Craig shares his realistic take on staying grounded and finding small ways to shift your mindset, even on those not-so-positive days.
Let’s face it, there are days when everything feels a bit off. The alarm didn’t sound, your coffee went cold, and your to-do list looks more like a novel. On those days, the idea of ‘positive thinking’ can feel like a tired, overused cliche. But positive thinking isn’t about pretending everything’s fine or plastering on a fake smile. It’s about balance, perspective, and making small, intentional choices that can shift the way we experience our day.
A great piece of advice that I once received during a tough time was to try to find one reason to smile every day. It sounds simple, maybe even a bit obvious, but it’s stuck. Whether it’s putting on an outfit that makes you feel confident or choosing to smile even when you don’t quite feel like it, these small actions can have a ripple effect. A smile, even a deliberate one, can actually influence your mindset and, over time, your outlook.
Positive thinking isn’t about pretending that bad things don’t happen. It’s about choosing how we respond to those challenges. Think of it like getting stuck in traffic. You can lean on the horn, stew in frustration and let it ruin your morning, or you can turn up your favourite podcast or music, take a breath, and treat it as a moment to slow down. The traffic’s still there, but how you experience it is up to you.
Interestingly, I’ve been exploring a meditation series that focuses on the science of happiness. One of the exercises involves smiling while you breathe. Even when you don’t feel particularly joyful, that simple act can trigger your brain to release feel-good chemicals. Over time, those tiny mindset shifts add up. It’s not about pretending to be happy, but rather allowing space for positivity, even in small doses.
It’s also important to acknowledge that positivity isn’t always the answer. Life can be deeply difficult and feeling down or overwhelmed is part of being human. But, in those moments, we can still choose to look for a sense of meaning, growth, or even a small bright spot. We can be realistic about the tough stuff while still choosing a mindset that helps us move forward, not with blind optimism, but with balance and self-awareness.
So next time your day isn’t going to plan, pause and ask yourself, how do I want to show up right now? Whether it’s through a smile, a shift in posture, or a simple change in self-talk, those small steps matter. Positive thinking may not fix everything, but it can give us the clarity and energy to handle what’s next.