Being positive is not what you think it is.

I know what you’re thinking.

Most people have this idea that being a positive person means always having a sunny disposition. Most people think it means never having a bad day. Most people have this preconceived notion that if you identify yourself as a positive person that it means you never have any problems or issue in your life.

You really think that all of the positive people are buzzing off their superfood smoothie gliding lightly through the universe? I whole-heartedly disagree.

Being a positive person means that you have bad days, but you’ve learned to find the small redeeming moments in them. Being a positive person sometimes means that you accept the challenges of life because you’ve learned to see the opportunity in struggle. Sometimes being a positive person is as small as the ability to enjoy the little things in life, like that perfect cup of coffee or a smile from a stranger.

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be exuding joy and smiling all the time to see yourself as a positive thinker. It’s all about focus. Where is your focus?

We don’t always have good days. The more you dwell on what’s happened, the more you will stay stuck where you are. Choose to move forward and redeem the day. Now you are a positive person.

Lets say your boss is driving you absolutely bananas. You decide to take your break a little early because you JUST NEED TO GET AWAY. You take yourself for a little treat or pick me up, maybe that new fancy tea at David’s. You think about how great the tea is and you forget about your bananas boss. That’s you being positive.

Lets pretend that you’ve been looking forward to seeing your friend all week, and at the last minute she bails on you, AGAIN. Instead of telling her where to go, you wish her a good evening. You spend the rest of the evening enjoying yourself despite what happened. You think to yourself, maybe things turned out for the best, I had a way better night by myself anyways. Good job! You’re being positive!

Lets think about those mornings when you get up and you look at yourself and you’re just feeling really off, so you look in the mirror and you’re like NOPE. But you take a shower and you pull yourself together and you have that extra dose of caffeine because you are gonna CEASE THE DAY DAMMIT. I want to personally congratulate you on being positive.

The picture I am painting here is not one of perfection, it’s one of acceptance. Being positive is allowing yourself to come to a place of acceptance, but it doesn’t have to happen right away. A positive lifestyle is something to work at. Don’t let that discourage you!

On that note, don’t let anything discourage you. But if you get discouraged, don’t write yourself off as defectively flawed and miserable. Decide to make little changes, and pat yourself on the back for the little positive things you think and do because dammit, those are awesome.