As someone who was raised by the familiar yet somewhat cliché golden rule, “Treat others the way you want to be treated,” I live and breathe positivity. I grew up embodying this rule, some might say a little bit too much. Yes, I was the girl who was referred to as being “too nice” or “too happy,” so much so that it came across as an insult. Many of my peers would say that my blood is not red, but pink, and that if I could live anywhere, I would live on a cloud with rainbows and unicorns. Ideally, this sounds like a pretty good life to me, but unfortunately, this is not my reality.
As a 19-year-old sophomore in college, I am always on the go. My life constantly consists of juggling clubs, academics, sorority life, friendships, and of course, football games. How in the world do I have time to spread positivity?
Let’s face it- college is not full of sunshine and rainbows. You are far away from home, surrounded by new people from every which way. You want to try and be the “perfect girl” in order to fit in, but it’s hard. What should you say? What should you wear? How should you act? I feel like nowadays, young women like you and me are desperately trying to find our place to fit in. It gets to the point where we lose sight of our true values that make us who we are. We tend to hide our positivity by focusing on what is wrong rather than what is true, pushing our positivity to the back burner.
Sometimes, it feels like the world may be crumbling down around us and the last thing we want to think about is being positive. If you had a rough day and you are just not feeling it (trust me, I’ve been there), do not think about everything that is wrong with your life. Instead, remind yourself about the things that are true in your life. These things could be having a strong support system like your friends and family, attending a school where you can chase your dreams, or even something as simple as reminding yourself that everything will be okay.
During my first year of college, I quickly learned that I actually needed to make a point to spread positivity to those around me. I wanted others to feel good about themselves during the stressful times of college. When I lift others up, I lift myself up, as well. In order to spread positivity, you have to be positive within yourself. It is a two-way street: if you are positive, then others will be, too!
If you are looking for ways to create a positive environment for yourself and for others, here are 5 small actions I complete daily to spread positivity!
Practicing Affirmations
Affirmations are so important when establishing a positive mindset. When you continue to positively affirm yourself with “I am” statements, the affirmations will come true. I use an affirmation app called I am that gives me randomized affirmations throughout the day. From going to the gym to sitting in class, I’ll look at my phone from time to time and see a notification from this app. When I tell you it never fails to make me smile, I mean it! “I stay on track with a positive mindset” is the affirmation that popped up on my phone just now!
Posting on my positivity Instagram account
To continue my positivity craze, I just had to create an Instagram account, @positivelyperrin. I post about all things positivity (*shocker*)! I create graphics using Canva and reflect on the day. Each day has its own theme: Monday is Motivational Monday, Tuesday is Transparent Tuesday, Wednesday is Wellness Wednesday, and so on. I absolutely love this account because it brings joy to others in such a unique way, especially since social media is typically associated with negativity. By creating my own platform, I can contribute to the positive side of social media!
Complimenting others
You never know what someone is going through, so I make a point to compliment at least one person every day. I believe that a compliment can make someone’s entire day and that the smallest compliments can go the longest way!
Smiling at people in passing
Whether I am on my way to class or running at the gym, I always smile at people in passing. It is scientifically proven that smiles increase your endorphin levels. Simply put, if you see someone smile, you are also likely to smile. It makes my entire day when someone smiles back at me because, well, smiling is contagious!
Saying “thank you”
Every time I leave class, I say “thank you” to my professor. Every time I grab a meal, I say “thank you” to the cashier. There is not a day that goes by when I do not thank those around me. Saying “thank you” may seem simple, but it is so important to express your gratitude to others!