Take a minute and think of the billions of things going on at any second in time in your world.
So many processes are working just to keep your body going.
So many things are happening right around you, in your life and all over the world at this very second.
If we were to label all these things as good or bad, mostly everything would be good. Often, we tend to only focus on the bad things. It is human nature. We single out those handful of things we are not happy with and become preoccupied with them. They fill our minds and as a result eventually dominate our lives.
Each of us can change this. We just need to decide to do so.
The way we are built, we see what we focus on. We see what we think about. If we think about white cars, then we will see lots of white cars on the road.
We bring into our lives what we think about. Our words, our acts, our habits – everything begins with a thought. Choose the thoughts you focus on –that is the starting point. Choose to focus on what is good around you and in your life, and more of it will come.
And once you pick your good thoughts and recognize those things that are good, feel grateful for them. Your emotions are what supercharges your thoughts and breathes life into them. That is why many renowned self-help authors write about how being grateful is a superpower. And it is.
Choose to focus on the good things. Positivity is a choice we make as an individual. With this, you can hold yourself accountable for the words, body language, mindset, and energy that you bring into your life and into any room or conversation. You can improve your life and the lives of those you touch.
Developing and maintaining positivity habits takes effort. Accomplishing this in times of isolation is much harder – because we are social creatures.
Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have continued to have a severe impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people around the world. Consequently, the choice to stay positive throughout the pandemic was often overpowered by a “lack” mindset, creating a false reality of the world around us, in what we didn’t have (rather than what we did have).
Under the law of attraction, a “lack” mindset is when an individual is focused entirely on what they perceive they don’t have – rather than everything they do have. This ultimately speaks to the way in which we now perceive the world (and people) around us.
During the first year of the pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25%, identifying this as a “wake-up call” to all countries to pay better attention to mental health and support their respective populations.
For many, (re)adjusting to post-pandemic life has been extremely difficult, especially when it comes to embracing an abundance mindset. By living in the moment and focusing on maintaining a positive mindset, you can avoid the many pitfalls that often are attributed with living in lack and embracing negativity.
American model and social media influencer Bethany Lily April Emsley, who has spent the past 8 years creating content for brands across the beauty, health and wellness spaces, entered the workforce at a very young age.
Having to overcome obstacles in times where it seemed the odds were stacked against her or the proper support system wasn’t anywhere to be found, Emsley focused on her positive attributes. Those aspects of her life enabled her to find a path that helped her remain positive in times of darkness and doubt.
And she prospered greatly.
Emsley shares her 3 tips on how living in the moment can help those struggling with embracing positivity and can help change the world around you.
#1 – Defining the ‘Moment’
Understanding your present is perhaps the most crucial element to maintaining a positive mindset, otherwise you start to blur the lines of reality versus anxiety.
Rather than succumbing to thoughts of the past or unknowns which can cause anxiety and stress, engaging in an activity and being present in the moment, can help set the boundaries of where your mind should be at.
“There is a time for reflection which we can choose (maybe early morning or before bed),” Emsley shared. “But for all other times, you should dismiss your thoughts of the past. Be present in where you are and what you are doing. Your mind should be ‘right here, right now.’”
Emsley, who considers herself to be a very social person, says the COVID-19 pandemic brought an end to her “lack” mindset, allowing her more time to think.
“I immersed myself in two areas–content creation and working out. Instead of thinking about all I was missing out on, I spent time creating lots of content. It was hard at first, but the more I did it, the more I liked it. I saw results within weeks in my following and then in my income.”
When it comes to working out, she encourages individuals to also be present. “Exercising requires you to be there, and the more you are, the more results you will see. Creating a routine and sticking to it is what turns an activity into a habit. Once the activity becomes a habit, it is easy to do and allows you to build on it, taking on additional helpful activities.”
#2 – Feeling Trapped? Explore Nature
Familiarity breeds contempt, they say. Since we live in our surroundings, our mind automatically associates anything good or bad with what we feel in our surroundings.
“Our surroundings then remind us of and reinforce those bad feelings. When we see our surroundings, they make us feel bad because of the association created in our minds. This cycle can keep getting deeper – to the point where we feel uncomfortable in our homes. Often feeling trapped results from these cycles –we have to break the cycle.”
Emsley says the easiest way to break the cycle is to change your surroundings, such as taking a trip. “A different environment will lack the reminders built into your home. The negative reinforcement of your surroundings will be gone and your mood will be elevated.”
Tip #3 – Take the Time to Learn Something New
Lastly, taking the time to learn something new will continue to stimulate your brain and desire to be better.
“Our mind is like a muscle. If we don’t challenge it, it becomes weak. When we change up what we do, our mind grows. By keeping our analytical mind active, it lessens the effect of negative messaging that can come from your subconscious. This change can be an activity, travel, or learning. Whenever we give our brain new stimulus, it has to work and think, and new connections are made in the brain. These new connections improve our intelligence and our mood.”
