Positivity in a World Gone Bonkers (And Why It Works)

Mad World

Focus on What You Want (Not What You Don’t): The Surprisingly Simple Secret to a Happier Life

Let’s play a quick game. Don’t think about a pink elephant.

Seriously. Don’t do it.

Don’t imagine its big floppy ears, its bubble-gum-coloured skin, or the way it’s tap dancing in a tutu across your living room.

Still thinking about it?

Exactly.

This, dear reader, is the sneaky little trick your brain plays on you every single day. When you focus on what you don’t want, your brain doesn’t hear the “don’t.” It just hears “pink elephant” and goes, “Oh cool, let me whip that up for you!”

So, if you’re constantly thinking, “I don’t want to be broke,” “I don’t want to be lonely,” or “I don’t want to spill coffee on my white shirt five minutes before a Zoom call,” guess what? Your brain is like a well-meaning but slightly clueless genie. It hears “broke,” “lonely,” and “coffee disaster” and says, “Coming right up!”

Your Brain: The Overenthusiastic Apprentice

Your mind is like an apprentice who’s eager to please but hasn’t quite grasped nuance. It doesn’t understand sarcasm, subtlety, or the word “no.” It just takes whatever you focus on and starts building a reality around it.

If you constantly think about how stressed you are, your brain goes, “Stress? Got it. Let’s release some cortisol, tighten those shoulders, and make your eye twitch like it’s trying to send Morse code.”

But if you focus on calm, joy, abundance, and connection? Your brain starts looking for ways to deliver those instead. It’s like switching the sat nav from “Avoid happiness” to “Destination: Bliss.”

Positivity in a World That’s Basically a Ticking Time Bomb.

Let’s be real. The world today feels like someone gave a toddler a flamethrower and said, “Go nuts.”

The news is a 24/7 anxiety buffet. Social media is a highlight reel of everyone’s best moments, making you feel like a potato in comparison. And don’t even get me started on the comment sections. They’re like the Wild West, but with worse grammar.

So how do you stay positive when everything around you feels like it’s falling apart?

You choose it.

Positivity isn’t about ignoring reality. It’s about choosing where to place your attention. It’s about saying, “Yes, the world is a bit bonkers right now, but I’m going to focus on what I can control. I’m going to look for the good, even if I have to squint.”

The Ripple Effect of Your Vibe

Here’s the thing: your energy is contagious. You walk into a room with a smile, and suddenly people sit up straighter. You crack a joke, and the tension melts like butter hot toast. You radiate calm, and others start to breathe easier.

On the flip side, if you walk in like a human thundercloud, people start checking the exits.

Your mindset doesn’t just affect you. It affects everyone around you. Your kids, your coworkers, your barista who’s just trying to survive the morning rush without crying into the espresso machine.

So when you choose to focus on what you want—on joy, love, peace, purpose—you’re not just improving your own life. You’re lighting a candle in the dark for others to see.

Your Thoughts

Mind-Body Magic: What You Focus On, You Become

Let’s get a little science-y for a moment (don’t worry, no lab coat required).

Your thoughts influence your emotions. Your emotions influence your actions. Your actions influence your results. And your results reinforce your thoughts.

It’s a feedback loop. A cycle. A hamster wheel of destiny.

If you wake up thinking, “Today’s going to suck,” your body responds accordingly. You slouch. You sigh. You spill coffee on your shirt (again). And when things inevitably go wrong, you say, “See? I knew it.”

But if you wake up thinking, “Today’s going to be amazing,” your body perks up. You smile. You hold your coffee like a sacred chalice. And when good things happen, you say, “I knew it!”

Your mind and body are in cahoots. They’re besties. They gossip about you behind your back and say things like, “He’s really into stress lately. Let’s give him more of that.”

So, if you want to change your life, change your focus. Tell your brain what you do want. Be specific. Be bold. Be unapologetically optimistic.

