Why is positivity so important? And how do you grow yours? Find out here.
The Power of Positivity
Examples of Positivity
Power of Positivity Practices
Here are some practices that can help you increase your positivity:
Write a Self-Compassion Letter
Being comfortable with yourself—and showing yourself some compassion—can make it easier to find, express, and receive positivity. To build your self-compassion, try writing yourself a self-compassion letter . In this letter, you say nice things to yourself and give yourself a break for anything that you might have been judging yourself for.
Practice Positive Reappraisal
Positive reappraisal is an emotion regulation strategy that involves trying to reframe the situation to find its benefits and decrease our negative emotions.
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude journals and lists are good ways to grow positivity. Just try to think of something you're grateful for each day or every few days to boost your gratitude.
Experience a Positivity Meditation
Mindfulness meditation has become wildly popular. But what about positivity meditations? These can help you focus your thoughts on the positive and improve your mood. You can find several of these meditations on YouTube. Here is one for you to try:
When Positivity Might Backfire
For example, putting pessimists
into a positive mood not only hurts performance, but it can also actually make
them feel more anxious. Sometimes we use worry and other negative outcomes to
help us. Also, suppression and other forms of emotional avoidance are not good
for well-being.
So, if positivity doesn't feel right for you, or doesn't feel
right in a specific situation, that's okay.
How to Boost the Power of Positivity
In Sum : Capitalizing on the Power of Positivity
References
- Taylor, S. E., & Brown, J. D. (1994). Positive illusions and well-being revisited: separating fact from fiction.
- Wadlinger, H. A., & Isaacowitz, D. M. (2008). Looking happy: The experimental manipulation of a positive visual attention bias. Emotion, 8(1), 121.
- Shapira, L. B., & Mongrain, M. (2010). The benefits of self-compassion and optimism exercises for individuals vulnerable to depression. Journal of Positive Psychology, 5, 377-389.
- Norem, J. K., & Chang, E. C. (2002). The positive psychology of negative thinking. Journal of clinical psychology, 58(9), 993-1001.
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