There’s a lot going on in the world right now. It’s hard to be positive all the time. In fact, at times it can seem downright impossible. It’s more than wearing a smile, it’s in what you do, how you do it and has everything to do with attitude and emotions. 

Don’t let 5 minutes of bad tank your whole day. Here are 5 ways to take back some of that control and keep a positive outlook on your life! 

Start your day off right

It’s easier to be positive if you start positive! This is hard to do when you start your day waking up to an annoying alarm. 

Don’t let the alarm set the tone for your day. Take control of your morning! Start your day off with something you enjoy. 

Go for a run, enjoy that cup of coffee while reading a book, watch a favorite show or play some video games. Start your day off on a positive note. 

If you’re able to, go to bed early and give yourself some more time in the morning so you’re not rushing out the door fifteen minutes after you wake up. 

Give yourself time to make a real breakfast, not just a granola bar. When you're not rushed, able to have a good breakfast and able to spend your morning doing something you love, you’ll be in a much better place to tackle your day. 

Start a positive routine and then rinse and repeat. You’ll be amazed at the impact it has on your day.

You can’t win all the time, and that’s okay

It’s a hard, but real truth. Learn to accept that some days are going to be better than others. 

The most successful people out there have failed many times. They didn’t just wake up one day at the top of their game. But they set themselves apart by using those failures and not dwelling on them. 

When they fail, they learn from their experiences, pick themselves up and move forward. Don’t let a failure derail your progress and ruin your day. When something bad happens, a conflict, a failure, or something else that has the potential to bring you down, learn from it and move on. Don’t dwell on the negative for longer than is necessary. 

Focus on what you can control—your attitude, your outlook and how you are going to improve and learn from the inevitable bumps in the road. 

Physical activity is a must

Take a walk, go to the gym or try karate, anything physical that you enjoy. Shoot for 3 times a week and make it a routine. You’ll feel accomplished, you’ll sleep better, it will help you feel better both physically and mentally. 

There are so many different ways to exercise—the one for you is out there. The feeling of accomplishment and endorphins you get from the physical activity will elevate your mood and have a massively positive impact on your daily life.

Positivity is infectious

Remember the last time you got a random compliment or were around someone really positive? It made you feel good, right? 

Positivity is infectious. Those people stand out and almost have a sparkle about them. They attract people to them because of their outwardly positive attitude. 

Some people are naturally that way, but there’s no reason you can’t emulate that. If you make a concerted effort to be outwardly positive, will not only impact you, but everyone around you. 

Make that effort to shine with positivity and optimism and it will rub off on those around you. It makes you stand out for all the right reasons.

 Fake it until you make it

It sounds cliche, but it’s true. You won’t always feel prepared, excited or happy. So if you’re not feeling it in the moment—fake it! Acting the part will help bring the rest of you around. 

If you’re not feeling particularly positive, or nervous for that upcoming presentation, you can even fake yourself out! I heard someone say once that fear and excitement feel very similar in your body. So if you're nervous, try telling yourself that you're excited and the right emotions will show up. It sounds crazy, but it's a trick that can really work.

You’re not going to wake up every day ready to take on the world, but you can control how you attack each day. Given the right attitude and approach, the right emotions will follow. 

Life is hard and bad things will happen. And how you set yourself up, how you think, and how  you react will have an immense impact on your life. Take control of your thoughts and set yourself up for success. Be the positivity you want to see in the world.