Shift to the Positive

This time of year, many of us are happy to shed our cold weather gear for something lighter and go outside. If your outlook needs some lightening up, this Monday is the perfect time for a refresh! You can use every Monday to kickstart a positive outlook and keep yourself on a path towards contentment.

Even the most level-headed people will run into a situation that will make them feel angry. That’s only human! However, you don’t have to let anger take over. There are plenty of ways to replace your anger with more constructive thoughts. This Monday, turn your frown upside down and pivot to the positive!

Leading an exciting, busy life is a great way to stay on your toes and get a lot of things done. If you become overwhelmed, it may be difficult to focus on your most important goals. This Monday, set some time aside to imagine a less hectic future – one in which those goals are already achieved!

When February rolls around, many people start to feel symptoms of the winter blues. Stories about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) pop up at the beginning of every winter season when the temperatures drop and the days shrink. But even when the days start getting longer and the end of winter is in sight, people are still dealing with some symptoms that may be disrupting their daily lives. If you’re feeling the winter blues this Monday, here is some advice to take charge of the rest of the season!

Practicing mindfulness, as we have been learning all this month, has great benefits for reducing our daily stress. Even when done separately, deep breathing, being present, and being positive all help to calm the mind and help you refresh yourself in just a few minutes. This week, let’s take those benefits and extend them to others. Practicing loving kindness is a great way to build empathy and compassion; two things that help you look beyond yourself and put a stressful situation into perspective. This Monday, spread the good vibes and make it a great week for you and everyone around you!

Once you’ve learned how to clear your head of daily worries with the basics of mindfulness, such as deep breathing and being present, the next step is to shift your state of mind. If stress has been causing you to have negative thoughts, try switching your direction and think positive. Look on the bright side this Monday and spread sunshine everywhere you go!

Before you start creating your New Year’s resolutions, spend some time this Monday reflecting on the best parts of the year before it wraps up. If you had a great year or a year with a few bumps in the road, this is a great time to single out those events – big and small – that made you happy, hopeful, and peaceful. It can be easy to forget all the positive things that happened in just one week, not to mention the whole year! This Monday, let the end of the year be a celebration of gratitude and set the tone for a less stressful year ahead!

The holiday season is a time of joy and togetherness, but it isn’t always the easiest time of year. Negative emotions have a way of creeping in and spoiling our good mood – but only if we let it. If you’re feeling down or stressed this Monday, learn how to embrace your negative emotions rather than run away with them. The result may surprise you!

‘Tis the season to spread good tidings, and one way to do that is to practice loving kindness! This kind of meditation practice is a great way to calm your mind, develop compassion and empathy for others, and help you be more present. Take a few minutes this Monday to put out positive vibes for others while decreasing stress for you!

The holiday season is a great time for seeing family and friends and appreciating the relationships we share. Long-running traditions also give us something to look forward to, as if we have a built-in photo album of happy memories. New research says that those memories might actually be able to reduce our stress – just in time for the holiday season! This Monday, remember the good times and find a happy place.