A Happier You In 60 Minutes: 4 Easy Ways to Be More Positive and Grateful Everyday

By J. J. Clark

You don't have to change your whole life around to be happier and more positive. You can start being more grateful and feeling more optimistic in just 60 minutes. Change your default mindset with these four easy and practical concepts that take only seconds to integrate into your daily life but will have lasting effects on your mood and outlook. Told from a real mom's perspective, this book talks about real life examples most people face in their daily lives and how you can reframe the way you feel about negative situations. You are in complete control over your thoughts. If something is bothering you or affecting your mood, it is because you are letting it. With these four positive thinking techniques, you will be able to notice your negative emotions and stop them before they take control of your actions. You will be able to put your issues and annoyances into perspective and learn to appreciate what you have and what you don't have.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. J. Clark
• Release date: Feb 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215105689

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: It’s Okay to Not be Okay

Practice Self-Compassion

Awareness

Reframe Negative Thoughts

Set Realistic Expectations

Surround Yourself with Positive People

Prioritize Self-Care

Celebrate Your Achievements

Seek Professional Help If Needed

Chapter 2: Gratitude is All About Perspective

Identify Your VIPs

Default Mindset

Be Grateful for What Your Problem Isn’t

Acknowledge, Challenge, Validate

Practice Gratitude

Bigger Picture

Focus on What You Can Control

Chapter 3: Assume the Best of People First

Practice Empathy

Focus on Strengths

Look For Common Ground

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Practice Forgiveness

Stay Calm Even When Other People Suck

Avoid Judgement

Chapter 4: Strive for Progress, Not Perfection

Benefits of Progress

Reframe Your Goals

Embrace Imperfection

Growth Mindset

Focus on the Process

Let Go of Comparisons

Short and Long-Term Goals

Celebrate All Progress

Conclusion

Enjoying the New You

References

Introduction

As a working mother of two, I used to find myself getting absolutely buried in the small stuff. Things like unfinished laundry, grocery lists, untidy kitchens and other mundane issues that litter the minds of many busy adults. With four jobs and very active kids, my color-coded calendar looked like a rainbow with multiple overlapping events each week. The play dates, the sports practices, the homework, the swimming lessons, the volunteering at school, etc. Not to mention wanting to find time for myself and my husband. Thankfully, both my husband and I work from home – a benefit from COVID if there is one. Still, it’s as if working from home makes it easier to over commit. I have all this extra time in the day...sure, I can do that! I’ll squeeze it in right between that appointment and that practice. I have always been known to take on more than I probably should. As a teenager I was student council president, varsity soccer captain, maintained a 4.0 grade point average, worked part-time and still had time for a social life. But despite the chaos, I like being busy. I always have. It is extremely hard for me to sit still. I like moving and learning and being involved. It would be easy for me to gravel in my misfortunes because with so much going on, there are certainly mishaps. I will always remember one night I was complaining about my non-stop schedule (the schedule I chose and willingly signed up for) and my husband simply said to me hon, happiness is a choice. My initial reaction was to roll my eyes and scoff. I was not saying I wasn’t ‘happy’. I was just...you know...complaining. Like we all do. But instead of lashing back, I took those words to heart and spent the whole night analyzing them (overanalyzing is also something I do too much). How cool would that be if I could choose to be happy even despite all the imperfections I face in a day? All the mom guilt. All the red flags I see when I walk into a room and see all the things that need to get done. What a momentous change that would be! Well, from that night on I decided I was going to put this statement to the test because if I could make that be the case, it would be worth more than all the money in the world. I decided I was going to put myself in full control of my own feelings in hopes that it would help me maintain this busy life but be happier and more positive in the process. This thought process has now manifested itself in multiple cases throughout my days. I now realize that for every one misfortune in my life, I have at least five positives that I can be thankful for. My time and energy are valuable and I’m not about wasting it.

After I made that shift in mindset it was like my whole world had gone through a washing machine and come out shiny and new. I started to appreciate every small thing that happened to myself and my family. For example, if my daughter tipped over her cereal bowl, instead of getting upset and raising my voice, I would find myself thankful that we could afford cereal, milk, and a bowl. I would think of it as a blessing that I have two wonderful children with enough of a zest for life to be a little wild even if it does