“Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Is it possible for everyone to experience positivity in a world full of problems and chaos?

There are many times I’ve imagined a world where everything was positive. A place where everyone had all the confidence they needed to achieve purpose, no one gave a second thought to negative situations and everything was just full of positivity and perfection.

But that kind of world doesn’t exist- at least not now.

And this is only due to one reason- the need for equilibrium. In a world where negative forces unknown to us rule, it is almost impossible for everyone to stay positive in such situations.

But the truth is, you can be among the few that stay positive and spread that positivity, no matter how bad things may seem.

How to Create Positive Habits for a Happier Life

However, this was one belief I never used to have. I always thought that negative situations demanded negative responses. I believed that my thoughts and reactions were determined by what others said to me and that I couldn’t control them in any way.

I always wanted people to understand me and never tell me anything negative because I knew that it affected me a lot. But that never happened. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered the simple truth;

No one else has power over my emotions, thoughts, and actions.

You are completely responsible for your life and the way you feel at any given time. And sometimes, in negative situations, staying positive requires a lot of effort. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can develop specific habits that would help you propel positivity out of yourself and unto the people around you. And the good thing is that they’re simple. Here are 3 habits that will give you an aura of positivity, anywhere you find yourself and help you live a happier life:

1. Give a Friend a Compliment to Boost Self Image

A lady who knows she wears nice clothes wants to be told how nice she looks, especially when she may not feel so confident in her dress. The same goes for guys. It wasn’t until about a year ago that I began to realize the power behind compliments.

It’s easy to spot a person who doesn’t feel too confident in what he or she is wearing. All you need to do is look for someone who keeps adjusting a part of their outfit. Your job at this point is to walk up to that person and make a simple compliment like, “I love what you’re wearing” or you could be specific about a particular part of the outfit.

What this does is it increases the self-confidence of that person. And most times, if the compliment is returned, you also start to feel more positive about yourself.

2. Control Your Reactions to Promote Peace

Negative situations sometimes cause us to unconsciously react in negative ways. But it is also possible to always react positively to any situation, no matter how bad it may seem. Anger used to be my second nature and it often caused a lot of havoc. But the moment I learned to control it, my relationships got stronger.

The secret to controlling your reactions is not by intentional physical effort but by either conditioning your response or delaying your reaction. When you’re offended, try counting one to ten before giving a response. This method of delay always works.

You can also train yourself to always do this whenever such situations occur. One method I use, especially when I’m deliberately insulted, is to stare into space like a zombie and then smile at the end of it all. I had to continuously condition myself to react this way until it became involuntary. This only makes relationships stronger and allows peace to reign.

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ~ Viktor E. Frankl

 3. Relax After Disappointments to Reduce Tension

Have you ever picked up the phone before, only to respond harshly the person on the receiving end for no just cause? The reason for this could be because you had a bad day or you were just offended or disappointed by someone/something. Negativity has a way of getting transferred into other aspects of our daily lives. But you could make up your mind to transfer positivity instead.

If you had a bad day at work, don’t go home and take it out on your family. Instead, every time you feel tensed up, always take a moment to relax and clear your thoughts. It could be a few seconds or minutes, depending on where you are (just don’t do this when you’re in a meeting with your boss).

Relaxation helps you loosen up your muscles and get rid of any negative emotion that may have previously overpowered you. It also ensures that the next thing or person you encounter only sees the positive side of you.

It’s not enough for just you to think positively about your life. You also have to help others do the same, in the best way you can. Relationships are important and our positive reactions in negative situations add more strength. If we must make a change and transform this world into a place of positivity, you have to make the first move because it all begins with YOU.

Are you consistently trying to develop positive habits or are your thoughts stopping you? Share your insights by commenting below 🙂

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