So, I actually really liked doing the positivity challenge for March. It was definitely harder than I thought it would be, but it also was a great practice to try to dig deep and find more about myself that I could be positive about. However, because I liked it so much and the mental push to find the good, I really wanted to extend some of that into the next month’s challenge. I really have been trying to encourage anyone and everyone to be positive, focus on the good and find joy and happiness in their lives and in the world around them. We can’t change all of the shit that is going on in the world. We can only change ourselves. Change how we handle it, how we push forward, how we rise above. The challenge this month needed to help continue that ideal and still be something new as well. I was thinking about it and how this last challenge was positive but all personal. To expand the positivity into something new, I decided to do a challenge that was more social this month. Incorporate those around us into joining the positive mental state.
This month I am going to be doing a social positivity challenge. Once again, anyone that would like to join me is welcome. I actually very much encourage you to join me and spread the positivity even further. However, let’s get down to some specifics. The challenge this month is to spread some sort of positivity to someone or multiple people around you each day. I definitely will not have it count if I just look back on my day and think. Oh, I was cordial to that person, I think. I want this to be a conscious decision, in the moment, to do something nice for someone else. Here are some of the idea’s I have for way to go about this.
Send a friendly letter, text, or thank you note
I think it would be a great way to send some positive and loving thoughts to write a letter to someone. Take a moment to tell someone what they mean to you and that you are thinking about them. It could even be to thank someone who has made a real positive impact on your life. For some of you this may be slightly old school to write a letter or a note. If it would make it more feasible to participate by sending those same kinds of sweet words through a text, there is nothing wrong with that.
Invite someone out for dinner, or tea and visit
Sometimes the best way to spread some nice positive feelings if through time spent. We all have moments that we need to get away from the everyday grind and just stop and relax. Have a fun, nice moment with some friends. Take the opportunity to bring others into that relaxing space. Ask a friend or family member who has been having a hard time to go get dinner with you. Maybe someone you would like to get to know better would like to visit with you over some tea. Focus on positive or uplifting topics. Or on supporting that person through some of their struggles.
Find a way to compliment a family member or a friend
There was a time that I really was trying to show some extra love towards my husband. I was trying to find little ways to let him know how much I cared about him. I started leaving him little notes here and there. I taped a couple notes to his steering wheel before he left for work. Another time, I knew my mom was going through a rough time. I coordinated with a bunch of family members to write letters or poems to her and left them for her to find each day for about two weeks. Things like this take very little time and effort. However, they can make a big impact on someone. One of the ways that I would like to practice this positivity challenge is by going out of my way to compliment or uplift someone I love.
Smile and say hello to a stranger
Sometimes we run into people without really seeing them. We have the opportunity to interact with an incredible number of individuals. I can almost guarantee you that at least a handful of those people could use a genuine smile or greeting from anyone that deems to look their way. I know that it’s made a difference to me to have someone go out of their way to introduce themselves at an event or compliment my hair or appearance. Even my son has been really touched to have a stranger compliment him on his spiderman hat or batman shirt. It makes him smile. I want to be able to make a concerted effort to show that same kind of kindness to others.
Remember you can keep it simple
I am not challenging myself or anyone else to spend an hour a day trying to throw positivity on every person that they actually see. I just want the effort to not be a casual effort offhand. I want it to be a premeditated reason to do something nice for someone else. The previous challenge was all about internal positivity and this one is all about external positivity. So, if you’re up for it, join me in spreading some positive energy.
Mel's Health and Fitness 