Ways to be positive

@angelcrossing184 *sending hugs* some things that help me to stay positive in tough times are trying to write down some things im grateful for (could be super small like your bed or your favorite drink) and trying to be not too hard on myself. I feel like especially during tough times we do not tend to practice self compassion, but it is the most important time to do so. I hope things will get better very soon for you <3

@angelcrossing184

I think the first step is done by wanting to get happiness and positivity back into your life. For years I personally didn't even realize it was missing so much, so the change only started once I realized it.

Then I'd say practicing gratitude is always a great way to start. Write down one or two things you're grateful for but don't let it cover your struggles. You can feel awful and still be grateful for your favorite blanket that covers your shoulders. Being grateful doesn't mean you're not allowed to still feel bad.

Next I'd recommend scheduled play time (yes, like play time back in kindergarten). Once you become an adult you will feel like you're not allowed to have playtime anymore. All things funny and positive have to be exchanged for work and hobbies that will help you grow intellectually. I'd like to say: forget that.

Playtime is an incredible step in becoming more positive and happy. Depending on the people you life with that can be super small playtime or super big playtime. Have a lot of space and living alone? Buy yourself a ball pit. And jump into it. Throw balls around and see if you can cover your whole body with them! Bonus points if you have children and can do it with them and have a ball pit fight. Still at home with your parents who would judge the living hell out of you if you got yourself a ball pit? Buy some play dough! Can easily be stored in small spaces where you can't see it. Lego works the same way.

Just stroll through the childrens isle in any shop or online shop and pick what looks fun. If you're afraid of weird looks add a birthday card to it and no one will question it.

Don't have much money? Draw a picture. And I don't mean create art. I mean draw a picture. The sun is a yellow circle on the top of the page, the sunbeams are wiggly or straight lines. Maybe draw a tree as well?

Scheduled play time releases a lot of stress we don't realize we're holding. And while a lot of hobbies we have as adults are wonderful and nice, they're usually not meant to make you smile. Toys for children are meant to make you smile.

I'd also recommend laughter yoga. This might feel weird in the beginning, but you're learning a more bright and optimistic outlook again. Adults rarely laugh, how are we supposed to be optimistic without the ability to give out full body belly laughs? You can go to a course in your are or you can do it online. There are many videos. I tend to get one exercise in whenever a wave of depression hits. I throw my arms in the air and whiper "yay" to myself. Suddenly I don't feel as terrible anymore as before and can actually vacuum the livingroom instead of worrying about overwhelm.

If you're not a fan of these things, you can also start with writing down a past situation where you were pessimistic in the beginning. No matter how it turned out. And then write down how you could have reacted otherwise. Not optimistic maybe, but realistic. A lot of us tend to have a realistic-pessimistic outlook on life. "Yeah, but it's such a small niche. It's so unrealistic that I'll find a job, I don't even have to try". While there's a realistic-optimistic option as well "It's a small niche and chances aren't high that I'll find a job for it, but if I don't try I won't find out if I'm one of those lucky people that do get one".

You can't always stay positive, it would even be unhealthy to always be positive I'd say. But there's a lot of ways to get a realistic positivity. And for me they all start with getting fun and happiness back in as much as you get stress and suffering in.

Are you suffering more currently? Get more fun activities. Are you suffering less currently? Get more fun activities anyway!