Written by Christa Melnyk Hines | Contributor
Shift Your Mindset for More Joy
Want to infuse your home with more happiness this year? Begin by changing your mindset. Embracing a more positive outlook not only enhances your overall happiness but also shapes how your children tackle daily challenges.
“Children observe their parents. They pick up on moods and beliefs. A positive attitude is infectious—so is negativity,” states psychologist Dr. Kristen Hensley.
Benefits of a Positive Outlook
A positive mindset can enhance productivity, energy, and motivation; lower stress levels; build confidence and self-esteem; improve health; and foster better relationships with others.
“A positive attitude also allows us to think more flexibly and makes it easier to find solutions to problems,” Hensley adds.
“Searching for silver linings in life can foster mental resilience and overall optimism.”
Embrace Self-Awareness
Consider tracking your feelings to gain insights into how you can better support yourself each day.
Jessica Mostaffa, an early childhood mental health specialist and therapist assisting mothers facing depression, finds this technique helps her clients adopt a more mindful approach to their emotional well-being.
Create a Happiness List
Compile a list of activities that uplift your spirits when you’re feeling low. Your list could include enjoying a warm shower, watching a comedy, gardening, or taking a walk with a friend.
“When mothers prioritize time for themselves, they report fewer depressive symptoms and notice a more positive relationship with their children, partners, and others in the household,” says Mostaffa.
Encourage your children to create their own lists as well. When they feel upset, they can refer to their lists for healthy ways to cope with their emotions, such as playing basketball, listening to music, drawing, reading, or calling a trusted friend.
Reframe Negative Thoughts
Instead of dismissing negative thoughts, engage with them when they arise.
Mostaffa recommends asking grounding questions like: “What evidence supports this thought? What evidence contradicts it? What is the worst that could happen? What is the best outcome? And what’s the most likely scenario?”
Be Mindful of Your Language
Pay attention to how you phrase your duties to yourself and others. For instance, rather than saying, “It’s my responsibility to ensure the kids complete their homework,” consider saying, “It’s my privilege to support my children in doing what’s best for them.”
“It’s these subtle changes that can have significant impacts on our lives,” remarks Carla McClellan, an ACC-certified life coach.
Express gratitude. Encourage positive thinking at mealtime by inviting your family to share three things they feel grateful for and the reasons why. Bedtime is also a great time to reflect on the day.
“Daily affirmations can be powerful,” Hensley states. “These don’t need to be about major issues. The goal is to cultivate this way of thinking so it becomes a natural part of your daily life.”
Build a Vision Board
Visualize what you and your family aspire to achieve in the upcoming year. You can create a collective family vision board or individual boards. Gather old magazines, scissors, glue, and poster board. Cut out inspiring words, quotes, and images.
Pose questions to each other like: “What are our dreams for the upcoming year? What do we hope to see in our lives? What would an ideal vacation entail?”
Encourage Quiet Time
Quiet, unplugged moments foster creativity, problem-solving, and stress relief.
Unwind Together Before Bed
Spend time reading, drawing, or watching a show together as a family. This time allows children to relax and provides space for them to share their worries, concerns, or experiences from the day.
Evaluate the Positive and Negative
If your child is troubled by a situation at school or home, encourage them to jot down a positive thought related to it on one side of a card and a negative thought on the other.
“Then you can discuss how each side affects them and the potential consequences of both,” Hensley explains. “Remind kids that it’s okay to have negative thoughts and feelings, but we don’t want them to dominate our lives.”
Engage in Play
Experts agree that families who play together experience greater happiness and deeper connections. Whether it’s tossing a football, competing in a card game, dancing to lively music at home, or inventing games during a car ride, play strengthens family bonds.
Experiment with activities that resonate with your family. Hensley states, “All of these activities and rituals are crucial because they model a positive attitude, promote healthy thinking and interactions with the world, and help children grasp the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.”
Further Reading
– The Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler
– Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen
– Simple Fun for Busy People: 333 Free Ways to Enjoy Your Loved Ones More in the Time You Have by Gary Krane, Ph.D.
Coping with Positivity Amid Grief
Finding silver linings may not always be feasible, especially when grieving a loved one or facing a personal crisis. Be kind to yourself, allow yourself time, and seek support.
Mental Health Resources:
– The Counseling Place, 469.283.0242, counselingplace.org
– Here For Texas, HereForTexas.com
– Teen Talk Youth Health Education, teentalk.ca
– Jed Foundation, jedfoundation.org
– American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, afsp.org
– National Institute for Mental Health, nimh.nih.gov
