By  Kirk McLaren, President

It is rightly said that optimism keeps you happy, provides the energy to overcome challenges, is attractive to others, and is a truly self gratifying feeling.

But if you’re like most of us, staying positive consistently is tough. Even the boost people get from self-improvement books and classes tends to wear off quickly. After that, it’s back to the old, negative thought patterns. In that case, these easy tips will help.

 1.      Keep a mental List of Awesomeness

It is said that if you respect yourself, others will respect you, and if you love yourself, others will love you back. Secondly, having high self-esteem keeps anxiety at bay, improves personal relationships, and encourages optimism. If you don’t appreciate yourself enough – or are feeling down – try making a mental list of awesome stuff you’ve done recently.

“Went to the Gym instead of watching TV”, “took kids to museum”, “made a great presentation at work.” Make a written list if you want, and don’t be modest!

You’ll find that, as you go over your awesome actions and choices, you start to feel great about yourself. It’s hard not to when you remind yourself of how amazing you are!

  2.      Keep a Journal of Gratitude

Just take a little scrapbook and start writing down the things that you’re grateful for. Start with the obvious and work from there.

Be grateful for having food, water and a roof above your head. If you wake up at 5 A.M. and can’t go back to sleep, be grateful for getting to see the sunrise. If you’re facing a challenge, be grateful for the opportunity to learn from it.

You don’t have to write every day, but make sure you open your scrapbook at least once a week. It can be very easy to indulge in self-pity, blame, and anger -appreciating what you have will help you stay positive.

 3.      Things Eventually Get Better

Life is not a bed of roses, and it is full of ups and downs. When you’re struggling, grieving, or suffering from heartache, the pain can feel unbearable. Even in everyday life, the weight of a million little things can be heavy.

But always remember the proverb, “This too shall pass.” Your negative feelings won’t last forever; there’s a light at the end of every tunnel. It might not happen today or tomorrow, but you’ll feel better eventually.

When you understand and accept the volatile nature of life, it’s a lot easier to stay calm and relaxed – even in the hardest of times.

 4.      Reach Out and Help Someone

We live in a culture that encourages egotism. But if you want to feel great about yourself, try giving to someone else.

Donating a few dollars to charity can change someone’s life. Calling your mom for a few minutes will make her week. Buying food for a sick friend will help more than you can imagine.

It takes very little to help someone out. When you make a big difference with just a few minutes – or dollars – you’ll always remember how important and amazing you are. And with an attitude like that, it’s hard to be anything but positive.

 5.      Anticipate and be prepared for the worst that could happen.

It is said that fear of loss is greater than the fear the loss itself. It’s easy to become worried over the little things: the human mind can blow things way, way out of proportion. To stop that from happening, always ask yourself: what’s the worst that could happen?

Chances are, “the worst” isn’t that bad. You’ll be fine if you don’t ace tomorrow’s presentation. You can retake tomorrow’s exam in September. Sure, it would be better if things went according to plan, but sometimes they don’t. When you’re no longer afraid of the outcome, you can focus on having fun and getting things done

So, it is indeed easy to keep our morals high and get that positive energy within you.