I have been thinking a lot recently about the affect our thoughts have on our lives. When you make a conscious decision to be positive, you see that positivity reflected in your life. That’s the case with any emotion! If you decide you are going to be happy then that will be true. This is something I work on every day. Some days are easier than others, depending on the circumstances. Negativity can come from anywhere and take over if we’re not careful. So it’s important to learn how to deal with negativity.
I am a positive person. I like to look for the silver lining in any situation, but that doesn’t mean that I am always successful. We all have things in our lives that really wear us down. It could be internal, external or maybe a combination of both! If I’m being completely honest, one of the biggest sources of negativity that I struggle with is this blog. Blogging has brought so much joy to my life but I would be lying if I said it was all happy thoughts. But you don’t have to be a blogger to deal with comparison, competition and doubt. Those are things that we all struggle with in any area of life. Over the last year I’ve found several ways to deal with negativity that I wanted to share with you.
Start Your Day With Gratitude – I recently started a gratitude journal. I am someone who loves to write (hence the blog) so a gratitude journal was a good fit for me. It’s the first thing I do in the morning. I wake up, make my cup of tea and sit down and write about something I am grateful for. If you don’t like to journal, then just think about what you are grateful for. Make a list in your mind and you will be amazed at how quickly you can drown out the negativity.
Share Your Appreciation – When I am feeling negative or frustrated I project. I think most people do, and usually the person we are closest to receives the brunt of the frustration. My hubby, Brian, has been on the receiving end too many times. When I’ve been angry or annoyed with him (or anyone) I take a second to think about something he does that I appreciate. These photos are a perfect example. It was incredibly hot and humid and I was very frustrated. I snapped at Brian several times until I realized how much I appreciated that he was standing there, just as hot and sweaty as I was, holding a camera, all for me.
Tune Out the Noise – If you are feeling dissatisfied about where you are because you have been comparing yourself to others, then take a step back. It could be something as simple as staying off of social media for a couple of days. When I notice myself feeling negative I take a few days off from Instagram. Just remember social media is the “highlight reel” and that no one’s life is picture perfect.
Make a Change – If you are unhappy with something that is within your control, then change it! Maybe you are struggling with body image. Instead of feeding into the negative thoughts, make an effort to do something positive. Focus on the parts of your body that you love. I have always believed that you can want to be healthier but still love your body for what it is in the moment. Being negative about yourself is never helpful.
We all have the power to make our lives more positive by learning how to deal with negativity. I wanted to be open about some of the struggles that I face with negativity, but I do make a choice everyday to not let it overpower me. xo Bryn
Shop the Look:
Loft: Dress, Sunglasses and Bag, Shoes: Blank Canvas
Powerful & well said. I often need to take some deep breaths, step back, slow down & just pet my dog. Thanks for your insight .
Thanks Monica!! Petting the dog is sometimes the best way to de-stress! xo Bryn
Love your positivity Bryn! I am the same way and believe there is silver lining in ANY situation! This dress is gorgeous!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
I love YOUR positivity Rach! You always inspire me with your outlook on life! xo Bryn
Such a great post, Bryn (and a beautiful outfit)! It can be difficult to stay positive, but it makes such a big difference. I love that you have a gratitude journal, I love writing in mine too. Another thing that has helped me deal with negative thoughts is meditating. I have been trying the Headspace App and it has made such a big difference about how I learn to handle different thoughts and emotions.
Taylor | http://www.livingtaylored.com
Thank you so much Taylor! The gratitude journal is such a great way for me to start my day. It keeps me focused on the good things. I’ve heard so much about headspace and really need to try it! xo Bryn
LOVE this post, Bryn! I agree – it is all about the mindset! Thanks for the positive start to my day 🙂
http://www.mollyonthemoveblog.com
Thank you Molly! You are always someone who pulls me back to the positive! Grateful for you! xo Bryn
Oh Bryn, I couldn’t love this post more. I have been struggling (with the blog 🙄) this past week and it’s been getring me so down. I am going to print out this post and hang it in my office. Not kidding. Thanks for sharing! Very timely for me 🙂
– Mary
PS- wish we could meet for coffee today!