The Law of Attraction (But Make It Less Woo-Woo)

You’ve probably heard of the Law of Attraction. It’s the idea that like attracts like. That your thoughts create your reality. That if you visualize a yacht hard enough, Jeff Bezos will personally deliver it to your driveway.

Okay, maybe not that last part.

But there’s truth to it. When you focus on what you want, you start noticing opportunities. You start meeting people who align with your goals. You start taking actions that move you closer to your dreams.

It’s not magic. It’s mindset.

It's Not Magic

If you walk around thinking, “I’m unlucky,” you’ll miss the lucky breaks. But if you walk around thinking, “Good things are always happening to me,” you’ll start spotting them like Easter eggs in a Marvel movie.

Declutter Your Mental Closet

Imagine your brain is a wardrobe. Right now, it’s stuffed with old fears, outdated beliefs, and that weird sweater of self-doubt you’ve been holding onto since 2007.

It’s time for a mental reboot, an update if you like.

Ask yourself: “Does this thought spark joy?”

If not, toss it. Replace it with something better. Something that makes you feel empowered, excited, and slightly giddy.

Try this today.

·         Instead of “I’m not good enough,” try “I’m learning and growing every day.”

·         Instead of “I’ll never find love,” try “I’m attracting the right people into my life.”

·         Instead of “I hate Mondays,” try “Monday is a fresh start (and also coffee).”

Stop Doomscrolling and Start Dreamscrolling

We’ve all been there. One minute you’re checking the weather, and the next you’re knee-deep in conspiracy theories, celebrity scandals, and articles titled “10 Ways the World Might End by Tuesday.”

It’s called doomscrolling, and it’s like feeding your brain a steady diet of junk food.

So let’s flip the script. Let’s start dreamscrolling.

Follow accounts that inspire you. Read stories of people overcoming adversity. Watch videos of dogs doing silly things. Fill your feed with hope, humour, and heart.

Your brain is always listening. Give it something worth hearing.

Set Your Inner GPS

Here’s a fun fact: your brain has something called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). It’s like your internal GPS. It filters information based on what you deem important.

If you decide that success is important, your RAS will start pointing out opportunities. If you decide that kindness matters, your RAS will highlight moments to be compassionate.

But if you focus on fear, failure, and frustration? Your RAS will say, “Got it. Let’s find more of that.”

So set your GPS. Choose your destination. And trust that your brain will help you get there—preferably without detours through the Land of Self-Sabotage.

Celebrate the Wins (Even the Tiny Ones)

We often wait for big milestones to celebrate. The promotion. The engagement. The six-pack abs that never materialize because pizza exists.

But life is made up of tiny wins. Waking up on time. Drinking water. Not flipping off the guy who cut you off in traffic.

Celebrate those.

Give yourself a high-five. Do a little dance. Treat yourself to a biscuit (or five).

When you celebrate the small stuff, your brain goes, “Oh, this is good! Let’s do more of that!”

Gratitude: The Secret Sauce

I'm Grateful

And now, dear reader, we arrive at the cherry on top of this mindset sundae: gratitude.

Gratitude is like a magic lens. It doesn’t change your circumstances, but it changes how you see them.

When you’re grateful, you shift from lack to abundance. From complaint to contentment. From “Why me?” to “Wow, me!”

Be grateful for your morning coffee. For the friend who texts you memes. For the fact that your socks match today.

Be grateful for your breath. For your body. For the fact that you’re here, reading this, with a heart that beats and a mind that dreams.

Because when you appreciate what you have, you create space for more good to flow in.

Focus, Feel, Flourish

·         Your brain delivers what you focus on—so focus on what you want, not what you don’t.

·         Positivity is a choice, and it’s powerful in a world that often feels chaotic.

·         Your mindset affects your body, your actions, and everyone around you.

·         Celebrate small wins, set your mental GPS, and feed your brain uplifting content.

·         And above all, be grateful. Even for the little things. Especially for the little things.

Now go out there and live like the universe is your personal life coach.

Until next month. Stay focused, stay positive and smile more.

Have a great October