Be positive.
Going back through time, we can see a stoic philosopher and Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, in 170 AD, in the later years of his life, writing extensively about the power of our perspective and attitude. In Meditations, he shared, “The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”
In Stoic philosophy, there is a strong emphasis on our ability to control our judgments, minds, and will—even if we cannot control external circumstances.
The universe and external events are constantly changing in ways outside our control, but our internal life—our experience and reaction to events—is directly shaped by our thoughts and judgments about those events, giving us back control.
Whether we experience something as positive or negative is primarily due to the attitudes and perspectives we choose to take, not solely the event itself. Two people can face the same event. However, if one views it negatively with destructive thoughts and the other positively with constructive thoughts, they will have vastly different inner experiences.
Constructive thoughts.
Aurelius saw our power to control our judgments and choose a positive mindset as the key to human flourishing. In Meditations, he wrote: “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” By governing our minds and replacing negative judgments with positive perspectives, we can transform our experience of life’s circumstances.
In “Of Experience,” Michel de Montaigne, a French Renaissance philosopher in the late 1500s, wrote, “Our well-being is never really the privation of illness, but the possession of health.” This implies that positivity and negativity are both states of mind that require equal effort.
Positivity and negativity come from the same energy — our thoughts.
Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, Austrian neurologist, and psychologist, wrote a book titled “Man’s Search for Meaning.” In it, he argued that we have the freedom to choose our attitude, even in the most difficult circumstances. “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
His philosophy theorizes that we can rise above circumstances and find meaning through conscious choice of how we respond to suffering. Frankl believed that meaning could be discovered through creativity, experience, or changing one’s attitude toward a fixed or permanent circumstance.
Frankl taught that human beings could transcend even the worst situations by cultivating a positive mindset focused on possibilities instead of lapsing into bitterness or despair. This was the key to not just surviving, but finding reason to continue living with self-respect.
So, how do we cultivate a positive mindset?
1. Practice conscious choice of perspective
The insights from Marcus Aurelius, Montaigne, and Frankl all emphasize that we have the power to choose our attitude and outlook, even amid difficult external circumstances. We can intentionally practice reframing situations in a more positive light by adjusting our judgments and replacing negative thoughts with constructive ones.
2. Find meaning and possibility
As Frankl highlighted, seeking meaning through creative pursuits, valued experiences, or shifting one’s stance toward a fixed situation can unlock a positive spirit. Instead of falling into bitterness, we can aim to perceive possibility and find purpose even in adversity.
3. Train the mind
Echoing the Stoic philosophy of Aurelius, we can work on mastering our internal realm — bringing more discipline to regulate our thoughts, emotions, and will. Meditation, mindfulness, and exploring the roots of negative judgments can help cultivate a positive inner life.
4. Recognize the choice
According to these philosophers, both perspectives and states of positivity/negativity originate from within. We can remind ourselves that putting in the mental energy for negativity or positivity is ultimately our choice in how we perceive events.
5. Seek wisdom
By studying and embodying the teachings of wise figures, we can be inspired and gain practical guidance on living with a more positive perspective and sense of grace, even amidst life’s inevitable difficulties.
The path forward involves continually exercising our power of choice, mind, and outlook while embodying timeless wisdom that guides us toward human flourishing through constructive thinking.
Being positive is the foundation of happiness.
Here are some quotes to take with you if you need a reminder of how easy it is to be happy because we choose happiness.
- “For everything you have missed, you have gained something else.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) - “He who does not trust enough will not be trusted.”
— Lao Tzu (6th century BC) - “Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.”
— Epictetus (50–135 AD) - “Choose always the way that seems best, however rough it may be; custom will soon render it agreeable and easy.”
— Pythagoras (570–495 BC) - “No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.”
— Helen Keller (1880–1968) - “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.”
— Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) - “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
— Marcus Aurelius (121–180 AD) - “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.”
— Willie Nelson (1933-) - “The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”
— Winston Churchill (1874–1965) - “The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
— Buddha (563–483 BC) - “When you are joyful, when you say yes to life and have fun and project positivity all around you, you become a sun in the center of every constellation, and people want to be near you.”
— Shannon L. Alder (1966-)
Which one are you writing down and reading each day?
With love, Jo
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