People say all the time that it’s important to have a positive mental attitude and to be motivated, but the most compelling question is, how do we stay positive in such a negative world?

How do we do that in the face of all the horrible things they show on the news? The good news is it is possible- it can be done! Here are some tips on how to stay positive in a negative world.

Here are the 6 steps on how to stay positive in a negative world:

1. Stop saying it’s a negative world

I know that the evening news is full of terrorism, wars, killings and murder, and if we base our perception of the world just on that alone we would of course think it’s a negative world. But as the T-shirt says “life is good”. If you decide that it’s a wonderful world and shift your perspective you will start to see there are many good things in the world.

Every day on the Internet you see a positive story about someone who helped someone else for no reason at all. There are hundreds, yes thousands of those stories yet they get overlooked and overwhelmed by the negative ones. So the first step is to stop saying it’s a negative world and say that life is beautiful. After all your mind believes what you tell it.

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” – Helen Keller

2. Find sources of positive reinforcement

Going on addicted2success for example is a great way to expose yourself to positive reinforcement. Look for books on positive thinking. A quick search of Amazon reveals over 44,000 books under the topic of positive thinking.

Reading a book either physically or electronically on your Kindle is a great way to expose yourself to positive reinforcement each day. Look for positive content on television. Programs and shows and movies that inspire and uplift you, not shows that are depressing and dark.

3. Make a good list

What is a good list? Some people call this a gratitude list, but the idea is to write down the things in your life that are good. For example, I might make a list and say I am grateful for my home in Amish country, I’m grateful for my health, I’m grateful for my wonderful wife, and grateful for my family and their support.

Once you make a list of all the things in your life that are good, it helps you see that there are many wonderful things in the world and in your life particularly. Life is good!

4. Be the positive

If people say it’s a negative world than one way of combating that idea is to be individually someone who changes people’s perception of the world because you live in it. For example, my wife Rachael likes to give people compliments.

For example we may be in a store shopping and as we go to pay for items she will say to the cashier “well I must tell you -you certainly have beautiful eyes. In fact I think they’re the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.”

I watch and smile as I see the cashier stand up straighter, and you can tell that they feel good about themselves because they just got a real authentic beautiful compliment. So if you treat people kindly and positively, and you bring out the light and not the dark. You can be an agent of change.

5. Avoid negativity

I am not saying to be an ostrich and stick your head in the sand. I am a realist. However, I think you will lead a much happier and more motivated life if you avoid negative programs, negative people, and negative gossip and just refuse to be part of the powerful life draining, soul crushing force of negativity.  

6. Seek joy

Take a few moments and write down the things in life that bring you joy. Then your objective is to work items from this list into your schedule. I find that far too often the reason why people lose motivation is they get so busy they forget to seek the joy.

They leave out the joyful activities in their life, in the end up becoming grumpy and unmotivated. Their heart and soul is saying “Why do I work so hard when I never get to really have any fun?”

“Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you live your life.” –  Joel Osteen

So when you wake up in the morning, as you’re getting ready to start your day, I want you to think to yourself- it’s a wonderful world. You live in a world full of life and love, victory and success, laughter and joy. Beauty is all around you. Focus on that. Because how you think about the world is truly your reality.

What are your steps to stay positive in a negative world? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!