FamilyEducation.com notes that you don't need a lot to feel better about your life, and getting rid of some of the things that cause you the most anxiety can seriously lift your mood. Try to scale back where you can; buy less, work less and worry less so that your positivity is no longer suppressed by all of the things that stress you out.
Visualization
Visualizing success in your life can make you feel more happy and positive about your goals and the pathway to those goals. "The Directory Journal" recommends having the expectations for positive outcomes through visualizing those outcomes. Imagining how happy you'll be when you pay off a debt, vacation with family or obtain a promotion can make you feel happier and more positive about the path you're on.
Flexibility
A staunch position on how things in your life should be will only bring about pessimism and heartache when things don't go according to your exact schedule. To stay positive, you must adopt a flexible attitude. When things don't go according to your plans, instead of becoming upset, explore your other options to see where your new path can take you. You may find that your flexibility is rewarded with new opportunities and a better lifestyle.
Laughter
Keeping a smile planted on your face is nothing if not accompanied by laughter. Laughter, even in dire or hopeless situations, can help you to find the bright side of life and keep moving forward. Surround yourself with happy, positive people who make you laugh. Go to a comedy show, or watch a funny movie. Tell jokes when you can. Don't be afraid to momentarily make light of situations that make you feel pessimistic and hopeless. It will lighten your mood and help you to stay positive.
Perspective
Sometimes, a little perspective is all that you need in order to stay positive, says Jeff Keller of the Michigan Courts System. What may seem like a terrible event can be put into perspective as you look for the good in life and recognize that your trials and struggles are making you stronger. Someone who recognizes the positive in his life can look past the negatives and find joy and happiness.
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