Having a positive outlook is relatively easy when your life is all sunshine and rainbows. But what happens when you get sick, lose your job or break up with your significant other? Here are a few ideas on how to find your way back to optimism, even in the midst of a crisis:

Drop the guilt: It’s ok to be upset sometimes. If you are in a rough spot, please go easy on yourself. Don’t beat yourself up for thinking negatively. Tell yourself it’s ok to feel the way you feel. Giving yourself permission to feel upset will actually help you make peace with where you are. For a few examples of self-talk you can use in stressful times to drop the guilt, please click here.

Dress in brighter colors: When we are upset or distressed we tend to dress in the colors of our protective root chakra (black, brown and red). These colors block out danger and toxicity, but they also block out feelings of kindness and empowerment, which you need most during bad times. Dress instead in green or pink (the colors of the heart chakra), or yellow (the color of the solar plexus chakra). These colors will attract to you love, kindness and empowerment.

[cm_ad_changer campaign_id=”1″ debug=”0″]

Do something kind for someone else: One way to get some positive perspective on your situation is to help others. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, send a friend flowers who is feeling down, or simply hold the door open for a mom struggling with her small children. Every one of us is struggling with something. Knowing that you are shining a small ray of light on someone else in the midst of their struggle will empower you and give you some perspective on your current situation.

Distract yourself: Oftentimes, when we are going through hard times we fixate on the problem. We call our friends to vent, we post our problems on Facebook and we obsessively overanalyze the situation. Give yourself permission to take a break from thinking about your crisis and then set out to find an activity that you’ve always enjoyed. Watch a favorite movie, go to the beach, or spend time with friends. Fixating on the problem at hand will only intensify your negative feelings, so try to distract yourself frequently.

Again, during bad situations it is completely normal for you to feel down. Tell yourself it’s ok to feel the way you do and then go about the business of dressing in brighter colors, providing kind services, and distracting yourself.

These small, easy steps will start to pull you towards a positive outlook on your bad situation. With a little practice, you will find that positive thinking in the midst of a crisis IS possible!