Life Happiness Begins with Perspective
Changing your outlook on life starts by simply shifting the way you see yourself and your circumstances. It’s easy to fall into negative thinking—about your appearance, abilities, or even your future—but often, how you see yourself isn’t how others see you. The real challenge is in choosing how you want to see the world… and yourself.
Change Your Outlook: Try a New Pair of Glasses
In primary school, we once made glasses out of paper and colorful plastic sheets. When we looked through our homemade lenses, the world turned green, pink, blue—depending on the color we picked. The teacher told us something I never forgot:
“The lenses you look through shape how you experience life.”
If you wear “anger lenses,” you’ll mostly see anger. If you wear “gratitude lenses,” you’ll start to notice more to be thankful for.
This is what your outlook is—your chosen perspective. And the great news is: you can change it.
Choose to See Things Differently
Changing your outlook doesn’t mean ignoring your problems. It means choosing how you interpret and respond to them.
Try this:
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Focus on what’s working instead of what isn’t.
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Replace judgment with curiosity.
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When something bad happens, ask: What can I learn from this?
You can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can control how you view it.
Act on It: Be Proactive
You’ve probably heard the phrase: “Be proactive.” It means taking responsibility for your feelings and actions instead of waiting for someone else to fix things.
When you act instead of reacting, you build:
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Confidence
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Self-respect
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A sense of control over your life
Every positive action is a brick in the foundation of your future.
Smile More—Even If You Don’t Feel Like It
This might sound silly, but smiling can actually change your mood. When you smile, your brain releases feel-good chemicals that can help ease tension and anxiety.
Can’t find a reason to smile? Make one. Watch something funny. Send a kind message. Do something small and joyful—it all adds up.
Remember: You Control the Lenses
You won’t always love what life hands you—but you do have a say in how you view and respond to it. Your happiness isn’t about perfect circumstances—it’s about how you choose to see the world, one moment at a time.
Awww, these are such great tips. I like the one about being proactive. I need to do that more.
Last week was a rough week for me and I needed to change my outlook. All it took was a deep belly laugh from my kids to get my mind changed around! I agree about the laugh!
Cindy, Laughing does it for me all the time.
Kermit is just sitting there and taking it all in.. it makes me think i should do that more often then not.
What a great post. It really does go to show you that changing your perspective on something is so powerful!
My kids can always change my outlook. I am so thankful they always can get a smile and a laugh out of me.
These are great tips! I especially love the last one. When you run out of reasons to smile, just do it to make you feel good.
I love the quote you have. It’s so important to surround yourself with people that is going to motivate you and guide you. Negativity just crashes your dreams… 🙁
Shaney Vijendranath, I try to surround myself with people who are positive and If I have doubts the always uplift me.
I started saying this to myself a while ago. I struggled with seeing myself with a different pair of glasses and once I did, I felt so much better.
April, Glad you like and your outlook change.
If I put my mind to it, I can do that. You’re so right that framing things differently makes such a difference!
I am a teacher and I agree! I find that it so hard for teens to change the way they see things… Great post!
LaQuisha, Yes Its hard for Teens we just have to keep support them.
This is great. Laughing always heals and makes you feel better.
I love the positivity. As we grow older, our outlook on life changes.
These are great tips for changing your outlook! I remember the glasses exercise. Very effective. And you can never go wrong with a good laugh. Instant pick-me-up!
Carin Kilby Clark, Glad you like changing your outlook. Having a good sense of humor can get you through some bleak days. Keep laughing.
That Joel Osteen quote is so real. Maintaining a positive outlook while surrounded by negativity is hard, so if you can help it, don’t do it! It can be so easy to just get mired in a situation, shrug and say “oh well.” It’s good to be reminded that we have agency over our lives.
Kerri Estella, Love Joel Osteen words oh so effective and so true. I try my best to surround myself around people that is positive. Thanks for your support.
I liked this a lot, the older I get the more I realize how important it is to change my view. I choose to see what I want to see without limiting myself to life and I love that.
Michellette
“MimiCuteLips” Green, Very insightful!
Laughter cures all. Good tips! When I need to change my outlook I always try to improve my mood first
This is just what I needed today! Thanks for the encouraging word.
Another great post Patrice. By nature I’m think I’m pretty positive on my outlook on life but for the times when you’re tempted to be negative, surrounding yourself with positive people definitely helps
Vashti, You definitely need those friendS. Call them my positive uplifters they know just what to say to make me laugh.
These tips are on point!! And a constant reminder.
Thanks for the reminder, sometimes a new pair of glasses is all that’s needed!
I really love the idea of the glasses, such a great teaching moment. And since I homeschool, I just may do something similar with my kids. We always talk to them about being positive and making good choices.
Christine
@momsNCharge Great positive experiment to try with your kids. Thanks for your support.
This is a great reminder!
Great tips! Laughter is so important, sometimes when you feel the least like laughing is when you need to the most. Thanks for the reminder.
A nice message – laughter is a great medicine. Thanks for linking up #bigfatlinky
Thank you for the reminder to appreciate the simple things in life! It makes for a happier day, and a lot less stress!
“But did you know that so often what you think of yourself is not what others see? And inadvertently you pass your own feelings off onto other people and the people you meet for the first time. ”
This is so true and something so easy to forget when we’re feeling down about ourselves or our lives. Thanks for the reminder, Patrice.
Great tips in this post!