Mary I totally wish we could grab coffee… miss having you in Dallas! But you are doing amazing, especially with everything that you have going on these days! So proud of how you handle it all! xo Bryn
These are some good ways to deal with negativity. Negativity sparks in all of us, but this post made me think about what I could do to have a more positive outlook.
http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
It’s something we all deal with, for sure! But we all have our ways of not letting it get us down! xo Bryn
Yes to positivity!! Big high-fives all round to this post!!
Rebecca
xx
Thank you Rebecca! I always appreciate your positivity! xo Bryn
Bryn, This is so true! Happiness is definitely a decision and I love your tips
Thank you Courtney! It’s something I make a conscious decision to be every day! Some days are easier than others haha xo Bryn
You’re so right about everything! Blogging has been a joy for the most part, but is has also brought about feelings (doubt & comparison)that I didn’t think would effect me as much as it has at times. You are someone I have truly looked up to since finding your blog nearly a year ago. You’re amazing and love all your content and photos. Thank you for sharing this topic with us.
You are so sweet to say that! I really appreciate so much! Blogging can be so hard in a saturated market but you create beautiful, unique content so keep it up! xo Bryn
This post is amazing! I have been feeling a little negative lately and this post was just what I needed. Couldn’t relate more with the projecting bit – I do that, too! Thanks for this sharing, Bryn.
I’m so glad Emily! It’s really been on my mind lately and I wasn’t sure if I should write about it, so I’m glad you connected with it! xo Bryn
I absolutely adore your dress dear..
xo, Christianne
http://simplychristianne.com
Thank you Christianne! It’s a fun summer dress! xo Bryn
For hot humid weather, you look gorgeous! And, I love that dress! This is a great post and we can all relate to what you are saying here. Thank you for reminding us to be grateful everyday! 🙂
Thank you Bridget!! I appreciate that! xo Bryn
I stumbled upon your blog this morning and this was such a powerful reminder. Thank you for this! Definitely a follower after such a quality post like this. Doubt and comparison is such a reality for any blogger or even just a human present on social media and the internet. I agree, however, that gratitude is one of the best remedies to negative thoughts and feelings.
Thank you Hanna! I’m so happy you connected with this post! I really wasn’t sure about sharing it, so I’m glad you enjoyed reading it! Means so much! xo Bryn
Bryn,
This silky yellow dress is so cute! The color looks amazing with your hair!
xoxo,
Vanessa
http://www.whatwouldvwear.com
Thank you Vanessa! I love wearing this color! xo Bryn
Kudos for the post Bryn! (Hey, look, my autocorrect is not correcting me anymore whe.ln I write your name – progress 😂). You have poured my thoughts into this post and I applaud you for that! I think you described us all when talking about directing our frustration at our better halves, and poor them, they so don’t deserve it! I strongly recommend meditating, it has gotten me through so much! I allocate 10 mins before bed time, put the music on and do with my thoughts whatever I feel like that day. You’re doing great Bryn, it’s all a journey we have to take in order to get better! Love to you!
Thank you so much girl! I appreciate that! Meditating is a wonderful thing! I have done it in the past and loved it! xo Bryn
A few years ago I was standing in a coffee line on a Monday and kept hearing people complaining about “having the Mondays” and something snapped in me. I thought, do you know how lucky we are to have a Monday! I decided that every Monday I would schedule something fun, a walk, an ice cream date, a special dinner, just to make Mondays a little better, I even shared this on my IG page for a summer and got others involved with a hashtag. I don’t participate in my #CelebratingMonday anymore but since then I have never complained about a Monday. Going through the practice of making Mondays fun has stuck with me and I treat everyday like it’s a gift! xx Rox-Anne Celebrating This Life
Love this idea Rox-Anne! xo Bryn
I really love this post! It’s something that we can all relate to. You look gorgeous in that yellow dress! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and opinions.
Katherine | http://www.oneswainkycouple.com
Thank you Katherine!! xo Bryn