12 Steps to Stay Positive in a Negative World

Welcome back!

If you're like me, you've been readily made aware of the turmoil going on in our nation's captitals. You feel impacted by Dateline, Frontline, Netflix, NBC, and Fox News. You feel stress, sometimes good stress, at work, home, and/or within your relationships. You begin to feel discouraged by the outpouring of exchanges made in harshness or intolerance in an age of social media and information. You feel disconnected, maybe even depleted.

This returns us to happiness as a verb, and what we can do to maintain our spirit's levity in the face of daily challenges and global chaos. In MindBodyGreen's article, "12 Steps to Stay Positive in a Negative World" by Dr. Joel Kahn, we find a few tips to reintroduce simplicity, joy, and balance in a fast moving environment.

1.) Control the amount of negative news in your life.

2.) Control the number of negative people in your life.

3.) Listen to music.

4.) Meditate.

5.) Live consciously.

6.) Practice gratitude.

7.) Pray

8.) Read positive publications.

9.) Give hugs.

10.) Disconnect.

11.) Laugh

12.) Connect with animals.

Discuss: What strategies do you use to combat negativity?

Including the above list, another strategy I use is volunteer work. Giving of myself not only actively improves the lives of others, but it also provides perspective when I need it the most.

Be well. Be Kind.