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Engaging positive emotions is not just about making us feel positive, it is about actively and regularly reflecting on positive experiences and feelings, which can improve overall wellbeing and reduce anxiety.ÌýWhen we allow our mind to take aÌý‘rest’ from worry then weÌýcan work more productively. Ìý

We don’t need a lot of time to start generating positive internal feelings. In fact we don’t even need to set aside time. We can simply start to look for small things that generate a positive feeling for us. And we can do this throughout the day.

When those we interact with regularly do not have a positive outlook - it can be harder to generate good feelings in ourselves. It is important to remind ourselves that whilst we may not be able to control other people’s actions and feelingsÌý – we can control our own. We can also consider getting some helpÌýfrom a counsellor or a trusted support person to work on the practical aspects of our life and our relationships. Ìý

Allowing ourselves the time and space to be in the moment, paying attention in a specific and different way to what is happeningÌýin any given moment has been proven to have multiple benefits.ÌýSee the links below on how to start a mindfulness practice.

This is looking every day for things we are grateful for or feel have gone well. Some days it can be hard – but perhaps try buddying up with a friend and send each other your ‘gratefuls’ to help you generate ideas. Your first grateful might be having them as a friend. Other ideas could be an achievement, a health positive, the weather, or that we enjoyed a particular class or lecture.

Take time to make a list of big things and small things that bring us joy.ÌýAn example of a big thing could be a holiday or a special treat and small things may be walking on the beach, reading a book, sitting in the sun or calling a friend. Having big things to look forward to occasionally is important but we also get value out of lots of small things too. A tip here is to look at things that have a creative element and that have meaning for us.