5 Fast Ways To Become Happier and More Positive

The human instinct for self-preservation is an inherently optimistic way of approaching the world because it assumes two things:

  1. There will be a future
  2. We want to be a part of that future

However, in spite of this inherent optimism, we also carry with us certain biases that can lead to patterns of negative thinking.

For example, because we are wired for survival, our brains are predisposed towards looking for threats to our well-being.

This leads us to weigh negative experiences as more important than positive ones.

In order to counteract these tendencies, you need to train your mind to become a more positive person.

Here are my 5 suggestions on how to be happier and more positive in your life.

You do have the power to make it happen.

How to Be Happier and More Positive

#1. Gratitude

Probably the most important key to being positive is to be grateful for what you have.

There is a ton of academic research out there now demonstrating the multitude of benefits that come with having an “attitude of gratitude.”

People who express their gratitude by stating it out loud every day to themselves, telling someone else, or keeping a gratitude journal tend to report overall significantly higher levels of well-being, better health, and somewhat interestingly, a tendency to be less wasteful.

#2. Positive Thoughts

By consciously choosing or “fixing” different thoughts you can reinforce the habit of thinking positively and decrease the number of negative thoughts in your mind.

Take the time to observe your thoughts and try to transform your negative thoughts into positive ones, e.g. “I’m so fat” is a negative thought that triggers bad feelings.

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By transforming this into “I know I’m fat but I’m exercising and eating healthy right now and I should see the results soon”, you are adding a positive and motivational twist to your original thought.

#3. Exercise

Exercise, specifically cardiovascular exercise, is absolutely essential for being a positive person.

We are blessed with these bodies that are capable of all sorts of amazing things.

Sadly, though, many of us use our bodies as conveyances that take us from place to place (often from our front doors to our car doors).

When we work our bodies to exhaustion a lot of our nervous energy gets burned off and we are available to be more present, focused, and happy.

#4. Presence

Speaking of being present, presence is one of the keys to positivity.

Because we have such well-developed brains we can spend much of our time anchored to the past or anxious about the future.

When you are focused on the now, which is the only period of time which you can be certain about, you step off the emotional rollercoaster of depression and anxiety and into the calm of present reflection.

#5. Reflection

Ah, and the last essential ingredient for positivity is reflection.

When you can breathe and reflect on what truly matters you are certain to find that what matters is love, family, and community.

Taking stock of the bounty of your life will provide you with the opportunity to be more positive and grateful for all of your blessings.

What are you doing to boost your happiness?

Happiness is a choice.

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It’s upon us to take the right steps to become more positive.

Hopefully, this article has helped you learn how to be happier in your life.

So, what steps are you taking to become happier and more positive in your life?

I’d love to hear your stories.

7 Comments
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7 Comments
  1. Emily

    March 2, 2019 at 4:46 PM

    I am always trying to make my self happier and happier every single day. I started out as a shy girl with little self-confidence and now I am taking chances and listening to God’s plan for me. One thing I do to be happier is to listen to music, in my opinion, I like “Good Life” I listen to it every day and it just motivates me so much. My life is stressful with school and everything but every chance I get I use it to be happy. WE ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE SO MAKE IT COUNT

    • john smith

      September 13, 2019 at 1:44 PM

      Great article. I was recently looking for ways to happiness. If you are on a similar quest I can also highly recommend Eisner Fjord’s “Simple ways to find happiness” where he interviewed hundreds of happy people to find their recipe for happiness. Check him out on amazon

  2. YOLANDA COLE

    February 18, 2019 at 3:13 PM

    I lost my mom 9/19/14 and I was on a downhill path weight loss, hair loss etc. Then that same year I decided to break it off with my daughters father and I haven’t looked back been single almost five years. Last year was my breaking point but I still have a ways to go but I’m doing better. The Universe seems to lead me where is best just wish it’d lead the right man to me LOL. But I’m OK with that patience is key. But daily I’m working on motivating myself, thinking happy thoughts, staying away from negative people (which I’m a Homebody), negative thoughts etc… I had always been a Happy person just life took a toll on me but I’m getting back to that person glad I found this site. Peace and Love <3

    • Jeffrey I. Moore

      February 18, 2019 at 3:31 PM

      Wow, Yolanda, thank you so much for sharing that!!! And welcome!!! – Jeff

  3. Barbara A. Stevens

    August 28, 2018 at 8:46 AM

    I have been in a 1 year 1 month relationship with a widower with a 40 year old drug addicted lazy son still living at home. He had been verbally abusing me and it was destroying our relationship and my significant other would not change it. I finally met with my Pastor and she advised me to stay away from his home and to only meet my significant other at my home. I stopped going over there and cleaning up everyone’s messes and being taking for granted and abused. I am regrouping, not picking up every phone call from him, nor answering the door when I want MY space. I am grateful not to be involved in this negativity anymore. I am a beautiful, loving creature and deserve to be treated the way I treat others and no longer will let this happen to me. Stay away from negative people who suck the life out of you and use you up. People should treat you like you treat them. If it is a 90-10 relationship – time to move on and reflect. There is much happiness in the world and much beauty. I will focus on the good and positive things in my life now. Blessings!

    • Jeffrey I. Moore

      August 28, 2018 at 1:12 PM

      Wow, Barbara, thank you so much for sharing that!!!!!! Blessings!!!!

  4. Abhay

    August 19, 2018 at 11:12 AM

    Thanks, sir. Great collection of ways to be happy and positive. And I know the value of being happy and positive in life. I am a big fan of the law of attraction and to follow this law I have to be happy. BTW, nice post and thanks for sharing too.

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