How to Improve Your Perspective on Life

Life is full of difficulties and challenges and those things can easily make you feel depressed. Although you can’t control what happens to you every day, you can control how you react to it. Looking at life positively is something you can do! By self-reflection and cognitive reframing, you will be able to learn to respond positively and improve your outlook on life.

Table of Contents

Change the way you talk to yourself

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Identify negative thoughts. Perhaps you are destroying yourself with negative thoughts without even realizing it. Start by being aware of your negative thoughts and how they affect you. Here are a few common negative thinking patterns:

Filter or minimize the positive aspects and exaggerate the negative.
Opposing views or seeing things as bad or good without being neutral.
Just imagine the worst scenarios. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Focus on positive thoughts. With a little practice, you will be able to learn how to transform your thinking. Let’s start by following a very simple rule: Don’t say anything about yourself that you would never say about a friend. Be gentle with yourself. Encourage yourself the way you would motivate your friends. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Practice optimism. The notion that optimism or pessimism is innate is a completely wrong concept. In fact, we need to practice to be optimistic. Try to find hope in the polarity. Instead of thinking, “I’ve never done this,” tell yourself, “This is an opportunity to try something new.” ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Try not to let “your inner critic” speak. We all have an inner voice that criticizes or questions ourselves. This voice will say that we are not good enough, not talented enough, or not worthy of the love of others. These thoughts are meant to protect you from failure or suffering, but in reality, they do nothing but hinder you. ^{[4] X Research Sources} When that critical voice emerges, ask yourself the following questions:

Are these thoughts really true?
Is there any possibility that these thoughts are not true ? Can I admit that they are not correct?
Can I imagine the possibility that I am truly gifted, talented, and worthy of love?

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Don’t live in the past. If guilt, pain, or past regrets hold you back, you can work to release those feelings.

Actively take action to make things pass. You can write them down and/or say them out loud.
Express your pain and/or take responsibility. If there’s something you need to say to someone, say it, even if the word you need to say is “sorry”.
Forgive yourself and others. Try to remember that everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect and everyone deserves another chance (including you). ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Re-adjust your point of view

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Stop being a perfectionist. Life isn’t about all-or-nothing. Expecting perfection means we will always fall behind. To overcome your perfectionist nature, start by adjusting your standards. Are the standards you set for yourself higher than the standards you set for others? If someone was in the same situation as you, what would you expect from them? If you’re satisfied with the way the person handled a problem, then you should also be positive about yourself. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Do something outside of your comfort zone. You can choose something you’re not good at, like dancing, playing ping pong, or drawing. Allow yourself not necessarily to get good results in these activities. Try to find joy in an activity you’re not good at. This will open up many opportunities for you, help you get rid of perfectionism, and most of all, improve your outlook on life. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Calm down and pay more attention. Take a moment to breathe. Try not to overdo it. Focus less on what other people think and more on what you are actually experiencing. Eat delicious food. Looking out the window. When we try to live in the present, those moments will become so much better. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Stop making rules. Maybe you are asking for too many “musts” and “shoulds” to do. These limits can make you feel guilty, anxious, or self-critical. When you apply them to yourself, you lose your own opportunities for fun. When you apply them to other people, you can become a bossy or silly person. Ignore the rules that don’t help you. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Adjust relationships

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Build relationships with positive people. Make sure the people around you have a positive and supportive attitude. Build relationships with people you can rely on. ^{[12] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} If the people around you are constantly gossiping, complaining, or causing conflicts, you may want to keep your distance from them. Look for upbeat friends, such as a yoga class or a martial arts club.

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Avoid jumping to hasty conclusions. When you believe you know what’s going to happen, you stop observing what’s happening. You will react according to what you think instead of what is actually happening in front of your eyes. When you believe you know what the person is thinking, you stop listening to them. This can cause a lot of discord and unnecessary hurt. Instead of making hasty judgments, try to listen and observe. ^{[13] X Research Source}

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Don’t run away from your feelings. We often ignore our emotions to avoid emotional distress. But sadness also has its own benefits: Sadness makes us feel like we’re really alive. In fact, sadness can have positive effects that increase your chances of being happy. ^{[14] X Research Source} When pessimistic emotions arise, pay attention to them. Deal with them by recording or chatting with someone.

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Do not interfere in other people’s affairs. The Poles have a saying “Not my monkey, not my circus”. This quote reminds us not to get involved in other people’s affairs. Such events and controversies can greatly affect your mood.

Try not to interfere in other people’s conflicts.
Avoid gossip! Don’t talk about others behind their backs. ^{[15] X Research Source}
Don’t let others drag you into arguments or force you to choose a side.

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Kind! Try to respect those around you and interact with them in a gentle and positive manner. Not only will this help you feel better, but it will also help you attract other positive people. Scientists have proven that when we try to be positive (even if we don’t feel happy), we quickly feel better. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Advice

Keep the body healthy and balanced. A healthy body will help you handle stress effectively. A healthy body will help lift the spirit! ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Get involved in the community. Whether it’s a religious group, a yoga club or a sewing club. You can look for opportunities at your school or neighborhood and try to connect with people.
If you think you have depression, talk to a counselor or doctor for treatment

Warning

Suicide is never a solution.
Be careful not to argue with people who treat you badly. You can avoid contact with them or treat them with a calm and mature attitude.
If stress levels are beyond your control, seek help. There are many sources of support you can find through faith and community groups.
If you are a victim of sexual abuse or domestic violence, get help! No one has the right to mistreat you but you are the only one who can speak up.

Steps

Change the way you talk to yourself

Re-adjust your point of view

Adjust relationships

Advice

Warning

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