By Lena Turcios
Everywhere you go there will be negative encounters. As much as you want to avoid them, they are bound to happen. In this article I will discuss the ways in which you can keep a positive mindset. These are some things that have helped me get through tough times.
Sometimes it can feel as if anybody and everybody has a problem with everything that you do. This can be common in the workplace with coworkers or a school setting with acquaintances. It’s easy to succumb to the poor attitude of others, but it takes much more effort to not let it get to you. The first step to letting go of negativity is to realize and question why? What is the reason this person could be acting this way? Have they been going through a lot recently? I believe keeping an open mind and having some sympathy for others always goes a long way. Especially in High School there are people who will nit pick at you, criticize you, and try to aggravate you. If you feed into their tactics you are giving them exactly what they want.
A good tool to use is keeping a pair of headphones on you. At any moment if you’re anxious, stressed, etc. you can listen to music that you enjoy. And also remember that people can have a tendency to project their problems onto others due to their own issues. Try not to take things personally because this will happen. For example, I work at a restaurant as a hostess and sometimes people can have very poor attitudes towards me. They feel frustrated that they cannot be seated exactly when they want to be seated or where they want to be seated because of reservations.
Secondly, going outside is a tool that everyone should use. Breathing in fresh air is proven to relieve stress. Also, if you have a dog they can almost act as therapy dogs. Personally whenever I see my dog she instantly makes me happy and calms me down. If you haven’t thought about doing so already these things tend to help me; working out, drawing, listening to music, going on a walk, doing yoga, baking, organizing/cleaning, taking a shower, and spending time with my friends.
It can be hard sometimes to feel motivated to be positive when it seems that a lot of things are going wrong. A good tip is to try and live in the moment. Dancing with music on is also a good activity to release pent up energy. Painting is also a satisfying way to release emotions. Anything art related is a great use of creativity. In this modern day there’s many people who struggle with mental health problems. It’s definitely not something that you can do instantly, but trying to do some of these things might help. Watching television too often is not good for you by any means, but occasionally it can be a good temporary relief from problems. I love getting involved in a show sometimes and focusing on the characters, plot, etc. it can be really stimulating for my mind.
Overall, negativity is inevitable but taking steps to have a positive attitude in life will benefit you. Situations are temporary and focusing on the present moment is always good.
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