A positive mindset means that you have a positive expectation that things will turn out well and that you will succeed. It gives you more courage to try than a negative mindset. “How can I do that?” you might ask. Here’s how to live a powerfully positive life.

Remember that your view of the world is a choice. There is as much good as there is evil. Optimism is a learnable skill. Just write down 100 things you’ve experienced in your life that show evidence that the world you live in has many good facets. Acknowledge that your happiness and your fulfillment(满足感)on this earth is your responsibility, not that of others. Realise that circumstances do not determine your happiness; it’s your interpretation(理解)of the cireumstances and the meaning you attach to them that determine your happiness.

Be careful what you allow in. A friend of mine used to say,   “You wouldn’t let your neighbor come into your yard and dump their rubbish there, so don’t let people dump rubbish into your mind. ” This is so true. Our subconscious (潜意识的)minds are very powerful. We can’t tell the impact something has on our subconscious minds, but we do need to be mindful on a conscious level.

Be proactive(积极主动的), rather than reactive. Other people and circumstances will always demand your time-emails and phone calls to answer, expectations of friends and family, colleagues and clients. Schedule some “me” time, but also structure your day to get your high-value, high-priority things done and the less important yet “urgent” tasks done afterwards. No one will give you permission to live life on your terms; you have to take charge of and demand of yourself and others around you.

I was sitting in my high school classroom, nervously tapping my pencil against the desk as I awaited the start of the English exam.

As the clock struck, signaling the beginning of the exam, my heart began to race. I opened the exam booklet and scanned the questions, and I felt a wave of panic over me. The questions seemed foreign, and the topics unfamiliar. In a state of panic, I hurriedly wrote down my answers, hoping that somehow, by some stroke of luck, they would be correct. But as the minutes went by, I realized I couldn’t seem to make sense of the questions before me. As the final bell rang, I handed in my paper with a heavy heart.

In the days that followed, I couldn’t shake the feeling of failure that hung over me like a dark cloud. I replayed the exam over and over in my mind, analyzing every question, every answer, searching for clues as to where I had gone wrong.

But in the depression, a realization began to dawn on me — I had failed, yes, but I had also learned valuable lessons along the way. Armed with this newfound wisdom, I ensured that I would do better next time. I threw myself into my studies with renewed determination, devouring books and practicing past exams with an eagerness I had never known before.

When the time came to retake the exam, I was ready. I approached each question with confidence and clarity, drawing upon the lessons I had learned from my previous missteps.

When the results were announced, I held my breath as I scanned the list of names. And there it was — my name, shining brightly among the list of successful candidates. At that moment, all the hard work, all the late nights and early mornings, were worth it.

And as I look back on that sunny afternoon in the high school classroom, I am grateful for the lessons it taught me, and the person it helped me become.

On a drive to my appointment on Halloween, I thought about how life should be going. I was 30, a mother of three daughters — twin five-year-olds and a one-year-old. I should be playing in the park with them or visiting the library. But once again, I needed this appointment.

It had been a year since I’d been diagnosed with cancer. My surgery was over, so it’s just a routine blood test. As always, there was a fear that the cancer had returned. But today, it was more than that. I felt alone, tired, and sad. My family and friends were busy with their lives, and I did not want to burden them with my feelings of unhappiness. I just wanted to see the positive things in life and be truly grateful — without reservations.

When we finally arrived, we sat in a crowded waiting room. It was pretty uneventful (平淡的) until my youngest daughter, dressed up like an angel, walked up to a complete stranger and said, “Tweet.” This was what she said, “Trick or Treat,” coached previously by her twin sisters. The old woman , who was in a wheelchair and accompanied by her caregiver, knew exactly what my daughter meant. She ordered her helper to take her over to the vending machine. She put in enough money to give each of my girls a treat. This caring act started a run on the vending machine. Soon, everyone had a candy bar or bag of chips ready for impromptu trick or treat, which was beyond their expectation.

Everyone was smiling and laughing, and my daughters were extremely happy with their good fortune. Here were these people, facing who-knows-what health difficulties, and they only thought of giving three little girls some Halloween fun. It was a lesson for me about how good, kind and generous people are. The gratitude I felt was overwhelming (压倒性的),and the thankfulness didn't fade away.