Exactly how full is your glass? - By Samantha Abbott

Picture a big glass goblet filled to the halfway mark with water. How do you see it—half-full or half-empty? 

 

Consistently finding the glass half-empty—and the world as a difficult place— is a hallmark of negativity. 

Research has found that a negative outlook can contribute to everything from depression to heart disease to lowered immune system function. It can affect sleep, weight maintenance, the quality of your relationships, your social life, and even your ability to hold a job. 

Now imagine what it would feel like to approach life from a place of positivity, fun, connection, health, and possibility. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

6 simple tips to make a positive switch

To help wipe out negativity, try one or more of the following action steps:

Go complaint-free. Try going an hour without complaining and see the positive things in your life. Next, try a day, a week, and so on. 

Keep a gratitude journal. Each evening, list 10 or more things that you are grateful for.

Give compliments freely. Notice the good in others. Praise every person you interact with.

Find beauty everywhere in your world. Notice its gorgeousness.

Share your good news. Studies show that sharing happy events brings even more happiness.

Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.

Maintaining a positive outlook takes practice, and the more you do it, the easier it gets. The payoff—a happier, healthier life—is absolutely worth the effort.

Samantha received her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where she learned about more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods. She works at PNF. Samantha can be reached at columnist@TheWindhamEagle.com.