Never underestimate the sheer power that positivity has on our mental and physical health. All you need to do is surf the net to see that people have become hyper-focused on wellness and happiness — the drive to find the key to a better, happier, brighter life.

Here’s the kicker — there isn’t just one single key to happiness! Nor is there only one road. The path to positivity and happiness is different for each of us — there is always good news however, because you can equip yourself with valuable tools to help you on your journey.

One such tool is well-known to Positivity Post readers, because we mention it often — writing it down. Several years ago, I discovered the benefits of “positive writing” and I’ve used the technique ever since. The cold reality is that the world is an increasingly manic and paranoid place — there’s so much noise and negativity in the form of 24×7 media and instant communications, that just finding the bandwidth to focus on being a positive thinker is a herculean task. That’s where positive writing comes in.

Writing things down with an actual pen and paper (yes, they still exist!) is an important first step in developing into a positive thinker — there’s a reason why celebrated authors keep a personal journal, so bear that in mind. If you don’t have a diary/journal, it’s a good idea to get one, so you have a special and dedicated place to write it all down. Once you start using a journal, I’m confident you’ll come to love it as much as I do.

What you’ll want to do is to get in the daily habit of writing down positive things in your life, as well as some positive affirmations — this process will help to re-focus your brain onto the good things in life and will force you to spend time becoming more aware of the positive. The objective of positive writing is to give you some breathing space so you can filter out the negative and hone in on the positive.

Here are some positive writing exercises to help you become a happier person:

Look for the positive

If you’re walking by a garden and notice how beautiful it is, make a mental note of it and write it down in your positive writing journal; it can be something as simple as “today I saw a magnificent garden filled with flowers of all colors. It reminded me of my Grandmother’s garden and that is a cherished memory for me.”

Maybe you saw a puppy frolicking in the park and it made you smile? Maybe you saw a Mother hugging her child and it touched your heart? It doesn’t matter — as long as it’s a positive experience. You should write down anything you notice that makes you feel happy, grateful or comforted.

This practice will have a cumulative effect. No one can be a positive person if they’re always immersed in negativity and unable to get a moment to silence the clamor of daily life — this exercise will help you to actively look for good things in life and to make a note of them. The more you do this, the more you’ll see the brighter side of life.



Cultivate gratitude

Use your journal to make a list of all the things that you’re grateful for. Gratitude is a very powerful component in being a positive thinker! If you’re not grateful for all of your good fortunes, you’ll always be looking for more — forever trying to keep up with the Jones’. A life spent constantly wanting more…always feeling like you need more things, will inevitably lead to an unfulfilled existence. Being grateful for everything you’ve got is an extremely potent attribute and gratitude is one of the most prevalent characteristics of happy people — those who appreciate their good fortune tend to have less stress and tend to enjoy healthier relationships.

Here’s an actual example from a reader’s positivity journal that was shared with us: “I’m grateful for my family because they always lift me up and keep me going. And I’m grateful for my new job because they value my personal life and I feel less stressed leaving the house in the morning.”

Don’t let the day get away from you

Like most of us today, your life is probably a bit hectic. Life is hard and the very things that are supposed to make it easier, like TV, iPads, Computers, iPods, only seem to make it more frenzied…throw in family pressures, work stress, the news, the laundry…life can be a real drag on your positivity.

Writing down positive things that happened during your day is key. If you lie in bed at night hoping for a good night’s rest, only to start dwelling on all the things that went wrong in your day, clearing out the negativity is going to be really tough. That’s why it’s vital to take some time and write down the good things you saw, heard or felt during your day.

The goal here is to really focus on your day and actively look for the positives, zoning in on the good things, which will help to remind you that your life is not all bad. Yes, there are times when it seems like the whole world is trying to trip you up, and that’s precisely why making it a habit to write down at least 3-5 positive things that happened each day will help you to appreciate the good things in your life (this is different than noticing a beautiful flower, or that puppy playing)

Examples:

“Joan told me I looked especially nice today.”

“My boss complimented me for getting my project done ahead of schedule.”

“I had a healthy lunch today and it makes me want to eat healthier every day.”

“My son got an A on his exam.”



Don’t forget about you

Okay, so far we have you looking for the positive, cultivating gratitude and making note of at least 3-5 positive things that happened in your day. Now what about you? I sometimes feel less than worthy and when I do, I go to my journal and I write down good things about myself. I remind myself that I’m a good person, that I care about people and animals, that I love nature… it’s sort of like self-adulation, but without the ego. Life can get us down at times and other people can bruise our egos — when our self-esteem takes a real beating, we need to have healing practices to remind ourselves that we matter, we’re important, caring and loving. Whatever it is, don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the back and give yourself a round of applause! This of course can be done anytime you feel the need — the journal is not a calendar, so any time you need to do this, start a fresh page and just free-style write some positive self-affirmations to help you regain your confidence.

Write something nice to someone else.

Another wonderful way to practice positive writing is to compliment someone else. A post-it note with a big “thank you!” written on it can really make a co-workers day. How about a note in your child’s lunchbox that simply says “I love you!”

Do you have unresolved issues with someone? Maybe a former friend with whom you had a falling out? Give some thought to writing them a letter to clear the air (but be mindful, you have to set the tone and if you want positivity, you should phrase things delicately). For this practice, you’ don’t really need your positivity journal and can use any means you need, such as an email, a Facebook post, etc.



The objective here is to help brighten someone’s else’s day. Far too often, we under-estimate the power of words and if we use words that uplift and brighten, we can literally make someone’s entire day better. This also helps us too, because making someone else feel good, brings positivity into our own lives.

Ultimately, the act of writing down positive thoughts, experiences and observations helps you to condition your brain to think more positively. The more you actively seek out and become aware of good things, the more you start to see the brighter side of your life and the happier you become. Keeping a “positivity journal” may not be your cup of tea, but the truth is, you’ll never find true happiness by googling it. Just something to think about. Now get writing!