I am Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits.

You’ve built the habits; now how do you stay locked into being positive? Bad things happen. The world around us isn’t always an easy place. Things blow up in your practice and at work. You have a rough fight with the significant other. You have a negative encounter with a coworker. Accidents happen. Loved ones die, unfortunately, and your practice may struggle to contain overhead costs or remain profitable. Whether your crisis is big or small, attitude will always affect your ability to roll with the punches. If you can find a way to keep even a shred of positivity during the rough stuff, you’ll find it easier to cope. Decisions won’t seem quite so daunting, and you’ll do better at weathering the storm. So how can you stay positive and on top of your emotions when things around you are chaotic?

Here are the six ways that helped me stay positive even in bad situations:

1. Gather support. It’s almost impossible to stay positive when you’re trying to get through the rough stuff on your own. Having someone around you who has your back means you already have something to be thankful for. Look for people who are naturally good at keeping positive themselves, and you’ll find their attitude is contagious. I lean on my close friends from grammar school, high school, and college as my backbone or support.

2. Regain control. A lot of negativity springs from the feeling that things should be different than they are. While it’s true, life is unfair. This negative spiral will keep you in the role of a victim when right now, you need to regain control. Instead, do something positive. Accept what can be changed and start planning your next move. What small step can you take right now, which will put you back in the driver’s seat? To help me regain control, I recite the serenity prayer: Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

3. Reword your self-talk. Tough times can be especially rough on self-talk. While we might be doing okay about not voicing our fears, it’s all too easy to fall into a recitation of all the ways this situation can become worse, in the privacy of our own heads. Keep things from devolving into negative outcomes or focusing too hard on the negative by looking for ways to turn your thoughts positive. Try expressing gratitude or visualizing the best possible outcome. Instead, I wake up and before my feet touch the floor, I recite all the things I’m grateful for. Before I go to bed and close my eyes, I once again recite all the things I’m grateful for.

4. Go for gratitude. Speaking of gratitude, if you can stop yourself for a moment to think about what you’re grateful for right now, you’ll find it easier to feel positive about the situation. If you’re having trouble feeling grateful, ask your support system to help you with ideas. Being in a group of people all sharing what they’re thankful for, can be a powerful force.

5. Get moving. Exercise automatically sets you up for success when it comes to a positive mindset. By moving, your brain releases endorphins which help you to feel better. Exercise might be the last thing on your mind in a crisis, but even taking a short walk can help reset your frame of mind. I’ve recently taken up boxing lessons to get more active.

6. Be kind to you. Finally, a positive mindset thrives when you’re well rested and relaxed. What can you do for yourself right now to help you center yourself again? A few moments of meditation or a nap can help reenergize your body. Eating something good for you will help give you the fuel you need to go on. I plan to get back to weekly massages myself.

Remember these tips in your moments of stress and you will find yourself gradually coming out of a negative state of being to a more positive one. Eventually, you’ll train yourself to remain positive through even the toughest of times.

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It can be extremely difficult to remain positive during bad situations. This is why I use positive affirmations. Read more about why I use them on our blog post here.

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I’m Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits. Please go to businessofrehab.com/contractnegotiations to pick up the free guide to help you negotiate the contract of your dreams.

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