Wake Up Smiling: 4 Daily Habits That Will Make You More Positive Person

“You create your future based on your energy in the present.” ~Unknown

1. Fall asleep in the “vortex.”

One concept Abraham Hicks offered that we discovered when researching ways to be more optimistic was:

“If you go to sleep in the vortex, you wake up in the vortex. If you go to sleep not in the vortex, you wake up not in the vortex.”

A condition of pure positive energy is described as being in the "vortex." The essence of that saying is quite simple: if you go to bed with joyful ideas and sentiments, you're more likely to wake up with those same thoughts and feelings.

I knew this had to be true. I was aware of it since, often, when I went to sleep with angry ideas in my head, I dreamed about being dissatisfied and woke up cranky (and tired).

 made the decision to give it a shot. When I went to sleep at night, I tried to remember all the good things (even the little ones) that had happened during the day as I scanned it from the time I woke up until I was lying in bed.

I could have reflected on the wonderful matcha latte I had that morning, the fact that I could have gone for a walk outside in the afternoon because there wasn't any snow on the ground etc.

I remembered a good event for a few seconds, then moved on to the next. I would re-scan the entire day, looking for even smaller, encouraging things, and I would keep doing this until I nodded off.

I think the main thing that made me (and still makes me) wake up happier in the morning is this workout.

2. Have something to look forward to on the following day.

Having something to look forward to each day, even when I have a hectic day ahead of me and little free time, has also helped me wake up happier.

Even now, I make sure to schedule at least one enjoyable activity for the next day every evening. It could be baking cookies, taking a stroll with a buddy, or observing the sunset. It might also be as easy as putting on my most favored attire.

I find that if I plan one enjoyable activity for the next day, it makes my thoughts happy and helps me feel upbeat in the evening.

Once more, how one day ends can often predict how the next one will start.

3. Absorb uplifting ideas in the evening.

We are all aware that our mental diet has an impact on our emotions. Even though I don't watch TV or the news, my Facebook feed frequently irritates me. I made the decision to switch to only reading positive information on Facebook and to stop mindlessly scrolling through it.

For the past few months, I've been reading a few pages of an inspirational book—usually something spiritual—first thing in the morning and before retiring to bed.

I feel at ease when I read books like those. If I set aside even fifteen minutes each morning and evening to absorb uplifting information, I can tell a noticeable difference in my attitude and level of stress.

4. Make a gratitude list—with a twist.

I write down three to five things for which I am thankful in the morning after reading, along with my explanations for each.

I used to create lists of appreciation that included more than fifteen items, and I would do it rapidly, almost mindlessly, in order to "get it done." It rendered the procedure somewhat robotic and inefficient.

I've discovered that making a more profound list of the things I'm grateful for and delving deeper into the reasons behind each item's happiness makes me feel more thankful. Even if I do occasionally forget, I strive to do this every day. There is a noticeable difference in my overall mood when I forget for multiple days in a row.

Maybe the easiest way to develop a more optimistic outlook is to practice gratitude.