Peace and happiness can be a difficult state of being to achieve. For some, it seems to come effortlessly, but many struggle with a negative outlook worsened by the stresses of life, politics, finances and mental health issues. There is no magic pill that will cure these symptoms. For those trapped in difficult positions it often seems like the storm will never end. By integrating simple acts of mindfulness and positive thinking into your life, you can combat these symptoms and, over time, improve your overall wellbeing.
1. Combatting Negative Self-Talk
Combatting negative self-talk is the easiest way to improve your outlook with the least amount of work. If one suffers from low self-esteem, negative self-talk often reinforces this negative view of the self. In order to combat this you have to first identify when you are thinking or speaking about yourself negatively. Phrases like “I’m not good at anything” or “I’m so ugly” reinforce negative views of the self, but negative self-talk can occur more subtly. To combat these thoughts, teach yourself to follow up every negative thought with two positive ones. You may not believe it at first, but through repetition you will see a significant improvement in the way you view yourself. For example, the negative thought “I am dumb” can be followed up with “I am not dumb, I may not be a strong reader but I am excellent at math and verbal communication.” This will take practice, but over time it will become reflexive. The human mind is designed to follow certain patterns of thought, and changing these patterns takes time. This exercise will help you to speak and think about yourself more positively, by forcing you to focus on the positive aspects of yourself rather than the negative.
2. Look Good, Feel Good
Making subtle improvements to your physical appearance can be a wonderful way to improve the way you feel about yourself. With the emergence of social media, do-it-yourself and budget beauty and hygiene tips are more accessible than ever. Looking and smelling good can be a great way to lift yourself out of a funk. Simple changes like dying your hair or wearing press-on nails can serve as a metamorphosis of sorts, allowing you to shed what no longer serves you. Set aside some time regularly to do something to improve your physical appearance. This can be as simple as creating a skincare routine, putting on makeup, trying on outfits, or designing a personal maintenance routine. Find time to do something to make yourself feel beautiful, try adding one step at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
3. Fake It ‘Till You Make It
Speaking your goals into existence can be a powerful way to stay focused and keep yourself motivated. By saying the things you want out loud, you’re allowing yourself to visualize your goals and bring them into your everyday life. Every day, look into a mirror and say 3-5 positive things about yourself. These phrases can be related to life and career goals, or focus on your opinion of yourself. The trick is to say these things as if they are already true. Rather than using “I wish” or “I want” statements, you should utilize “I am” and “I have” statements. “I am healthy, wealthy and blessed,” “I have everything I need,” or “I am worthy, I am beautiful, I am respected,” are examples of common affirmations. Just like positive self-talk, you may not believe these affirmations at first. The important thing is to reinforce these thoughts through practice, to allow your mind to find a new pattern of thinking. This exercise is more effective when you utilize affirmation phrases unique to your struggle. Start with the thing that you dislike the most about yourself, and speak the change you would like to see into existence.
4. Spark Joy
Do one thing every day that brings you joy. This step is very simple. For some it’s making their morning coffee in a cute mug, for others, playing with their children does the trick. This activity can take as long as you want, and is the most accessible. Find something that makes you smile, then do that. Finding small moments of joy makes life worth living, so relish in the small moments.
By utilizing these simple exercises, you can improve your overall self-esteem and outlook on life. Improving your self-esteem doesn’t have to be a complicated process, by starting small you can bring yourself one step closer to happiness.