think_positive
Originally uploaded by APH0rism

Balance: our mental health is as important as our physical health, this means that ensuring the routines we have in place in our day to day are maintaining positive mental well-being is equally as important as guaranteeing that we get regular exercise & eat a well balanced range of foods. It's all part of keeping the balance in our life: mental health, physical health; these are not stand alones!

Relationships: Our disposition affects all of our relationships from personal right through to professional. If we have a negative temperament this put up barriers that prevents us forming important new connections as well as contributing to breaking down those pre-existing relationships. In order to prosper and feel connected to those around us we need to ensure that we are aware of how our character contributes to the energy of our workplace, our home life and our social circle. Have a look at your relationships, do you bring something constructive and positive to the fort?

Health: Positive thinking and subsequent behaviour can alleviate stress and anxiety, elevate confidence, lift your mood and increase motivation. Consider for a moment the successes that could come from these benefits, your overall health can be increased because of lower levels of stress and anxiety, your elevation in confidence and mood can strengthen your social skills and thus increase your social circle and professional connections, your increased motivation could assist in professional productivity and success. Think of optimism as your own complementary therapy and a simple contribution towards overall good health.

Perspective
Negativity can cloud our judgment and over run our perspective causing us to lose sight of the actuality of how pressing situations and events truly are in the longer term and bigger picture. By ensuring we approach situations of difficulty from a balanced and even temperament we can save ourselves from a lot of negative energy and stress that we would otherwise have associated with the situation.

In complex and trying situation the first step should be to establish whether or not we have any control over the outcome. If the answer is a firm no, then we need to focus our energy on an optimistic reaction to this difficult situation as our reaction is the only part of this situation that is under our control.

If we can control the outcome of the difficult situation, the best plan of attack is to focus on withholding the impulsive negative energy that would otherwise see us react with antagonism and focus on creating a plan to come at the situation from a more positive and constructive angle.

Appreciation
Hand in hand with gaining perspective is the concept of focused constant appreciation. Appreciation for your circumstances will allow you greater perspective. Whether you take part in TiLT, write a gratitude journal, tell people you love them, plant flowers in your nan's garden or leave anonymous optimism notes on park benches, no matter how it is you come to focusing & shaping the positives in life, learning the art of being thankful for all that is super excellent in your life is one skill that will see you creating a more balanced and positive outlook.

Appreciation breeds positivity and training yourself to show a bit every day will lead to sustained optimism. In the same manner and with the same result as setting other routines, after a few weeks of sticking to focused efforts of gratefulness, showing your appreciation will become something as natural as brushing your teeth. Being of a truly gracious mind set and realizing the value around you is a truly valuable skill to learn. Consistent optimism is absolutely something to strive towards!


What are some of your favourite ways to show appreciation? What do you do to remind yourself that perspective is needed?