Resilience in Tough Times: 3 Ways to Cultivate Positivity
These days, it can be hard sometimes to find the joy in life.
It is easy to get wrapped up in the stress and demands of the everyday. These are the top strategies I use personally that help me maintain perspective and find contentment when life is overwhelming or seems dark.
Focus on what you do have
We live in a culture that puts a lot of attention on what you are missing, which inevitably leads to feelings of insufficiency and discontent. Make it a regular practice to identify the things you do have that are adding value to your life. I do this by writing a weekly gratitude list and often feel more content by the end. It can include anything in your life that you appreciate having or experiencing.
Identify the things that matter to you, and ensure they are a regular part of your life
Do the activities you spend your time on in a given week match what you actually care about? What do you enjoy that you’re not doing now? It’s vital to check this periodically to avoid unintended drift. It also helps you to make intentional, positive choices.
If your week looks like a lot of drudgery, that’s understandable - life comes with necessary tasks, especially in adulthood. However, your well-being matters, too. The question to consider right now is: how can you improve your situation, even a little bit?
A life out of balance, focused only on obligations, can drain joy. So take a moment to explore: What would you like to be different? What single, small next step could you take to improve your weekly experience? Imagine what it would be like if you were living that type of week.
Make sure you have both outlets and sources for renewed energy
As humans, we are dynamic, constantly absorbing new information and responding to life’s events. This continuous influx requires ongoing rebalancing, especially when the incoming content leans heavily toward negativity.
It is essential, not frivolous, to have healthy outlets for releasing negativity so it doesn’t build up internally. Equally essential are sources of positive energy that are purely life-giving. So two important questions to ask yourself are: What do I do to de-stress? What do I do to re-energize? Maybe you already know, or you may need to explore to determine the best outlets and sources for you.
I have found movement to be fundamental to this process to both de-stress and re-energize. This could be walking, running, dance, martial arts, or your favorite sport. Your body is set up for this and releases “feel good” endorphins in response. In addition to something physically active, consider something reflective and expressive:
Journaling
Meditation
Listening to music
Playing an instrument
Art (it doesn’t matter if it’s good!)
Time spent in nature
Pick 1-2 to incorporate into your week so that you let go of negativity instead of holding onto it, and notice any differences following the change. When I did this, it made me feel less “pressurized,” and my week became a little brighter. I hope the same for you.
