The Power of Positivity in Mindfulness

Mindfulness isn’t just about observing your thoughts; it’s about recognizing the power you have to shift your mindset. When you mix in a little positivity, mindfulness becomes less about what’s wrong and more about what’s right. It’s a way to guide your thoughts from spiraling into negativity and bring them back into a place that serves you better.

But here's the thing—choosing positivity isn’t always easy. I had a friend who had this incredible knack for turning any positive moment, like a fun girls' outing, into a cloud of negativity. We’d be at brunch, sipping mimosas, but she would always find something to complain about. The food wasn’t hot enough, the waiter was too slow, the day was too bright—anything to drag the moment down.

And if that wasn't enough, she would constantly bring up her ex who broke her heart... six years ago! Like clockwork, she’d rehash every awful thing he did, reliving the pain over and over again, even when the conversation had moved on. I used to get so frustrated, thinking, how can she not see the good in what’s happening right now? But she wasn’t practicing positivity in mindfulness—she was letting those negative thoughts take center stage. And I started to notice that simple things like seeing a message from her would make my stomach pit. I started associating her with negativity- and that sucked.

How Positivity Changes Your Mindfulness Practice

1. It Stops the Spiral When you focus on the positive, you keep your mind from spiraling into negativity. Like my brunch friend—she could have acknowledged the food wasn’t perfect or that her ex broke her heart, but also noticed how great it felt to be surrounded by friends who cared about her. Focusing on the good would’ve stopped her from being stuck in the same loop of pain.
2. It Builds Emotional Resilience By choosing to focus on the good, even when things aren’t perfect, you build emotional resilience. It’s like training your brain to bounce back quicker. When you’re always looking for the silver linings, challenges don’t hit as hard, and you’re able to recover faster.
3. It Changes Your Outlook on Life Once you start consistently shifting your focus toward the positive, it becomes second nature. Your mind learns to search for what’s good, even in difficult situations, and suddenly life feels a little lighter. You stop being the person who brings down the mood, and instead, you become the one who finds joy, even when things don’t go according to plan.

How to Add Positivity to Your Mindfulness Practice

It’s simple: start by acknowledging when things go wrong, but don’t stay there. Shift your focus. What’s one thing that did go right today? Even if it’s something small, like enjoying your favorite coffee or getting a moment of quiet, those little positive moments add up.

Incorporating positivity into mindfulness is about balance. Yes, acknowledge the challenges—but don’t let them be the loudest voice in your head. By consistently practicing positivity, you create a mental habit of focusing on the good, and over time, that shift changes everything.

So, the next time something doesn’t go as planned, ask yourself, What’s one good thing I can focus on right now? It’s a small step that leads to major change.