{"id":2482,"date":"2018-05-11T01:30:06","date_gmt":"2018-05-11T01:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/15-tiny-ways-to-add-positivity-to-your-life\/"},"modified":"2023-04-20T18:11:54","modified_gmt":"2023-04-20T18:11:54","slug":"15-tiny-ways-to-add-positivity-to-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/blog\/15-tiny-ways-to-add-positivity-to-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Tiny Ways I Add Positivity to My Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"15<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tWords: Melissa Rosenberg<\/a><\/span>\n\t\n\tPhoto credit: Edu Lauton<\/a><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n

Google \u201chow to be happy,\u201d and you\u2019ll be met with 226,000,000 results as proof of our collective search for bliss. <\/strong><\/p>\n

However, even with that much information at hand, there\u2019s never a quick, one-size-fits-all answer. I\u2019ve found that my journey towards greater satisfaction in life is a slower, more organic process of growth and change.<\/p>\n

Change, however, doesn\u2019t always have to be epic. Even the tiniest positive changes have rippled through my life and made a difference. And while it\u2019s not always possible to be happy, I\u2019ve realized I can always make an effort to see the bright side of things. That minor change in perspective has helped lighten up not just my life, but the lives of those around me too.<\/p>\n

Here are 15 tiny things I do to add more positivity to my life. I hope they help you find more positivity in yours too.
\n<\/p>\n

Keep a Happiness To-Do List<\/h2>\n

I make plenty of to-do lists for my errands, but every so often I also take the time to write a list to remind me to do things that make me happy<\/a>. The things that make me smile are definitely just as essential as the tasks that keep life going logistically. Plus when I\u2019m feeling replenished and joyful, I have more energy to tackle the more difficult tasks.<\/p>\n

Give Yourself a Smile<\/h2>\n

Can a fake smile lift your mood? I\u2019ve read that researchers found the answer \u2014 by using pencils. By asking subjects to hold a pencil in either their teeth or their lips, scientists got each group to unknowingly smile or frown. The smiling group rated the same newspaper comics as being funnier than their frowning group counterparts did. So perhaps what\u2019s happening on your face really does affect how you feel. When I need a boost, I try to smile even if I\u2019m not feeling great. Oftentimes, it reminds me that there\u2019s always something worth smiling about.<\/p>\n

Is It Kind?<\/h2>\n

I find that speaking positively is easier when I put my words through this test, which has been found quoted in the work of many wise poets and teachers. Before anything I say leaves my lips, it must be able to pass through three gates: 1) Is it true? 2) Is it necessary? 3) Is it kind?<\/p>\n

Give Compliments Freely<\/h2>\n

Whether it\u2019s a chic pair of shoes, a job well done, or a lovely smile, if I notice something about someone else that makes me happy, I always make a point to say so out loud.<\/p>\n

Meditate for Three Minutes<\/h2>\n

Meditation is an excellent way to press pause on the outside world and reconnect with yourself. Taking even just three minutes to do so allows me to enjoy the positive benefits without disrupting my schedule, no matter what I\u2019m doing. I don\u2019t think you need to be an expert meditator to do so, either. Even when I can\u2019t seem to tame my thoughts, simply sitting quietly and taking some calm, gentle breaths helps me recharge.<\/p>\n

Offer Kind Words to My Reflection<\/h2>\n

Most of us are in front of a mirror at some point during the day, whether it\u2019s when we\u2019re getting ready in the morning, or washing up at night. When I\u2019m face to face with my reflection, it\u2019s easy for me to see my own self-proclaimed flaws. However, I make a point to stop and notice at least one thing I like about myself, whether it\u2019s physical or internal. Even though it sometimes feels awkward or embarrassing, I try to voice my compliment to myself out loud. I think kind words mean the most when they come from ourselves.<\/p>\n

Take Note of Three Things I\u2019m Grateful for Each Day<\/h2>\n

Even on the most discouraging days, I can always find something to be grateful for. Bringing those things to the forefront of my mind helps give them greater emphasis in my life. I either jot them down in my journal or simply think them to myself before I go to bed.<\/p>\n

Keep a Positivity Vision Board<\/h2>\n

Vision boards are a tried and true way to capture inspiration, and a great way to showcase your personal idea of positivity. I keep a Pinterest board of images and quotes that make me feel good, so I can delight my eyes as needed.<\/p>\n

Find Sunshine in Unexpected Places<\/h2>\n

To me, the feeling of sunshine on my skin is one of life\u2019s most uplifting pleasures, but especially in the colder seasons, I don\u2019t see the sun as much as I\u2019d like. A friend once taught me that sunshine is still there even when you can\u2019t see it, and I\u2019ve never forgotten her words. Visualizing the sunlight that helped grow the food I eat, the paper I write on, or the plants outside my window that are dormant but still very much alive reminds me that even when I can\u2019t see the sun, it\u2019s still there in spirit supporting me.<\/p>\n

Wear My Favorite Color<\/h2>\n

As much as possible, I try to wear my favorite color, which tends to change from season to season. Even if it\u2019s only in a small way, like a scarf or a ring, it helps keep me feeling bright. Also, when I do so, I try not to give thought to trends. A favorite is a favorite. I give myself permission to wear bright yellow from head to toe if it makes me happy.<\/p>\n

Watch My Posture<\/h2>\n

I\u2019m usually not aware of my own posture. Throughout the course of a busy day, I tend not to notice as I gradually sink into a slouchier state as the day goes on. However, making an effort to be conscious of my posture has helped me notice when I need to stretch or take a walk, which gives my body a needed break and keeps me from accumulating aches and pains that can make me feel grumpy.<\/p>\n

Set Intentions<\/h2>\n

Grocery shopping is usually an errand that I\u2019d gladly eschew. My heart always sinks a little bit when I realize it has to get done. \u00a0But even the most mundane task can have a positive spin when you take a moment to put an intention behind it. My intention when I grocery shop is to fill my kitchen with nourishing food that will help everyone in my household stay energized and cared for. With that in mind, my shopping trip is no longer a chore, but a wonderful gift to give.<\/p>\n

Revisit Photographs from Great Times in My Life<\/h2>\n

Whether I have a real photo album handy or just the camera roll on my phone, I sometimes like to pull up pictures from my favorite weekend adventures, dinner parties, or family gatherings. When I look at a photo from a time I was having a blast, I usually find myself reliving the joy as I treasure the memory.<\/p>\n

Send a Positive Text<\/h2>\n

In the same amount of time it takes to open Instagram or Twitter, I can send a quick \u201cthinking of you\u201d text to a family member or a friend, and spread love. You never know when someone might be needing some.<\/p>\n

Carry a Symbol of Positivity With Me<\/h2>\n

An old copy of The Little Prince<\/em>, a smooth stone from a camping trip at the beach, a tiny bottle of lavender essential oil \u2014 these are all things that I\u2019ve been known to carry daily in my purse or my pocket. Even if I don\u2019t have time during the day to take them out or use them, knowing they\u2019re there makes me feel good.<\/p>\n

What do you like to do when you\u2019re craving positivity? Leave us a comment and let us know.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Google \u201chow to be happy,\u201d and you\u2019ll be met with 226,000,000 results as proof of our collective search for bliss. However, even with that much information at hand, there\u2019s never a quick, one-size-fits-all answer. I\u2019ve found that my journey towards greater satisfaction in life is a slower, more organic process of growth and change. Change, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1319,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,39,101],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-health-wellness","category-lovely-lists"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2482"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2482\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}