Challenging situations and obstacles are a part of life. When faced with one, focus on the good things no matter how small or seemingly insignificant they may seem. If you look at it, you can always find a glimmer of hope, even if it’s not immediately obvious.

Spend time with positive people. Negativity and positivity have been shown to be contagious. Think about the people you spend time with. Being around positive people has been shown to improve self-esteem and increase the chances of achieving goals. Surround yourself with people who lift your spirits and help you see the bright side.

Start each day on a positive note. Positive thinking is more than just being happy or having an optimistic attitude. Positive thoughts can actually create real value in your life and help you develop skills that will last a lifetime. However, negative emotions narrow your mind and focus your thoughts.

In fact, the biggest benefit of being positive is an increased ability to develop skills and resources for use later in life. Finding ways to bring happiness and positive emotions into your life provides more than a momentary decrease in stress and a few smiles.

Positive thinking isn’t magical and it won’t make all your problems go away. All it can do is make problems seem more manageable and help you approach difficulties in a more positive and productive way.

Trying to be positive when grieving or experiencing other serious distress can seem impossible. However, it’s important to take the pressure off yourself to find the silver lining. Instead, channel that energy into gaining support from others.

Positive thinking is not about burying every negative thought or emotion you have or avoiding difficult feelings. The lowest points in our lives are often the ones that motivate us to keep going and make positive changes.

When faced with stressful situations, positive thinkers cope more effectively than pessimists. Instead of dwelling on their frustrations or on the things they can’t change, they will come up with a plan of action and ask others for help and advice. Negative thinkers, on the other hand, refuse to seek help.

Positive thinking can not only affect your ability to deal with stress, but it also has an impact on your overall well-being, including a lower risk of death from cardiovascular problems, less depression, and a longer life expectancy.

In fact, positive thinking can play an important role in resilience. When faced with a challenge, optimists often see what they can do to fix the problem. Rather than give up hope, they organize their resources and are willing to ask others for help.