Building a Positive Mindset

Erica Beth

Welcome, I am Erica Beth and this is My Positive Day.

Erica Beth

So, what exactly does it mean to have a positive mindset? I mean, we hear that phrase all the time, but if we dig a little deeper—this isn’t just about being cheerful or ignoring life’s challenges. A positive mindset is really a skill, something anyone can learn and develop with deliberate effort.

Erica Beth

It’s actually rooted in this fascinating field called positive psychology. And positive psychology, it’s all about studying what makes us thrive. It looks at happiness, optimism, self-efficacy—you know, that belief that we’re capable of meeting challenges—and even things like hope and resilience. Scientists have discovered that these aren’t just feel-good ideas; they’re measurable, impactful parts of our mental well-being.

Erica Beth

I’ll admit, I didn’t always have, you know, this kind of way of thinking. When I was in grad school at USC, there were these times when life felt overwhelming—and I mean truly overwhelming. I had deadlines stacked on deadlines, my kids were younger and needed so much of my attention, and I honestly thought to myself, “How am I gonna balance it all?”

Erica Beth

But then, something shifted. It wasn’t overnight, but I made this conscious decision to try—to try reframing things. Like instead of seeing challenges as these massive hurdles, I started asking, “Okay, what could this teach me?” And you know what? Changing that perspective didn’t just, I don’t know, magically make everything easy, but it gave me the strength to keep going.

Erica Beth

And that’s the thing. A positive mindset isn’t about ignoring reality or pretending life’s all sunshine and rainbows. It’s about choosing to look for the opportunities, even in the tough stuff—about seeing setbacks as stepping stones instead of roadblocks.

Erica Beth

Now, all of this brings us to an exciting part. Scientists have been uncovering how specific habits can actually rewire our brains for positivity. We’re talking about simple but powerful practices like gratitude, resilience, and kindness. And these aren’t just abstract ideas—there’s real, tangible science behind why they work.

Erica Beth

Let’s start with gratitude. Did you know that practicing gratitude can actually rewire your brain? It’s true. When you consistently focus on what you’re thankful for, your brain starts producing more of those feel-good chemicals—dopamine and serotonin. And these aren’t just temporary boosts; over time, gratitude strengthens the neural connections tied to positive emotions. It’s amazing.

Erica Beth

Take my oldest daughter, Maya, for example. A while ago, she started keeping a gratitude journal. Nothing fancy—just writing down three good things that happened each day. At first, it felt kind of, you know, forced. But she stuck with it, and let me tell you, the change was noticeable. She’s happier, her friendships at school are stronger, and even her stress levels seem lower. It’s like this ripple effect, where one small habit made a bigger shift in her life than any of us expected.

Erica Beth

Gratitude also helps quiet that constant stress. High cortisol levels, which are basically our body’s stress signal, drop when we focus on thankfulness. Your nervous system literally calms down. One simple habit—writing a gratitude list, or even saying thank you with genuine affection—can reduce anxiety and help you feel more grounded.

Erica Beth

But gratitude isn’t the only piece of the puzzle. There’s resilience, too. It’s like a muscle. The more you work on it, the stronger it gets. Resilience isn’t about being unaffected by problems but finding ways to bounce back. One powerful tool here is reframing. Instead of seeing breakdowns as setbacks, you could ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” It shifts the narrative from frustration to growth.

Erica Beth

And then there’s kindness. Acts of kindness have this incredible ability to not just uplift the person receiving them but also boost the mood of the giver. Fun fact: people who experience kindness are more likely to pay it forward—almost three times more likely, actually. It’s like kindness creates this contagious ripple, spreading happiness far beyond what we could ever plan.

Erica Beth

Now, let’s bring everything we’ve talked about together. We’ve explored the science of gratitude, resilience, kindness—and how they can completely reshape our outlook on life. But the question is, how do we actually live this out daily? The answer, my friend, is in the micro-habits.

Erica Beth

These small, intentional actions might not feel groundbreaking in the moment, but they build momentum over time. For example, setting a daily intention first thing in the morning—literally asking yourself, “What’s one little way I can spread positivity today?”—it’s such a simple mindset shift, but it helps you start the day with purpose.

Erica Beth

And here’s one of my favorites: self-reflection. Taking just a few minutes at the end of the day to ask yourself questions like, “What brought me joy today? Did I show kindness to someone? How did I care for myself?” These little reflections help you connect the dots and truly see the positives that might otherwise slip away unnoticed.

Erica Beth

Another game-changer? Acts of kindness. Recently, I left a quick note on my neighbor’s doorstep—it was something as simple as, “Hope you’re having a great day!” And you know, within a week, I noticed more of those little notes popping up around our neighborhood. It was like this quiet wave of thoughtfulness started rolling through, reminding me just how powerful one small act can really be.

Erica Beth

And that’s the thing about kindness. It’s contagious in the best way. When you take even the tiniest step to brighten someone’s day, the ripple effects go way beyond what you might see in that moment. It’s these small gestures—the ones that seem almost too simple to matter—that end up mattering the most.

Erica Beth

So, as we wrap up today, I wanna leave you with this thought: you don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Start small. Pick one habit that resonates with you—maybe keeping a gratitude journal, or setting a single daily intention. Whatever feels right. But take that first step. Because every big change starts with something small, right?