Below are six positive behaviours you can adopt into your day-to-day routines to enhance positive thoughts and mental resilience. The sooner we embrace all facets of wellness — not just physical, but mental and emotional — the sooner we may manage our cycles of anxiety and burnout. When you commit to these six actions with intention and consistency, you will hopefully see the trajectory of your life change for the better.
1. Be Compassionate: Do Not Criticize
You know that feeling when you want to pick at yourself or others close to you? We’re all familiar with the impulse to communicate in an overly critical fashion. During this time when workplace burnout, depression and anxiety are on the rise, it is crucial that we re-evaluate our communication habits and styles. When you stop being overly critical, your work and relationships will improve. You may even notice this feeling of positivity impacting the way your body feels.
2. Be Tolerant: Trade Expectations for Appreciation
This one is all about perspective–sometimes we want to be control freaks. Yearning for control is understandable, particularly during a time of uncertainty. But when we trade expectations for appreciation we actually feel less out of control. For example, perhaps the company you work for couldn’t afford to give you the raise you wanted this year. You could complain and wallow in despair. Or you can appreciate that you have income when so many do not. By incorporating positive thought and gratitude into your approach to life’s challenges, you will start to feel lighter and more motivated.
Empathetic: Don’t Hesitate to Apologize
Have you hurt someone’s feelings even though you think you haven’t done anything wrong? Apologize. But what if you think they didn’t understand your side of the story? Yes, still apologize. If someone says you hurt them and you do not address their grievances, resentment will build.
4. Be Grounded: Do Not Take Offense
This is arguably one of the toughest changes to enact. When we feel backed into a corner or triggered, we often go to a defensive place. We take offense quickly without reflecting on the fact that someone’s hurtful behaviour usually comes from a place of pain. Instead of carrying around the burden of taking offense, release that negativity. Like water off a duck’s back, try to quickly forgive the person for your own sense of peace. They will learn by example from your tolerance and you can continue to maintain positive thinking practices.
5. Be Optimistic: Let Others Know You See the Best in Them
When we endure challenging circumstances for a long period of time, our patience wears thin. As a result our interpersonal relationships suffer. We place unfair expectations on others or take out our frustration on our co-workers and loved ones. As a result, those close to us will often match our negative energy and we will feel isolated. It’s a vicious cycle. You can break that cycle by consciously looking for the best in others. When you see someone push themselves or succeed, express your admiration. When you see the best in others, they will often rise to your belief in them. In turn, you will both treat each other with more respect and compassion.
6. Be Grateful: Swap the Negativity for Gratitude
Despite the abundant challenges we face, always refer back to your sense of gratitude for the positive parts of your life. Gratitude keeps you grounded when stress, burnout or pandemic fatigue begin to weigh on you.