Staying Positive in an Upside Down World

It is understandable that we would feel anxious, afraid, and stressed in an upside-down world. The news feeds us a steady diet of negativity, from natural disasters to political unrest. As a result, many of us regularly feel pessimistic and insecure about our future as a species. Lucky for you, the right mindset can go a long way in helping you combat all this fear and stress—especially when it comes to your wellbeing. A positive attitude has been linked to numerous benefits such as stress reduction, improved mental health, and even better physical health. Optimists tend to live longer than anyone else! We all have our ups and downs but staying positive in an upside-down world is not so hard if you know how to do it right. Did you know that the average stress level for Americans is about 7.4 out of 10? That's a lot of stress! And unfortunately, it doesn't seem like things will get better soon. With economic instability, geopolitical issues, and the influence of social media networks, things aren't getting any easier. So how can we achieve prosperous peace of mind in this crazy world? Here are ten ways to help you achieve peace of mind and reduce stress in your life:

Focus on what you can control

You will never be able to control everything in your life. It's just not possible. At some point, you will have to stop trying to control everything and start focusing on what you can control. When you are too focused on the things you can't control, you will likely experience increased stress. You can't control what your boss thinks, what the government is doing, or what the economy is doing. You can't control the weather, the actions of other people, or the way people feel about you. So don't waste your time and energy trying to control everything you can't. Instead, focus on what you can control, such as your thoughts, actions, and way of thinking. You can also focus on your health and wellness, work, and relationships.

Cultivate relationships with people you trust

Trust is essential to any relationship, especially in times of stress and uncertainty. If you want to reduce stress in your life, you should cultivate relationships with people you trust. People you can rely on and know will always have your back. Trust is an integral part of any relationship, but it is much easier to cultivate trust than to build a connection from the ground up. It is also easier to begin developing relationships with people you trust than start a relationship from scratch. 

Create boundaries.

This doesn't mean you need to draw a physical boundary. Instead, it means you need to set limits and put up boundaries. You need to be clear with yourself and others about what is acceptable and what isn't. You need to know your expectations and what you will and won't tolerate. You also need to know your limits — what you can and can't do. You also need to understand what your priorities are. If you don't know where your boundaries are, other people are likely to cross them. Without boundaries, you will be letting other people dictate your life. This can lead to unnecessary stress in your life. So instead, create boundaries and set limits.

Don't sweat the small stuff (and stop caring about what others think).

This ties in with setting boundaries and not caring about what other people think. You don't have control over what other people think — you can only control your thoughts and actions. So don't waste your time and energy trying to control other people's thoughts. Instead, you need to stop caring about what other people think. If you don't care what other people think, you won't be as stressed out by them. You won't be worried about what they think of you or what they will say about you. You can focus on your thoughts and actions rather than being caught up in the thoughts of others.

Celebrate the small wins

Another way to reduce stress in your life is to celebrate the small wins. Be proud of the small things you are doing and achieving. Take a moment to celebrate these small wins and recognize how far you have come. Not only will celebrating the small wins help reduce the stress in your life, but it will also help keep you motivated and inspired by your progress and achievements. You don't have to wait to achieve big goals before celebrating and being proud of yourself. Sometimes, the small things are the things that matter the most.

Take care of yourself physically and mentally.

This ties in closely with setting boundaries and not caring about what other people think. You need to take care of yourself physically and mentally to reduce stress in your life. You need to be able to take care of yourself and rely on yourself. You need to have the energy and ability to take care of yourself and be able to shield yourself from any unnecessary stress in your life. Physical wellness is essential for reducing stress in your life. You must ensure you are eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. Mental wellness is also crucial. You need to be able to handle your emotions and cope with stress in a healthy way. Mental health also means being able to remove yourself from toxic situations and people.

Breathe (and live) in the present moment.

When stressed out, it's easy to get lost in your thoughts and what's going on in your mind. You are probably thinking about the past or the future rather than being present in the moment. Being present in the moment means focusing on what is happening here and now. You are not thinking about what happened earlier or what might happen later. You are just thinking about what is happening right now. Being present in the moment is a great way to reduce the amount of stress in your life. When you are focused on the present moment, you are not thinking about the stressful past or worrying about stressful things in the future. You are just focused on what is happening in the present moment. This can help ease your stress levels and help you feel more at peace at the moment.

Enhance your relationships.

Stress can make it difficult for you to have healthy relationships with the people in your life. If you are stressed out, it is easy to get angry at the people in your life or lash out at them because of how you feel. But when you can manage your stress and reduce the amount of stress in your life, it will be easier for you to have healthy relationships with the people in your life. When you don't have as much pressure, it is easier for you to be more patient and understanding with the people around you, which will help improve the quality of your relationships.

Meditate and practice mindfulness.

Meditating and practicing mindfulness are both great ways to reduce stress in your life. Both of these activities help you become more aware of your thoughts but also help you to detach from them and let them go. When stressed, it is easy to get caught up in your thoughts and emotions. You get stuck in your head and can't think straight. This can make it difficult to cope with the stress in your life. But when you meditate and practice mindfulness, you can calm down and let go of the stress in your life. Meditation and mindfulness are great ways to reduce stress in your life. When you are stressed out and have no control over your thoughts, it can be difficult to calm down and get a clear mind. But when you meditate and practice mindfulness, you can calm your mind, focus on your breathing, and let go of any thoughts stressing you out. This can help you reduce the amount of stress in your life.

Get enough sleep.

Getting enough sleep is essential, but many people aren't getting enough sleep every night. This can lead to stress and a lot of health problems. If you aren't getting enough sleep, thinking straight and managing your emotions can be challenging. It can also make it difficult for you to cope with stress, leading to you being more stressed. If you aren't getting enough sleep, you can reduce your life's anxiety by getting more sleep. Getting at least 7 hours of sleep every night can help you be more focused and have better control over your emotions.

Finally, be proud of who you are, despite your flaws.

One way to reduce stress in your life is by being proud of who you are. You don't have to be perfect or have a "perfect" life. However, you must be proud of who you are despite your flaws. You don't need other people's approval when you are proud of who you are. This is a great way to reduce the amount of stress in your life because it will lessen the stress caused by other people and the need for approval. When you don't need other people's approval, you won't experience as much pressure from those in your life who may be judgmental or critical of you. Be you!