There are many ways to live life. One approach is to focus on the positive things in your life. It is then to appreciate and build on these positive things.
People who follow this approach often have a sense of gratitude. They also find that focusing on the positive things can help to develop the strength to deal with challenges.
Imagine that you want to follow this approach in your own way. If appropriate, you can take the following steps.
You can describe the
positive things in your life
What are the positive things in your life? Different people describe different things when exploring this theme. Here are some they may mention.
The positive things in my life are:
Our children – who give us joy … My partner – who gives me encouragement … Our pets – who give us pleasure … Our house – which is warm, cosy and reassuring … Our food – which is nourishing … Our garden – which is wonderful to be in and feeds our souls.
My health – which is good for my age … My upbringing – in which my parents gave me love and encouragement … My education – which was mainly self-study and involved exploring, reading and meeting good models.
My work – which is fulfilling … My strengths – which have provided the opportunity to do satisfying work and earn a good salary … My drive – which means I want to continue developing … My professional network – which consists of many encouraging people.
Imagine you want to describe the positive things in your life. If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentence.
You can appreciate the
positive things in your life
Different people choose different ways to appreciate the positive things. Some people keep a gratitude journal. Some choose other ways to record their thanks. One person described their approach in the following way.
“I take time each morning to count my blessings. I was fortunate to grow up in a loving family. My parents encouraged me to explore my interests and keep developing.
“During my early career I had a mentor who offered more than encouragement. They opened doors for me to try different jobs. This eventually led to me working in health care.
“I am grateful for many things in my personal life – such as having a caring partner. I also have many opportunities in my professional life – such as the chance to help people to heal and shape their future lives.”
Looking ahead, how can you continue to appreciate the positive things in your life? If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme.
You can build on the
positive things in your life
Different people choose different ways to take this step. Here are some themes they mention when exploring this approach.
The specific things I want to do to
build on the positive things in my life are:
To focus on what I believe is important in life … To encourage my loved ones … To spend more time walking … To keep improving our garden … … To create a website dedicated to helping cancer patients.
To continue to feel alive … To follow my passions and do stimulating projects at work … To spend time with my favourite customers … To pass on knowledge that helps other people to succeed.
People who take this approach often find that it gives them positive energy and the strength to tackle challenges. If you wish, try tackling the final exercise on this theme.
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