There is no better way to start 2017 than with a life free of negativity. When negative thoughts cloud your mind, your ability to think clearly and be productive is hindered. In fact, “Research has shown that people who cultivate negative energy experience more stress, more sickness, and less opportunity over the course of their lives”. Negativity affects not only your life, but everyone around you.

Before 2017 starts, I challenge you to promise yourself positivity. This all starts by making an initial decision to eliminate the negativity in your life. Making this decision doesn’t mean that negative thoughts and actions won’t still try to creep into your life; however, it means that you will give yourself the power to resist those and instead focus on the positive.

Here are three ways that will help you start 2017 with a positive punch:

1. Find positive friends.

You are who you hangout with. Happy thoughts are contagious, surround yourself with people who aim to be just as joyous as you do.

2. Eliminate the negative people in your life.

We all know that one person who spends the entire conversation complaining about every little thing. Don’t surround yourself with people like that, they will only bring you down.

3. Focus on the good, not the bad.

Life is a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs; spend your time remembering all of the ups and the downs won’t seem so bad.

Don’t let negativity bring you down. Make 2017 your year of positivity and you will achieve incredible things.