Samantha Strunk '23 - Staff Writer
During these hard and enduring times, it is very easy to think negatively about the situations that we are in. In the wise words of writer Anais Nin, “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” In other words, if we only focus on the negatives of the situation, we will not be able to enjoy or possibly even comprehend the positives.
As effortless as it is to focus on the unfortunate circumstances of the situations going on around you, try to take a second to appreciate the positive things going on in your life. It could be the family game night that you had last Friday, the group chat with all of your friends, or your fluffy canine companion that just won’t seem to stop begging for belly rubs. According to Willie Nelson, a profound American musician, actor, and activist, “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” Once you find and focus on the upsides of the situation, you can truly begin to appreciate the things going on around you that you might not have noticed before.
A key component to keeping one’s positivity is having a matching environment. A person’s environment consists of not only the objects and things physically around them, but also the people and media that they see in their everyday lives. It’s important to be mindful that others are going through hardships, just like you, and that they are just as stressed as you might be. One solution to this common problem is to help point out the different good things to others who are also having trouble staying positive. When it comes to the media, whether it’s social media or a video game console, you should limit your time on it. Spending time with family and friends personally, or through FaceTime and text, is important, and can help boost your mood. In the opinion of George Burns, “Happiness is having a large, loving, close-knit family.” Having a good relationship with people you talk to and those around you helps everyone to stay positive.
If it’s too hard to find the good in bad situations, and family time isn’t to your liking, simply try exercising and eating healthy. The Australian Fitness Academy’s article, “How Exercise Makes You Happy.” discusses how exercising has been proven to invoke joy through the use of Endorphins. Endorphins, “are hormones that are produced by the central nervous system...Their main job is to inhibit the transmission of pain signals, but they also produce a feeling or euphoria. This is what makes you feel happier instantly, and the effects will last a good amount of time.” It is truly extraordinary how exercising can change someone’s mood so quickly and easily. Eating healthy can make you feel better as well. According to Redzo Mujcic, a health economics researcher, “Eating fruit and vegetables apparently boosts our happiness far more quickly than it improves human health.” Being able to make small changes to your everyday life by exercising and making sure to eat fruits and vegetables every day can gradually help turn a dreary disposition into a sunny one.
Having a positive mindset is not always easy, but having one can truly impact your daily life for the better.
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