BATB085_Seven tips for feeling more positive

There are some days when we just feel 'blaaah'! 😞

I notice this more on days where my Psoriasis flares up; it makes me feel self-conscious. I know I instantly feel better about myself when I put on my makeup and something nice to wear, it's kind of like my confidence armour! 💄👗

However, there are more things that can help these thoughts!

I've rounded up 7 tips that help me on a 'blaaah day', and I hope they help you too! 💖

If your posture is strong and straight, the brain receives a positive message that you're feeling great 💕👍

A study completed by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario revealed that people with an upright posture easily recall positive thoughts and can more easily push aside negative thoughts and worries.

By pulling your shoulders back and opening up the chest area, you'll look taller, appear more elongated and it might just put a spring in your step too!🧍‍♀️🌟

Everyone has negative thoughts, but sometimes we can get caught in a "Debbie Downer" loop! 🙁👎

It's easier than you think to dig your self out of them...

... focus on progress, not perfection.

Consider who you are becoming, focusing on your progress. You might re-frame your thoughts to one of self-growth 💗

Here are some examples:

These examples show how ultimately you're looking to point yourself in the direction of positive growth and that you're evolving! 👏

Next time you catch your inner critic talking you down, think: how can I turn this statement into a question? 🤔

Asking questions opens up exploration and possibility that can help you problem-solve and create positive change!

Here are some examples:

This type of self-questioning powers up problem-solving areas of the brain, helping you tap into your creativity and create solutions for things that have been niggling you for ages! 🧠🌟

Research shows that asking ourselves questions rather than saying negative statements to ourselves is a much more effective way to create change and feel more positive! 😄

Anyone can struggle with negative thoughts about their body, regardless of their body size or shape.

We often believe that attempting to change our body will improve how we feel about it. However, the real way to create positive change is to be more mindful of the thoughts that you have about our bodies.

The next time you are in front of a mirror, look yourself in the eye, smile, and say something positive! 😁💕

Trying saying things like:

When our brain feels happy, endorphins are produced, and neuronal signals are transmitted to our facial muscles to trigger a smile. This is the start of the positive feedback loop of happiness. 

Equally, when our smiling muscles contract, they send a signal back to the brain, stimulating neuronal signals that produce these endorphins 🥰

When our brain feels happy, we smile; when we smile, our brain feels more joyful - whether that smile is real or not!

If you want to feel a little happier, just smile even if you don't feel like it (your brain won't know the difference between a genuine smile or a forced smile) 👍

What's more, that instant mood boost is maintained as people smile back at you…what goes around comes around with just a simple smile 😁

Ok, so I'm guilty of brushing off a compliment, but lets all try this instead...

... the next time we receive a compliment, let's try not to brush it off because it might have taken that person a great deal to say it to us in the first place.

Think about it. It feels so much more grateful to say "thanks a lot, that means a lot to me today" in response to a compliment.

Best of all, saying thank you for a compliment creates positive reinforcement that makes both people want to give and receive compliments more often 💁‍♀️

I love social media! But some days, it makes me feel like I'm not having as much fun as other people 😕

Who hasn't seen a photo of someone on a beautiful beach and wished it was them? I know I have!

Sometimes seeing the 'snap-shot-best-bits' from other peoples' lives can make us feel inadequate and as though our own lives are boring.

But just remember, life is edited on social media - a bit like a trailer to film, only showing the curated exciting bits! 🎬🍿

It never hurts to be reminded that 99.9% of us still have to put our bins and trash out, hook hair out of the plug-hole and clean our toilets…

… it's just no one chooses to show 'real life' on Social Media! 🙅‍♀️

I hope you get some inspiration from these tips and that at least one of them makes you smile on a 'blah day'! 😌💕