Positivity
By Michelle Greer, RN, IgCN - January 11, 2023

Happy New Year! This is a time of fresh starts, new beginnings, and starting over again, but a calendar doesn't have to determine when you make decisions about your life to make improvements. In fact, living a positive life is a process, not an event. It's something that is a conscious and active decision every day, no matter what is going on in your life. Easier said than done, right?

Since we are all individuals, it's up to you to decide how to actively stay positive. I recently read a devotional that listed six attributes of staying positive, and I would like to pass them on to you.

1. Be optimistic.

   Optimism is defined as hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something. Conversely, pessimism is a lack of hope or confidence about the future. How we look forward and view our future determines if we are one or the other. Since we can't see the future, this requires faith of some sort if we want to be optimistic. Faith is a positive word, and words like trust and hope go with it. It's having the feeling with you all the time that no matter what, things always work out.

2. Be grateful.

   To me, this one is the most important. If you can grasp this, the others will follow. The definition of gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Gratitude is something that is encouraged everywhere: social media, cards, mugs, and on and on. But being grateful is something that comes from deep down within a person. When things are going well, it's easy to grasp a feeling of gratitude. When things are not going so well, this becomes a lot harder. Gratitude must be intentional. You've probably heard that before too. But really think about it: when things are bad, much of our focus and emotion is on that issue, that worry, that concern, or that pain. Being grateful intentionally directs your focus on the things that are still good in your life. No matter how bad things might get, because life is hard, there is always something that remains good, and it takes a firm decision to bring your attention to those good things. You've also probably seen the phrase, "Practice gratitude." That's because this is something you have to do every day, multiple times a day. So, whenever you find yourself worrying and afraid, bring your mind to the good things in your life and even say out loud, "I'm so grateful for this."

3. Be enthusiastic.

   Don't just go through the motions of your day. Put some oomph in it! Even if there are tasks that need to be done that might not be so fun, make them fun. Make it fun in your own way. Music is pretty universal and can liven up pretty much any situation. Whatever you need to accomplish, put some heart into it. Enthusiasm will ultimately lead to something better than if it was viewed as drudgery. This leads to feeling proud of yourself for doing something well rather than just getting it done. And that feeling of pride will lead to the next point.

4. Be confident.

   Feelings of insecurity about ourselves in general or something about ourselves can be very unpleasant. We all have things we would like to change or work on. Practice focusing on the things you can change, and practice acceptance of the things you cannot change. Be patient and kind to yourself. It's one thing to try to motivate yourself, it's a whole different thing to beat yourself up. Working on ourselves and learning to feel pride in the things we appreciate about ourselves is the key to confidence.

5. Be generous.

   This one and the next one to me, go hand in hand. This is because it shifts the focus off yourself and onto someone else. Being generous is not just about money, it's about time, too: spending time with people, being there for others, and coming alongside others to be there to help them stay positive as well.

6. Be encouraging.

   We are meant to live in a community and be there for others when they need someone, even if it's just listening, showing empathy, and providing encouragement to keep each other moving forward.