Banning negativity from your life: Start today

Have you ever noticed how negativity can spiral out of control? You make a mistake one minute, then notice something else you’ve done wrong, and five minutes later you feel like a total failure. Negativity is a horrible perception of life, that leads to stagnation because we become increasingly unproductive, and this in turn impedes our personal growth.

You need to set about banning negativity from your life! Start today with our easy guide.

Stop your negative thoughts dead

The first thing to do is to notice when you’re being negative about yourself and others. Capture that thought and banish it. You are more worthy than this petty judgement attitude.

Instead cultivate a new positive attitude. Look with fresh eyes at your belongings and the environment, at your skills, and your job and all that these allow you.

Take responsibility

You are in charge of your own life. If you are reading this, the likelihood is that you are mature and capable enough to make decisions for yourself. If aspects of your life are bringing you down, consider what is preventing you from changing them. Change can be scary, of course it can, but if you really want to move forward with positivity, then you can. Create a plan. Write down what you would like to do, and then consider all the steps you need to take to get there. After this, it is just a matter of managing each step of the process.

Obviously you can’t change your life overnight, but by setting small goals, you will move your life forward, and you will feel responsible for yourself, and much more positive.

Take ownership

By the same token, take ownership of your mistakes. Making mistakes does not make you a failure, it makes you a human. We can all learn from our mistakes, and as long as we don’t repeat them. They offer valuable opportunities to grow.

Acknowledging your mistakes helps you to move forward, and releases pent up negativity.

Celebrate

Every time you make a success of something, mark it with a celebration. Be positive. You’re amazing!

Dare to dream

Allowing yourself time to think will unleash your creative potential. You won’t come up with any crazy ideas while watching the TV, or mooching over your phone, so instead give yourself the space to allow your mind to wander. With any luck you’ll come up with some new goals and these will enhance your happiness. They could be a creative project, ideas for work, or even a holiday.

Alter your routines

If you’re feeling stuck in a rut and this is enhancing negative feelings, perhaps it is worth changing your routines. There are numerous ways you can do this: what about asking someone else to cook and wash up; change your route to work; eat different things; do something different in the evening; change the way you exercise; read a book in a genre you wouldn’t normally consider. Doing something new will alter your perspective on your life, and the more things you find that you enjoy, the more uplifted you will feel.

Your life is a magnet

Wake up to the opportunities around you. Your life is a magnet for potential. How many people or situations walk into your world every day and how often do you actually capitalise on them? Try something new. Say hello to someone new. Smile at someone you’ve seen but never spoken to before. Be brave. Push yourself outside your comfort zone.

Find positive people

The more you surround yourself with positive, high energy people, the less room you have for those who are negative. Positive people light up a room and help you to feel confident and empowered. That’s the sort of feeling you need in your life. Return the favour and make others feel good about themselves too.

Do what you love

Life is far too short not to spend some part of everyday doing the things you love, or connecting with the people you love most. Enjoying life allows you to feel positive, happy and joyful and means you can disengage from anything negative, at least for a while.

Work positively with your environment

You should nurture the place you live, both your home and the garden if you’re lucky enough to have one, your street and your locality. Too many communities are disappearing these days. What can you do to foster a sense of well-being among your neighbours? It might be something as easy as tidying up the street, or perhaps offering to tidy someone’s garden. Help others who cannot help themselves. Arrange skill swaps (DIY or childcare for some gardening, for example). At the very least smile and chat with your neighbours.

Remember your manners

Say “please” and “thank you” as often as you can. It will remind you of how much you have to be grateful for.

Limit your access to social media

Social media is full of negative people. Have you ever read a news article and clicked on the comments? People hide behind their computer screens and use their anonymity to spout bile and bitterness. You don’t need that in your life. Limit the amount of time you spend on social media. If you’re bored, pick up a book. If you don’t like reading, phone someone and have a proper uplifting conversation instead!

Be the best you, you can be

There is no-one quite like you. Try to let go of your own anger and negativity so that you feel better about life generally. Stop being overly-critical of everything you do, and instead be kind. Keep your goals in mind, try hard and strive to be the best person you can be. You’ll fall from time to time, but you’re strong. Get back up and have another go. We only have one life – let’s make the best of it.