Make It a Good Day

• Practice Gratitude:
  This is, without a doubt, the first thing I turn to when I need to take my eyes off the negative and focus on something positive. There’s always something to be grateful for, even on the messiest days. As you find negativity trying to cloud your mind, find something good to be thankful for. It may be as simple as the next breath, or the blue of the summer sky. Perhaps you’re grateful for dandelions peppering a field with bright yellow or the sound of the ice cream truck as it slowly makes its way down the street. I’ve been thankful for cozy blankets and soft pillows, the color orange and even the sound of a snoring puppy. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, place a small notebook next to your bed and write down one or two things you’re grateful for every night. It’ll help you think about things to be thankful for all day long, and when you’re having an extra bad day, you can go back and read over all of your blessings as a gentle reminder.
• Declutter:
  A cluttered environment lends itself to a cluttered mind and added stress. So take a minute to clean up. This doesn’t mean you have to do a full-on spring cleaning of your house in the moment (though sometimes that helps!). Sometimes something as simple as washing the dishes, putting away laundry or straightening your desk can help settle your thoughts and encourage a more positive outlook. If it’s your mind that’s cluttered, take a moment to write down whatever is bothering you, then, if possible, make a list of positive steps you can take to resolve the issue.
• Take a Deep Breath:
  Just stop for a moment and focus on breathing. Slowing your mind and returning to the most basic actions can help calm your heart and your nerves, reminding you that you only have to take things one moment at a time.
• Guard Your Thoughts:
  This one is big, and this one can be difficult. I’m making a conscious effort to be more mindful of my own thoughts in order to escape the trap of negativity. When I catch myself dwelling on something negative, whether it be criticism of me or someone else, fear or anxiety, I choose to shift my thinking to something more positive. I’m reminded of a verse I learned as a young girl, “and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) Imagine yourself putting negativity in handcuffs and turning it over to make room for the positive things in life.
• Do Something Nice for Someone Else:
  I’ve found in the moments when I’m hurting most it helps to find a way to brighten someone else’s day. Knowing that you’re doing good for someone else often helps you refocus and release the negative in your own life. You begin to feel better about yourself as you speak love and hope into someone else’s life.
• Go for a Walk:
  Exercise, exercise, exercise! It really does help you feel better. Yes, your muscles may hurt later, but it’s a pain you’ve earned, and in the process you’re releasing positive endorphins that help improve your mood and outlook. Plus, I always feel better about indulging in a fudgy comfort cupcake if I at least burned a few calories first.
• Sing and Dance:
  Deep confession time – I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. But there’s just something about breaking into a song that helps lift me from the doldrums. Break out the Bon Jovi and bust a move in your kitchen. And when all else fails, Don’t Stop Believin’… (Hey, it’s a classic!)
• Break Your Routine:
  I’m guilty of indulging in a pity party while flopped on the couch reading about everyone else’s amazing lives on the internet. But seriously, that is not going to help you get over a bad day or get out of a funky mood. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. So stop doing what you’ve been doing and try something new. (This is not an invitation to engage in retail therapy – it doesn’t work and it leaves you stressed out over finances in the end.) Take up gardening. Finally paint that room that you’ve been putting off for years. Learn how to bake a cake from scratch. Sometimes just trying something new or making a change can help you feel more positive about your life. And if it doesn’t work… well, you have a yummy cake to console you.
• Pray:
  Sometimes we just need to remember that it’s not really all on our shoulders. Sometimes we have to release the junk we’re carrying in order to keep moving forward. This should always be our first resort, but often winds up being our last ditch effort. But I’ve found that when I’m at my most stressed, when I’m being hardest on myself or others, prayer not only helps me breathe, recenter and focus, but it reminds me of who I truly am, where my value lies, and who I’m called to be. And that is a powerful force against negativity.

So how do you overcome negativity in your own life? share it in the comments below.