Happy New Year! It’s out with the old and in with the new, and we’re ready to say hello to a bright beginning in 2017. The New Year is a great opportunity to forget the past and reset for the future, but sometimes that’s easier said than done.
Positivity is key to creating an altruistic lifestyle in the New Year. If you want to start 2017 off on a high note, check out these tips for living a positive life this year.
1. Live a healthy lifestyle.
The first step towards a positive life in 2017 is feeling good physically. When you get a full night’s rest, eat nutritious food and drink plenty of water, your body will feel more alert, upbeat and all-around naturally better.
Making healthier choices will also make you more adept at living an overall altruistic lifestyle. And while healthy living doesn’t necessarily include losing weight, it may just help you get closer to that New Year’s resolution you set.
2. Be consistently thankful.
It’s been said before and it’ll be said again: gratitude is good for you. With the busy hubbub around the turn of the year, it’s easy to forget about the great things we have and be envious of the things we want. This mindset already sets us up for negative experience.
You can have a positive start to 2017 by being grateful for the people and things present in your life now. Try waking up each morning and acknowledging something in your life that you are thankful for. By cultivating an attitude of gratitude, you establish an affirmative mindset for now and the coming months of 2017.
3. Let go of expectations.
This might be the most challenging part of positive living. With every New Year, we have a set of expectations we hope for, and when things don’t come true, we feel disappointment or even resentment. Letting go of expectations we hold and accepting things for what they are allows us to embrace the New Year for whatever may come with it: good, bad and everything in between.
Relaxing our expectations may mean stepping back from social media, meditating or starting a journal. Whatever it means for you, embracing the New Year entirely for what it is will make it a better experience overall.
4. Give back to others.
One of the best ways to start a positive year is to help others have a positive year too. For some, the New Year may bring negative memories, difficult challenges or reminders of turmoil in their lives. You can be a force for good by giving back through donating or volunteering with local nonprofit organizations in your community.
When you help others live a more affirmative life, you subconsciously create a happier experience for yourself, starting 2017 off as a brighter year for everybody.
5. Maintain a positive attitude.
Finally, the best way to have a positive life this year is to maintain a positive attitude. It can be difficult to stay optimistic when things aren’t working out the way you hoped, but attitude is everything. Continue to use uplifting affirmations, outlets and sources whenever you feel challenged, and your attitude will blossom in an optimistic mindset.
This year, let 2017 have a positive impact on your life by following these simple steps. Embrace the New Year as a new opportunity, and continue to live a more altruistic lifestyle for now and years to come.
