Decreasing stress and creating joy can lead to a happier, healthier, more productive you.

To be successful as entrepreneurs, we must stay positive when facing obstacles and embarking on new ventures.

I am often asked, “How are you so happy all the time?” And the only answer I can give you is that I choose to be happy. Life is full of complexities, disappointments, surprises, trials, and tribulations. The reason these affect us so deeply is because we dwell on them. When we attach ourselves to negative thought patterns or negative people in our lives, we tend to adopt a similar energy. I choose to spend time with positive people and create a positive mental attitude. This point of view carries me through the various chapters in life by allowing me to focus on solutions rather than obsessing on the problem itself. When we adopt perspective, we can greatly enhance our productivity and our approach to both our life and our work.

Research has proven time and time again that increasing our optimism and decreasing our stress has an impact on the state of both our mental and physical health. Optimists tend to foster positivity in all situations, therefore maintaining a more balanced heart rate and decreasing the amount of cortisol (the stress hormone) released in their bloodstream.

1. Create inner joy

Maya Angelou once said, “We need joy as we need air,” and I believe this 100%. To have joy in our life is a necessity, it is fundamental to our health and overall wellbeing. To develop joy, we must look inside of ourselves and reflect on what truly makes us happy. The answer to this will be as individual as our DNA, and so figuring out what drives us (traveling, family, self-care…) and following our inner compass towards our deepest desires will allow us to develop a healthy outlook in life. Spending time on activities that we love will fill our cup, put us in a positive frame of mind, and allow us a path towards a more aligned and meaningful life.

2. Develop stress management skills 

Stress can cause havoc in all aspects of life. How we handle stress can determine whether we break under pressure or thrive through any adversity. There is not one solution that will fit everyone in terms of the strategies we adopt to help us relieve stress. For some, exercising, listening to music, or reading will give them the space to ease their level of stress. Others use meditation techniques, journaling and focusing on daily gratitude to lower cortisol levels by focusing on the present moment and becoming more aware of their mental fluctuations. These techniques give us the ability to let things go and become less attached to what we cannot control.

3. Organize your time

People with goals, and a plan to achieve them, have a higher chance of succeeding because they know how to organize and manage their time.  Reflect on where your time is spent and determine where it should be spent, so you can schedule your tasks and accomplish them accordingly. It is crucial that you stay motivated and organized as you go through and complete your tasks. We should always remember to schedule time out for self-care and wellness; making sure we give as much importance to that as any other task we may have on the schedule. When things seem unmanageable just remind yourself of why you are doing what you are doing, where you are going, and keep your eye on the prize.

4. Be patient with yourself

Success is not a sprint, it is more like running a marathon; it requires a strategy, time, perseverance, and mental focus. As you go through anything in life it is so important to believe in yourself, be patient with yourself, and always remind yourself that you are capable of great things. See every obstacle as an opportunity and don’t give up, success may be just around the corner.

5. Prepare for the worst but envision the best

Keeping an open mind and being mentally prepared for anything prevents setbacks from deterring us from obtaining what we desire. It is crucial that use visualization and our imagination to our advantage. Although it is important to prepare for things that may go wrong, visualizing the desired outcome has the power to help us make all our dreams come true. Manifestation happens when we see what we desire as already being realized, visualizing the desired outcome helps us to not be constantly focusing on what may go wrong.

As obstacles arise or we make mistakes, it is important to take responsibility, reflect on what we could have done differently and move on. In life nothing is permanent, therefore good things will be happening as well, as life surprise us when we least expect it. Always be ready to embrace and enjoy your wins and always be grateful for your accomplishment.

6. Surround yourself with people that support your dreams 

Since we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with, it is important to create a community of individuals who are in line with who we are and who we are growing to be. It is important that we choose who we surround ourselves with carefully, as the company we keep will shape the way we present ourselves. Surrounding ourselves with people we respect, admire, and can really rely on helps bring out the best in us and pushes us to rise to a higher level.

The goal is to surround ourselves with positive and encouraging energy. Whether it is confiding in close friends, employing a life coach, joining a mastermind, or having a mentor, this will ensure that we have the support we require to continue to elevate this experience we call life.

When we start applying these habits, we start to manage our stress more appropriately. The power of creating joy for ourselves is the power to not only change our peace of mind, but the entire approach through which we live our lives.

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