Growing up I was always taught to have a positive mindset. Especially playing competitive sports during my prime athletic career! I have taken this mindset to my financial life and this is what really fuels me to stay positive, even during the most difficult times.

If you are experiencing hard times, you are not alone.  People all across theUnited Statesare struggling financially.  The current economic situation has created financial struggles for many people and for some the outlook is bleak.  When you are in that place of stress, fear, and worry it is hard to stay positive or see any reason to be happy. But finding a way to be happy is the most important thing that you can do.  Focusing on the positives in life can help you get through the rough times that everyone goes through.

Moving Past the Cliché

This might sound like a cliché, and I get that saying it is much easier than doing it, but keeping a positive outlook is going to help you to recover from problems quicker, be happier, and find things in life to be grateful for.  There is nothing more important than that.

I’m going to encourage you to move out of the mindset of cliché, no matter how difficult that might be and read on with an open mind.  These tips for staying positive in a bad situation might seem too simple, but once you put them into practice you will see how powerful they can truly be.

Seven Tips for Positive Thinking 

• Remember the Gift of Time – In time the economy will recover and so will your financial situation.  No matter how bleak your money matters might seem in the moment it will get better.  Life is made up of small moments and each moment gives you the choice to see the good or the bad.  Remember each moment in time is a gift with the potential for good things to come your way.
• Find Some Motivation – Sometimes when you are in a dark, negative place it is easy to get sucked into apathy and non-movement.  When you freeze and stop your momentum it will only drag you down further into negativity and that won’t help your situation.  If you find yourself having a hard time, do something that motivates you to get up, go, and do something else.  If you need to, enlist a friend or loved one to give you that extra boost in the right direction.
• Set Some Goals – Look at some simple things that you can do to change your life for the better.  If you are in serious financial trouble it might be time to look at your budget and see where you might be able to cut back.  If you are in need of work, take some steps to spruce up your resume or check in with you potential contacts.  Pick a few small, easily obtainable goals, to help make the bigger goals seem more possible.
• Shift your Perspective – When you start to get pulled into negative thinking, take a step back and change your perspective.  No matter how dark things seems, you can always think of one thing that makes your life better.  It could be something as simple as ice cream.  It doesn’t matter what that good thing is, shift into positive thinking to pull you out of negative space.
• Be Grateful – When you wake up in the morning, start your day by thinking of at least five things that you are grateful for in your life.  And again, at night before you go to sleep, think of another five things that you are grateful for.  If you feel so inclined, grab a journal and write these things down.  By remembering to see all of the good things in your life you will draw more good towards you and this will help you to shift out of negative thoughts.
• Stop Thinking Negatively – This might sound easier said than done, but stopping negative thoughts can actually change your life.  Shift your negativity by asking yourself some questions like: will this situation be important to me in a year?  If not, there is no reason to be worried or upset over it.  If it will, then see what steps you can take right now to improve the situation.
• Take Your Own Advice – If a friend came to you for advice on the situation you are in, what would you suggest they do?  Typically you already know what needs to be done to improve your life, you just need to start doing it.  Instead of waiting for something to change, look at your circumstances and see what you would advise a friend to do.

Finding the good in life, even in the worst of situations is important for your overall health.  Science has proven that positive people have healthier lives, with fewer medical complications, and more success.  Science has also proven that people can change their thought patterns to be more positive.  Isn’t it worth being a little cliché to have a better life?

So, how do you stay positive in bad situations?

Guest Post Author Bio: This post is written by Kody Green, Co-founder of Financial Money Tips. Be sure to check them out or follow on Twitter @moneyperk.