Strategies for Maintaining Positivity in Difficult Times

The year 2020 was filled with events and disruptions that turned our daily lives upside down. Just as we began to adapt to the new normal, another challenge would arise. In short, it was a year full of challenges. With so much uncertainty and turmoil, it’s easy and natural to feel helpless and confused. However, that does not make dealing with all this chaos any easier; in fact, it makes things even more overwhelming.

But how can we prevent these disruptions from destabilizing us? How can we make the most of these challenges and turn them into opportunities?

Here are some strategies to help you do just that:

Practicing Gratitude

One effective strategy to spread positivity in your life is to regularly practice gratitude. Although every day is filled with positive events and happy moments, we often tend to focus on the small negative details. To break this bad habit, we need to rewire our brains toward positivity, and the best way to do this is through gratitude.

Taking time each day to reflect on 3 to 5 things you are grateful for helps you recognize the beautiful moments that fill your days—such as an inspiring conversation with a friend, an opportunity you didn’t fully appreciate, or an unexpected kind gesture. Recognizing and celebrating these moments makes a significant difference in how we experience life.

Keeping a gratitude journal is a powerful tool and can help you:

1. Reduce stress levels – By minimizing negative energy, you’ll have fewer things to worry about.
2. Improve overall mood – Whether you’re facing tough times or not, you’re more likely to feel good.
3. Enhance self-care – Focusing on the positive aspects of your life naturally encourages you to bring in more positivity.

Focusing on Learning

Another strategy to shift your focus toward positivity is to ask yourself what you can learn from a given situation or experience. For example, what would you do if someone betrayed you? If a pandemic completely disrupted your career? Or if you lost someone close to you?

You might learn to assess people more accurately, explore online opportunities in entirely new ways, or become stronger and more independent.

There is always a lesson to be learned in every situation, but it requires a willingness to see it. Maintaining a focus on extracting lessons from everything you go through helps you stay positive.

Practicing Forgiveness

Forgiveness is another essential way to deal with negative situations. Forgiving just one person a day can have incredible benefits. It may take some time to reach a state of forgiveness, and that’s okay. Many people believe that forgiveness helps the person being forgiven, and while that is true, it benefits you even more.

Forgiveness grants you:

1. Peace of mind – When you let go of resentment, you’re more likely to feel peaceful and hopeful about the future.
2. Better conflict management skills – Often, conflicts escalate because we take things personally and refuse to approach them with understanding.
3. Emotional intelligence – It takes a lot of empathy and understanding to forgive someone who has hurt you. The more you practice forgiveness, the more compassionate you become.

Forgiving doesn’t mean tolerating bad behavior; it simply means moving past someone’s wrongdoing and looking forward. Holding onto bitterness prevents us from moving forward and keeps us stuck in unnecessary suffering.

Being Mindful of News Consumption

Your social media feeds are likely filled with breaking news—whether about new COVID-19 cases, economic updates, global events, or political developments.

Of course, you want to stay informed and be aware of areas where you can help. However, constant exposure to distressing news increases stress and anxiety, which can also impact your physical health. That’s why it’s crucial to be selective about the news you consume and use it as a tool to promote kindness, connection, and inspiration.

It’s Time to Stay Positive

Start practicing now—no one knows what the future holds.

Here are some useful exercises to think about before going to bed tonight:

1. Three things you are grateful for today.
2. Someone you should forgive.
3. If you faced an unpleasant situation, try to find a lesson in it.

No matter how small, there’s always something valuable to reflect on.