Have you ever started your day feeling great—only to have one small thing throw you completely off?
Maybe you receive a rude text, get stuck in unexpected traffic, or perhaps it’s just one of those mornings where nothing seems to go right.
I’ve been there.
We all have!
But what if I told you that staying positive all day isn’t just a matter of luck or personality?
Instead, what if I told you that you have control over how positive or negative you feel—and that with the right approach, you could actually stay positive throughout the day?
What if there were a few simple tricks you could use to train your brain to stay positive—no matter what happens?
Well, here’s something you might not know:
There’s something happening in your brain every single day that makes it harder for you to stay positive.
Often, you don’t even realize it.
See, here’s the thing:
Your brain is naturally wired to focus on the negative.
That’s why a single bad experience, like being treated poorly, can completely overshadow an otherwise good day.
That one negative moment can linger in your mind, replaying over and over, making you so upset that you forget all the positive moments that happened.
But guess what?
Here’s the good news and the reason I am writing this article:
You can change that!
With a few simple but powerful tricks, you can rewire your brain to focus on the positive instead of automatically focusing on and thinking about the negative.
In this article, I’ll share the exact tricks I’ve used time and time again—proven strategies that have helped me stay positive throughout the day.
Why Your Brain Focuses on the Negative (And How to Fix It)
As I mentioned, it’s common for a single bad moment to linger in your mind for hours while all the good things from your day disappear into the background.
Has that ever happened to you?
Maybe you woke up feeling great, but then you spilled coffee on your shirt right before heading out, and suddenly, your whole morning felt ruined.
Or you had a productive day at work, but one critical comment from your boss stuck with you, making you forget everything you did right.
Or perhaps you had a fun dinner with friends, but on the drive home, an aggressive driver honked and cut you off in traffic, and now all you can think about is how annoyed you feel.
That’s because of something called NEGATIVITY BIAS – a built-in survival mechanism in your brain.
Why?
Because thousands of years ago, our ancestors needed to be hyper-aware of threats in order to survive.
If they missed a beautiful sunset, no big deal.
But if they missed a lurking predator, it could be their last mistake.
So, over time, the brain evolved to prioritize potential threats and bad experiences over anything else.
Fast-forward to today, and while we no longer have to worry about predators, our brains still treat modern inconveniences – like a rude comment, a stressful email, or an unexpected setback—as if they’re actual threats.
A Simple Example of Negativity Bias
Imagine walking through a beautiful park, enjoying the sunshine, fresh air, and birds chirping.
Everything feels perfect.
Then—out of nowhere—a wasp stings you on the neck.
It hurts and swells up immediately.
What are you going to remember most about that walk?
Most likely, you’ll focus on the wasp!
Now, if you were telling a friend about your day, you probably wouldn’t mention the beautiful walk, the stunning sunset, or the perfect weather.
Instead, you’d probably talk about the fact that a wasp stung you for no reason—because that’s what stuck with you the most.
Now, let’s say you start talking about it with a friend…
They respond with:
“Oh man, that reminds me of the time I got stung by a wasp while I was camping!”
Or
“Ugh, I hate that park! One time, some guy’s dog nearly bit me!”
Suddenly, the conversation becomes a back-and-forth exchange of painful, frustrating, or annoying experiences.
What started as a great day and a beautiful walk at the park has now become a discussion about bad experiences.
That’s negativity bias in action.
Unfortunately, today, instead of protecting you from real dangers, it makes you dwell on small things that, in reality, don’t matter.
This is why one lousy moment can overshadow an otherwise good day.
Well, here’s the good news!
You don’t have to be stuck with this way of thinking.
You can train your brain to focus on the positive, leading to greater happiness, productivity, and peace of mind.
And that’s precisely what we’re going to talk about next.
5 Simple Tricks to Stay Positive All Day
TRICK #1: Start Your Morning INTENTIONALLY
Here’s the deal!
How you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day.
If you wake up and immediately check your phone, scroll through bad news, or rush into stress, your brain is already playing defense.
Instead, try this:
Take 5 minutes to be intentional. Before you grab your phone, do something positive—stretch, take a deep breath, or just sit for a moment and think about what you’re excited for today.
Say something positive. Literally—talk to yourself. Say, “Today’s going to be a good day,” or “I can handle anything that comes my way.” It might feel silly at first, but trust me—it works.
Starting your day with positivity on purpose gives you momentum to carry throughout the day.
