How to Grow your Power of Positivity

Life can be tough sometimes. In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, it can overwhelming and draining. Right? Well, here is the good news: you may have more control over your mindset than you think. The answer is maintaining a positive outlook. You can do that by learning how to grow your power of positivity.

In this post, we’ll explore the science behind positivity, the benefits it brings, and practical strategies to cultivate a more optimistic mindset. Whether you’re looking to improve your daily outlook, or navigate tough times with resilience, these tips will help you master how to grow your power of positivity.

What is Positivity?
Why is Positivity Important?
Examples of Positivity
How to Practice Positivity
When Positivity might backfire
How to Boost the Power of Positivity

What is Positivity?

Positivity is more than just a mindset—it’s a powerful tool that can improve mental health, enhance relationships, and even boost overall well-being. Positivity isn’t about ignoring life’s challenges. It’s not pretending that everything is perfect.

Positivity refers to our tendency to be optimistic in life. It’s about training your brain to focus on the good, and finding happiness in simple things. So, this is a skill you can learn. With practice you can master how to grow your power of positivity.

This is in contrast to negativity, which is all about thinking, feeling, and doing negative things. When we have positivity, we might think positive, have positive emotions, and do positive things.

Now, why is positivity so important?

Why is positivity so important?

Positivity is so powerful that it can lead to better mental health and well-being. For example, self-directed positive thinking can buffer us from the effects of stress (Taylor & Brown, 1994). So try being positive toward yourself, for example by building your self-compassion skills. And if you aren’t yet, you can still learn how to grow your power of positivity to boost your happiness level.

Future-oriented positivity can also be powerful. For example, optimism can lead to better social relationships and a better ability to cope with stress (Taylor & Brown, 1994).

Here are some examples to help you use the power of positivity in your life.

Self-oriented positivity: “I’m a good person.”
Other-oriented positivity: “My friends aren’t perfect, but they are there for me when I need them.”
Gratitude: “I’m so lucky to have such a great husband.”
Paying attention to the positive: “That movie was so cool.”
Savouring: “That vacation last year made me feel so relaxed and connected.”
Future-oriented positivity: “I’m looking forward to my friend’s ‘Friendsgiving’ this year.”

Brain Training and Positivity

Positivity is more than just a concept. In fact, research has shown that we can improve cognitive function in ways that boost positivity.

For example, they found that, computerised training leads people to focus on the positive over the negative and contributes to positive outcomes (Wadlinger & Isaacowitz, 2008).

This means that you and I can train our brain to be positive. So, how to practice positivity?

How to Grow your Power of Positivity

Here are some practices that can help you increase your positivity.

1. Write a self-compassion letter

Being comfortable with yourself—and showing yourself some compassion—can make it easier to find, express, and receive positivity. To build your self-compassion, try writing yourself a self-compassion letter (Shapira & Mongrain, 2010). In this letter, you say nice things to yourself and give yourself a break for anything that you might have been judging yourself for.

2. Practice positive reappraisal

Positive reappraisal is an emotion regulation strategy that involves trying to reframe the situation to find its benefits and decrease our negative emotions.

3. Practice gratitude

Gratitude journals and lists are good ways to grow positivity. Just try to think of something you’re grateful for each day or every few days to boost your gratitude.

4. Try doing a positivity meditation

Mindfulness meditation has become wildly popular. But what about positivity meditations? These can help you focus your thoughts on the positive and improve your mood.

When Positivity Might Backfire

Positivity can backfire though. It turns out that forcing people into positivity can backfire. For example, putting pessimists into a positive mood not only hurts performance, but it can also actually make them feel more anxious. Why is that? That’s because sometimes we use worry and other negative outcomes to help us. Also, suppression and other forms of emotional avoidance are not good for well-being.

So if positivity doesn’t feel right for you, or doesn’t feel right in a specific situation, that’s okay. You don’t need to feel guilty about it because your well-being comes first.

How to Boost the Power of Positivity

Sometimes we just need to get our minds open and ready to think more positively. You can include this in your weekly morning or bedtime routine. Why not download the journal from our free tools collection? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

What positive qualities do you have?
What strengths do you have?
What are you grateful for?
What do you have to look forward to (or what can you create so you do have things to look forward to)?

Bottom Line

So, capitalizing on the Power of Positivity because if you want more positivity, you can build it. Just be sure not to force positivity when it doesn’t feel right.

Positivity has a clear impact on your overall well-being. So, the more you practice skills that generate positivity, the happier you can become.

I hope this article help you develop your power of positivity. Which tip will you start with? Share with us in the comments below 🙂

References

Taylor, S. E., & Brown, J. D. (1994). Positive illusions and well-being revisited: separating fact from fiction.
Wadlinger, H. A., & Isaacowitz, D. M. (2008). Looking happy: The experimental manipulation of a positive visual attention bias. Emotion, 8(1), 121.
Shapira, L. B., & Mongrain, M. (2010). The benefits of self-compassion and optimism exercises for individuals vulnerable to depression. Journal of Positive Psychology, 5, 377-389.
Norem, J. K., & Chang, E. C. (2002). The positive psychology of negative thinking. Journal of clinical psychology, 58(9), 993-1001.