OK, let's face it—we've all had a negative attitude about something in our life, whether it's complaining or disliking something/someone or just straight up being ungrateful. Even if we don't want to admit it, we're all guilty, some worse than others. But the thing is, you don't have to live your life like that. In fact, it's pretty easy not to, and here's how:
1. Try waking up earlier
When you wake up late in the day your body usually stays tired for the rest of the day and can seriously affect your mood. This can also cause you to fall asleep later at night, which can lead into a never-ending habit. When you wake up early, not only do you feel more refreshed, but you also have more time in the day.
2. Make a task list
Each day when you wake up, make a list of 5 goals you would like to complete that day. By doing this, it'll make you feel more accomplished and give you a better sense of purpose as you move through your day.
3. Give back
As crazy as it sounds, giving back to others actually makes you feel better about yourself—so give it a try! Stop by an animal shelter and play with some puppies; I promise you won't leave upset.
4. Stop comparing yourself to others
Each and every single one of us is different, from the way we look to the way we act. There is not one person on this earth that is you. That's why you are unique. Someone is always going to have a nicer body, a prettier face or a nicer car. But that doesn't mean you can't be happy with yourself. By comparing yourself to the people around you, you are only bringing yourself down.
5. Appreciate what you do have
While you're sitting in your old beat-up car and envying someone driving by in their brand new BMW, there's a person walking to work wishing they were lucky enough to have your car, let alone any car. Be thankful for what you do have because others are not so lucky. Instead of focusing on what you don't have, focus on what you do have. Try thinking of at least 5 things a day that you are thankful for. It'll help you appreciate the small things.
6. Understand different perspectives
Each one of us has a different opinion on most topics, whether it's politics, religion, racism—the list goes on. What you must understand is, just because you feel 100% certain about something, doesn't mean everyone else will. As much as you want to convince someone to see as you see, they are only going to believe what they want. Understanding and accepting that different perspectives exist than your own will make you happier overall. The more you understand perspectives, the more you'll understand the world, and the more you'll understand about yourself.
7. Accepting when you are wrong/knowing when to apologize
I know it's hard to believe, but you can be wrong about some things (I know, crazy, right?). The hard truth is that we are all wrong more often than we like to think, and that is OK, but if you do someone wrong, apologize. Even if the person doesn't forgive you, apologizing is the best thing you can do for yourself. You'll feel a lot better knowing you owned up to your mistakes.
8. Talk to people
You had a bad day at work? Call your mom to talk about it. You got in a bad fight with your significant other? Vent to your friend. You had an amazing day? Tell someone about it. Don't be afraid to talk to the people in your life about your life. I mean, hey, they've been around this long for a reason.
9. Take some small time during the day to de-stress
Lets face it: we've all had days when we were running around working nonstop, running errands and everything else in between. Even on days such as these, take 15 minutes to just relax and forget about any stress happening in your life. Read a book, watch TV, go for a walk. You would be surprised what 15 minutes can do for a whole day.
And, most importantly,
10. Surround yourself with people who make YOU happy
If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend who constantly brings you down, please, for the love of god, leave their ass. You will be so much happier with yourself and you will meet someone better. The people you surround yourself with are a reflection of you. So choose wisely. If someone in your life is toxic, let them go, for you will become toxic as well. Find people who encourage you to be a better version of yourself and who make you laugh. We only get one shot at this life and only you have control of what happens.