But of course, that doesn’t mean traffic, bad news, or unexpected challenges won’t come your way. So, let’s keep going with more tricks to help you stay positive no matter what the day throws at you.
TRICK #2: Watch Your Inner Dialogue
You know that little voice in your head? The one that says, “Of course this had to happen,” or “Just my luck—there goes my good day,” or “Why does this always happen to me?”
Yeah… that guy is not your friend.
So here’s what you have to remember:
You don’t have to believe every thought you think.
Next time you catch yourself in negative self-talk, flip the script.
Instead of saying, “I’m terrible at this,” say, “I’m still learning, and I’m getting better.” Instead of, “This is a disaster,” try, “This is a challenge, and I can handle it.”
The way you think directly impacts your mood and your actions. Your thoughts shape your reality, and the more you challenge negativity, the easier it becomes to stay positive, make better decisions, and keep moving forward with confidence.
Notice a theme here? It comes down to intentionally and actively shifting your focus when you catch your brain doing its natural thing—zeroing in on the negative.
The trick is to take control of that moment and redirect it. Alright, let’s keep going!
TRICK #3: Shift Your Focus When Things Go Wrong
Let’s be honest—things will go wrong.
A bad meeting, an annoying text, an argument or disagreement, unexpected traffic… life has a way of testing us.
But when something frustrating happens, here’s what you can do to stay positive:
Pause and shift your focus.
Ask yourself: “Will this still bother me a week from now? A month from now?” “How important is this, really?”
Most of the time, the answer is no. You’ll see that a lot of the “negative” stuff your brain focuses on is not even that important. So, why let it ruin today?
Redirect your energy. Step away, take a deep breath, or go for a quick walk. Small actions break the cycle of negativity before it takes over your whole mood.
Now, look for something positive. Even in challenging moments, there’s always something good—maybe it’s a lesson, a funny moment, or just the fact that you made it through.
This tiny shift changes everything.
TRICK #4: Surround Yourself with POSITIVITY
Have you ever wondered how being around negative people makes you feel drained?
That’s because energy is contagious. If the brain naturally tends to focus on the negative, imagine what happens when a bunch of brains come together and someone starts talking negatively.
So, a key part of staying positive is staying aware of your surroundings. And while you may not be able to stop people from complaining all the time, you can:
Listen to music that lifts you.
Follow social media accounts that inspire you, not stress you out.
Spend time with people who make you feel GOOD.
What if you don’t have that kind of support?
Be your own biggest hype person.
Read something motivational, watch videos like this, or even tell yourself, “I got this.”
Because you do.
THE GAME-CHANGER: Practice Gratitude in the Moment
Now, this is my #1 most powerful trick.
Whenever you’re feeling negative, take 10 seconds to list three things you’re grateful for.
IMMEDIATELY. RIGHT NOW.
It could even be the obvious things that you sometimes take for granted, like:
Having a roof over your head
Someone who made you smile today
The fact that you made it this far in life
Gratitude instantly shifts your mindset. It reminds you that good is still around you, even on hard days.
And the more you practice it, the more automatic positivity becomes.
The Power of Staying Positive Throughout The Day
Staying positive isn’t about ignoring problems or pretending everything is perfect. Life happens—things will go wrong, and challenges are inevitable.
But you have control over how you respond.
You can let negativity dictate your mood, or you can take charge and shift your focus back to the positive.
Let’s quickly recap the simple tricks that will help you stay positive all day:
- Start Your Morning Intentionally – Set the tone for the day by beginning with a positive thought, action, or intention.
- Watch Your Inner Dialogue – Challenge negative self-talk and replace it with empowering thoughts.
- Shift Your Focus When Things Go Wrong -Instead of dwelling on negativity, ask yourself, “How important is this really?” and redirect your energy.
- Surround Yourself with Positivity – Be mindful of who and what influences your mindset. Engage with uplifting people, content, and activities.
- Practice Gratitude in the Moment – Gratitude is the game-changer! Shifting your focus to what you appreciate instantly rewires your brain for positivity.
The good news?
Positivity is a skill—the more you practice these simple shifts, the easier it becomes.
Over time, your brain will default to a more positive outlook, making happiness and resilience second nature.
Because at the end of the day, positivity isn’t just a mood—it’s a choice. And that choice is yours to make every single day.
Let’s make it a great one!
Love,
Jim
