Laugh. Right now. Just do it, make yourself laugh. Honestly. Or at least smile.
Did you do it? Okay, even if you don’t want to admit it, it made you feel happy didn’t it? I bet it did.
Its actually been proven that forcing yourself to laugh or smile first thing in the morning makes you feel more positive throughout the day. There’s lots of science behind it to do with endorphins and things, but all you really need to know is that it actually does work.
Just doing that one tiny, simple thing can make a huge difference to your mindset during the entire day. To use a cliché, the glass is a lot more likely to be half full if you put the right stuff in it at the beginning of the day.
I really believe that having a positive outlook on life can make the world of difference to your overall well-being. I have been asked a lot about how I manage to keep so positive throughout everything. Really the answer is that it takes work. The phrase ‘fake it till you make it’ comes to mind.
Sometimes you don’t feel very positive at all, but it’s a choice. Do you choose to let the worst-case scenarios, the negative perspective and the fears get the better of you? Or do you make a conscious decision to think about the positive things. Make a list of three good things about that day, or life in general.
I would consider myself a very happy, positive, optimistic person. I honestly laugh every day. That doesn’t mean everything is perfect, it just means that I am choosing to see the good in life. I try to do at least one thing every single day that makes me really happy.
There is something out there that will make everyone smile, laugh or feel happy. Whether it’s playing music full blast and dancing round the house (this is very fun and I highly recommend it – although possibly best when no one else is home), going outside for a walk, making your favourite meal, doing a work out, or simply having a cup of tea (tea is a proven cure for absolutely everything).
Find that one thing that makes you happy, and do it more often. Even in the worst of times, there can be glimmers of happiness and that makes all the difference.
Most of all, I think its important to be able to laugh at yourself, and not take life too seriously. Honestly, I do some of the stupidest things (my sister and best friends can very much confirm this fact) but I have stopped caring – for the most part – about what anyone else thinks. I laugh at myself. I’m quite funny to be honest. Possibly just stupid. Either. Whatever.
You can’t control everything that happens in life, but you can – a lot of the time – control how you perceive things.
Take Monty Python’s advice. Always look on the bright side of life. (Did you just sing that? I bet you did. I did.)
Lucia X