Do you ever feel like Eeyore with everything just a bit ho-hum? Negative feelings can sometimes creep up on us without even realizing. One day everything is sunny and bright, then slowly but surely you find yourself responding, “Wish I could say yes, but I can’t” when someone asks, “Lovely day, isn’t it?”
A bombed presentation, horrible traffic, fighting children, a speeding ticket, torrential rain, nuisance neighbors, a missed flight, drama with extended family… life has a way of expertly weighing us down with negative emotions, which in turns distracts from positive thoughts, feeling good, spreading joy, and having the energy to tackle life’s challenges and the strength to focus on, and achieve, our goals.
Our mission at Ilsa Fragrances is to empower you to believe in yourself and all you can do, and today we’re living this mission by helping lift the weight of life from your shoulders so you can be your best self and achieve the dreams and goals that have long lived in your heart!
So, here are 3 ways you can cultivate a positive mindset and conquer negative thoughts, downbeat emotions, and challenging situations!
Breathe Deeply
Yes, we are always breathing, but there is a difference in the effects of mindfully taking deep breaths as compared to short, chaotic breaths which occur when we are anxious or stressed! When you breathe deeply and slowly, filling not just your lungs but also your diaphragm, your body begins to relax. It calms the nervous system allowing the dysfunction that stress and anxiety bring to flow away. Calm, clarity and a positive outlook then have space in your mindset, helping you to function from a more optimistic and hopeful space.
Practice Gratitude
What better way to set yourself up for a positive mindset than to start your day off writing down 3-5 things you are grateful for? in a gratitude journal? By acknowledging the good and great in your life you welcome the positive in and strengthen your defenses against the negativity that may come your way throughout the day.
Celebrate Small Victories
If we’re practicing gratitude at the start of the day, let’s celebrate our victories at the end of the day! When relaxing in the evening, write down 3-5 small victories that happened that day. Did you get out of bed when the alarm went off instead of hitting snooze? Did you eat healthily even though you really wanted that doughnut? Did you take time to breathe deeply? Did you practice gratitude? Did you laugh sometime today? It might be hard at first to find these small victories, but we’re convinced once you take a look at your day you’ll see the positivity shine through!