The night becomes too deep and intense just before the sunrise. You have to be patient and soon the sun will be there. Same is the case with difficult times. They are simply transitioning phases of your life. They indicate that something far greater is around the corner, just hold on.

Here are 8 tips to help you stay positive and hopeful during difficult times.

Tip One
Stay Focused on What You ‘DO’ Want.

It’s easy to lose focus when facing difficult times. You start thinking about the things you DON’T want. For example

I don’t want to fail.

I don’t want to suffer.

I don’t want to stay behind.

Have you ever visited a restaurant where waiter comes and asks you “Yes sir, what would you like NOT to have?

No such restaurant exists. The waiter is supposed to ask “Yes sir, what would you like to have?” You go through the menu card, decide what you want and place an order. Simple!

Life is also about placing an order with your thoughts and actions. When you use the right thoughts and actions, you get what you want. I know it’s quite difficult to focus on what you want when everything seems to fall apart and nothing seems to work. But this is your test. Be persistent and stay focused on your dreams.

Tip Two
Find Time for Relaxation

Nowadays life has become so busy that we don’t even find time to unwind and be with ourselves. All we worry about is work, work and more work. Work is important, but so is relaxation. Here are some ideas to help you get relaxed.

Get a massage
Though you surely can go to a spa for an exotic massage done by a HOT girl, it doesn’t need to be costly at all times. Your neighborhood barber can also give you a head massage and that too at a very reasonable price. (You’ll have to compromise on the ‘hot’ part but that’s ok)

Go for A Walk In A Park
The natural ambiance of a park gives you a great chance to consume tons of fresh air and spend some time alone.Try walking on the grass bare footed, it’s a pleasure you won’t find anywhere else.

Watch Moon
Watching moon for a while will give you a sense of oneness with the universe. Moon is a symbol of peace, purity and tranquility. It’s said to have calming effect on your mind and that’s exactly what you need to battle negativity.

Watch Your Favorite Movies
Watching your favorite movies is a wonderful experience. Just get the DVD from the local library or shop, switch off your mobile phone, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy.

Apart from the ideas above, playing with kids, walking down the street with your wife (or your neighbor’s, if you are lucky) or killing enemies on play station could also help you relax.

Tip Three
Spend Time with Positive People

There are lots of negative people around, but that doesn’t mean you have to be with them. It’s better alone than in a bad company.

Spend time with positive and vibrant people instead. It’ll help you see the world from a new and positive perspective. (Hanging out with a bubbly and positive girl for even 15 minutes is more empowering than spending a whole day with a boring and dead negative person)

Tip Four
Read Positive Literature

Just like positive people, positive books are also a great way to increase positive vibes around you. Read positive literature especially just before going to bed. It’ll help you a lot.
Reading biographies of people who survived hard times and rose above the else will inspire you to stand tall and never give up on your dreams.

Tip Five
Do Something Out Of Your Comfort Zone

We all have our comfort zones. We do things in a certain way and rarely think of trying something new. It gives a sense of security and comfort but is dangerous for your growth. When you do something that you’ve never done before, it makes you a little nervous but when you are through, you feel far more confident than ever before. Which in turn helps you become more positive.

Tip Six
Ask Successful People How ‘They’ Did It

We all know successful people. They are around us but we never approach and ask them-how they did it.

The people who you think never had a hard time also suffered, faced challenges, handled criticism and survived difficult times. They have something which is far more valuable than anything else-EXPERIENCE.

You can take advantage of this experience. Ask them to give you some tips-what did they do, what worked, what didn’t and why, what mistakes did they commit and what advice they have for you?

(Everyone successful person around you has a story to tell. I have an uncle in my family with whom I never talked much for around 20 years. One day we were sitting together and he started sharing his life experiences-how he faced challenges and survived tough times.

I was amazed at his courage and enthusiasm and felt sorry for myself for not talking to him earlier (read for not asking him to share). Don’t assume that people will not share their secrets, they will, but only if you ask)

Tip Seven
Watch What You Eat

We have a saying here in India “Jaisa khao ann, waisa ho jaye mann” (The type of food you eat have great impact on your mind)

Eat spicy and junk food and you’ll feel anxiety and stress all day long.

Eat raw and unprocessed food and you’ll stay more calm and relaxed.

I know it’s easy to grab a ready-to-eat burger, hotdog or pizza than preparing a nice raw salad but the time spent preparing a healthy meal is worth it. The food you eating will alter your emotional state.

Eat raw food as much as you can, start your meals with a plate full of raw vegetables and fruits. Eat salad first, and then start eating your main course.

Eating lots of raw and unprocessed food helps you feel relaxed, calm and confident, which in turn helps you stay positive about yourself and the world in general.

Also, if you drink, limit your alcohol intake and try herbal tea or a simple glass of good old milk before going to bed. It promotes good sleep and helps you rejuvenate.

Tip Eight
Clean and Organize Your Closet

Have you ever experienced anger and frustration in the morning while getting ready for a business meeting because you couldn’t find your black pair of socks? You know it’s there but couldn’t find it. It is because you have more clothes in the closet than it can handle and a cluttered closet can drive you nuts.

Here’s a simple solution to this -clean your closet. Get everything out-yes, every single thing. Take a good look at all the clothes, sort them in three groups.

Group 1- Clothes you want to keep (Keep them)
Group 2- Clothes you want to discard (Throw them away)
Group 3- Clothes you want to give away (Give them to someone)

A clean and organized closet gives you peace of mind and clarity of thoughts. I know it sounds too simple but then who says staying positive needs to be complicated.

P.S. To stay positive during difficult or not so difficult times, I encourage you to read Amsdaily.net – Your Daily Dose of Inspiration by Alpha.