How to Change Your Life with the Power of Positivity
Low self-esteem can be a difficult and insidious trap. It’s all too easy to fall into a rut, let your perceived failures affect your self-image, and start a vicious cycle. At this point, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy – your low self-esteem affects your life, which lowers your morale even more, and so on and so on. The truth is, any big life change has to start with your mindset. You have to look inward and work on your self-image before you can really improve the externalities of your life. It’s not always easy, and sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start. However, once you’ve mastered your self-esteem and relit the fire within yourself, you’ll find that everything and anything feels possible. Here are a few tips to help you get started on the path to self-improvement.
Avoid Negativity
When you’re feeling low, it can seem like there’s negativity everywhere you look. Every little thing that happens can feel like a blow, and that can make change seem impossible. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is ultimately a question of mindset. If you keep your eyes open and really look, you’ll find that there are just as many positive things in your life as negative ones. Making a deliberate shift in your mindset and focusing on the positives is the first step towards improving your life. This is easier said than done, of course, but you might be surprised at how much better you feel after shifting your focus. Even something as simple as making a list of five good things that happened to you today before going to bed can have a huge effect on your self-esteem.
Little Things Matter Too
One of the worst parts of being in a funk is that it can make all your hopes and dreams seem impossible. When even getting out of bed feels like a chore, how can you ever hope to find your dream job, or lose all that pandemic weight? The truth is, sometimes you’re just not in a place where accomplishing big things is realistic. And that’s okay! The little things matter too, and celebrating small achievements is a great way to improve your self-esteem and put yourself in a position to achieve bigger things down the road. Just think about all the little things you manage to do every day. Did you cook a healthy meal today? Did you take out the trash? Are you getting your work projects completed on time? It’s easy to take these small accomplishments for granted, but they can actually be a great foundation to build on. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and sometimes it’s enough just to achieve something small.
Create a Positive Environment
I’ve talked a lot about how changing your internal mindset can affect the external facets of your life, but the same thing is true the other way around as well, especially when it comes to physical space. Take a look at the spaces where you spend most of your daily routine. Whether it’s your workplace or your home, there’s a ton you can do to make it a more positive environment. Make sure everything is clean and free of clutter. You can also try doing a little decorating – put pictures of your loved ones up in your office, or some posters that make you smile. You can also try getting a plant, which has been scientifically proven to have a positive effect on mood. Improving the physical space around you can bring you good vibes and positive feelings, boosting your morale and self-esteem.
Look at the People Around You
Your physical environment isn’t the only thing that affects your mood – your social environment does as well. Nobody has ever accomplished anything by themselves, and it’s okay to lean on other people in your life sometimes. Having the support of your friends, family, and co-workers can make a world of difference, especially if you’re stuck in a rut. Focus on the positive relationships in your life. Your close friends and family are there to help build you up and support you in difficult times. On the flip side, distance yourself from negative influences. Surrounding yourself with negativity is just going to lead you right back into trouble, so cutting away the negative people in your life is a must. You can also expand beyond your own social circle. Listen to a motivational speaker or try visiting conferences. Motivation is a powerful tool, and you might find yourself coming away with a completely new mindset. Try doing a little research to find support groups or speakers that you think might be helpful for what you’re going through. Every great person has a supportive social circle behind them, building them up, so make sure you have yours too.
Look to Your Role Models
If you’re struggling with your own self-esteem and accomplishments, try looking to someone else for inspiration. It’s true that no two people have the same path, but you can still look at their achievements and use them as a blueprint for your own journey. This can be someone in your life that you look up to, like a parent or accomplished friend, or just someone successful who you’d like to be. This doesn’t mean you have to worship them or follow every little thing they do, of course, but having a model for success can be great for your motivation and self-efficacy. Remember: if they can do it, so can you! A role model can show you what’s possible if you just believe in yourself and make it happen.
Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.” The key to improving your life has always been there within yourself, all you have to do is dig deep and find it. By improving your self-esteem and believing in yourself, you can make things happen and achieve anything you put your mind to. When you have a positive mindset, the whole world is open to you.
