There are some of us that find being positive more difficult than others. It tends to be because we are carrying some type of load on our shoulders, holding us back from enjoying the things around us. In some cases it can be due to depression or other physical ailments. I think there are just some days when positivity seems nowhere to be found.

I personally have struggled to be positive in the last two years. Life has hit me hard, and I have had to pick up a lot of pieces of me that were broken. There are definitely more pieces than those 100-piece puzzles I used to put together as a kid. It is hard to find the good when feeling so distracted by the bad. I know positivity has a lot of benefits not only for me, but the world around me. I also find it to be easier said than done.

I made a promise to myself not too long ago, that I would put more effort into being positive. Sometimes I don’t even realize what I am saying is negative. That sounds bad, I know. I have trouble brushing things off, so anger or sadness tends to linger for me. I am a firm believer that you cannot judge someone if you haven’t been in their exact position before. I have been through a lot, even at such a young age. If you know my story, you might wonder why I bother. What keeps me going is hope. Hope is positivity. I keep thinking of a life with ease, and less stress. I dream big for myself. Small amounts of positivity can help the dark days seem lighter, situations not seem so bad, or even have the day go by a little faster.

Between my own advice, advice I have received, and guidance from the internet, I have created a list of ways to be more positive each day.

1. Name what you are excited for happening in the same day, next day, or following week.
2. Compliment a physical attribute about yourself.
3. Think of someone you love.
4. Smile…yes it works.
5. Try not to complain.
6. Try not to curse.
7. Create a wanted outcome for a situation/problem.
8. Devise a plan to fix the things you are unhappy with.
9. Know you will be okay and everything will work out the way it should be.
10. Take time to look at the beautiful world around you.

These are not going to work every time, but I encourage you to try. Start small. You do have to accept that every day is not going to be a good one. The idea, though, is to have more good days than bad ones. Life happens, and things will simply be out of your control. You can control your outlook on it. Most agree that it shows character, how you act when no one is looking. You only have one life. Enjoy the time you have. There is one thing to be positive about every day. For starters, being alive is a good one.

WARNING: Smiling is a side effective when you are positive and happy.

Enjoy your day, think of your wonderful future, and how you want your dreams to come true!