Lately, I have decided to take firmer control of my outlook on life because merely going through the motions is not living life to the fullest. It can be so easy to fall into negative ways of thinking and looking at circumstances in your life, but it is incredibly beneficial to take the steps that instead lead to a positive view.

It’s challenging to see the good in something when you feel like you have failed or didn't do as well as you had hoped. Changing your mindset about the situation can help you not only in the moment but also moving forward. A growth mindset is one that uses a defeat or nonideal outcome as a chance for self-improvement. This frame of mind allows for self-assessment and for you to plan for success in the future rather than remaining stuck in defeat.

Maintaining positivity is easiest if you have more positive events and experiences in your life. Working toward small goals and celebrating small successes and victories are easy ways to stay upbeat while working toward a more significant and more taxing goal. It can be tough to see or feel the effects of success or happiness if your only goal is ten years down the road.

On your path to positivity, it is essential to surround yourself with people that are uplifting you to become more positive yourself. You may not even realize that those around you are an unhealthy influence on you and are weighing you down. An assessment of friends is critical to ensure your positive emotional wellbeing.

Little changes to daily lifestyle can help to maintain positivity as well. Waking up in the morning should be refreshing and a reset to one’s day, however, we all realize that this is not reality. Getting enough sleep can help with having a more positive outlook on the day ahead, but like most college students, I find this extremely difficult and often wake up tired which then throws off my entire day.

Lately, I have been trying to wake up and immediately write down- or even think about- what I am going to accomplish for the day and what I am looking forward to in the coming week. Even if you woke up late or didn't get as much sleep as you wanted, positive self-talk can help you to reset yourself and have a more productive day.

When you radiate positivity, those around you will benefit from it. Small changes in your daily routine will make a significant impact on your emotional and mental well-being that will help you to be more productive and enjoy your daily routine rather than simply going through the motions.