In this episode, Valerie Hatcher invites her listeners to consider the power of perspective and the impact it can have on one's life, especially as we age. Valerie discusses how positivity is not about disregarding life's hardships but about choosing how we react to them. She introduces several practical techniques to help listeners maintain a positive outlook, such as the five-second reset and the one-minute gratitude walk. Valerie illustrates these methods with relatable examples from her own life, demonstrating how small shifts in behavior and thought can lead to significant improvements in mood and outlook. By focusing on the concept of a 'positivity muscle,' she encourages her audience to view positivity as a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time. Through these reflections and strategies, Valerie empowers her listeners to embrace their journey with resilience and optimism, transforming everyday challenges into opportunities for growth and joy.

Takeaways:

• Positivity isn't about being happy all the time, it's about choosing your response to challenges.
• Micro adventures are small spontaneous moments of adventure that add novelty to your routine.
• Having a positivity partner can help you stay accountable and add fun to your day.
• The five-second reset is a tool for stopping frustration and resetting your mood quickly.
• The 1-minute gratitude walk combines movement with gratitude to boost your mood effectively.
• Reframing negative experiences helps you find silver linings and maintain a positive outlook.
• Positive priming involves surrounding yourself with uplifting things to influence your mood positively.

Links referenced in this episode:

• pod.agingwithgraceandstyle.com

 Connect with Valerie:

* Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @iamvaleriehatcher.  

* Email at hello@agingwithgraceandstyle.com

Join Us Next Time:

Stay tuned for more inspiring chats, tips, and stories about the midlife journey. If you enjoyed this episode please rate and review. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

See you soon as we continue to age with grace, style, and a touch of sass.

Living our best life.

It's good to be alive, but it's best to truly live.

Let your spirit fly.

Celebrate the journey every single day, aging with grace and style in our own special way.

Have you ever woken up with the.

Best intentions, only to have your entire.

Day derailed by one little thing?

A rude email, a traffic jam, or just feeling off for no reason?

We've all been there.

But what if I told you that.

Staying positive isn't about ignoring those moments.

But about finding joy in the middle.

Of the today I'm sharing some unexpected, actionable tips that will help you stay positive no matter what life throws your way.

Hey friend, ever feel like those old fashioned ideas about aging just don't fit you?

If you're ready to own this incredible chapter with grace, style, and a touch of sass, this is your space.

Welcome to the Aging with Grayson Style podcast.

I'm Valerie Hatcher, and I'm here with empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot of fun just for us women over 50.

So grab your favorite beverage, turn up.

The volume, and let's get started.

Before you start thinking this is going to be a basic just smile and everything will be fine episode, let me tell you, I'm here to give you tips that are not typical.

I want you to walk away from.

Today with some fresh, actionable ideas to bring more positivity into your life, even.

When things feel a bit overwhelming.

Because let's be real.

Life can sometimes have its challenges, right?

And that doesn't change just because we're 50 or older.

Heck, sometimes it might add to the challenges.

Maybe you're juggling health changes, family dynamics.

Or a shifting career landscape.

I've been through a few of those myself, and I get how it feels.

To just want some calm amidst the storm.

But staying positive doesn't have to be this big, unattainable thing.

Today, I'll show you how it's possible.

To bring positivity into your life, even on the hard days.

So grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever fuels you, and let's get into it.

First off, let's ground this conversation.

In reality, positivity isn't about being happy all the time.

It's not about ignoring life's challenges or putting on a fake smile.

It's about choosing how you respond to.

Life'S ups and downs.

I think of positivity as a muscle.

The more you work it, the stronger it gets.

I remember a time recently when I was balancing work, family, and my side hustle, and there were days when it became a lot.

I became overwhelmed, and I just wanted to crawl under a blanket and just stay there.

I wasn't feeling particularly positive, but I.

Started focusing on small shifts, little things.

That I could do differently, and moments where I could choose joy, even if everything else felt overwhelming.

That's how positivity works.

It's about finding those moments not expecting every day to be perfect.

Let's start with something fun and doable.

Nothing too heavy, I promise.

Tip number one is micro adventures.

Now, you might be wondering, what on earth is a micro adventure?

Valerie?

Well, it's exactly what it sounds like.

It's tiny, spontaneous moments of adventure that you can fit into your day and.

Before you think you need to book a flight to have an adventure.

Hold on.

I do this sometimes when I feel like life is getting a little too routine.

For example, a couple of weeks ago.

I decided to take a completely new.

Route home just to shake things up a bit.

I found this cute little coffee shop.

That I had never noticed before, and.

It ended up being the perfect place.

To unwind and reflect.

It was a small change, but it brought something different to my day, and.

It also showed me a new route.

That I could take if traffic gets heavy.

I know this might sound small, but.

The idea is to break up your.

Routine and to inject a little novelty.

Even if it's just trying a different coffee spot or exploring a new part of town.

It's all about adding that sense of.

Excitement, no matter how small.

I tend to climb the walls when I'm doing the same thing, the same routine, day in and day out.

I think that's one reason that the.

COVID quarantine, it just really wore on me.

Now the next tip is near and dear to me.

The positivity partner system.

I have a friend who I would call my positivity partner.

We often text each other something positive.

Maybe a small win, or just something that made us smile.

And let me tell you, this really works.

I remember one day when everything just seemed to be going wrong.

My friend sent me a message reminding me of something good that I had.

Done earlier in the week, and it completely shifted my perspective.

Sometimes we just need that nudge from someone who sees the good when we can't see it.

If you have somebody in your life.

That you can do that with, then I highly recommend it.

It creates a sense of accountability and adds a bit of fun to your day.

Tip number three is something that I swear by positive priming.

Now let me explain.

I'm a huge believer in the idea.

That our environment influences our mood.

So I make sure that my surroundings.

Are filled with things that lift me up.

For example, I have a playlist that I call my feel good, get hyped mix.

And whenever I'm feeling a bit low, I put it on and like magic.

It helps me to refocus.

Music always soothes my soul, and when I add a little dance into it, girl, it makes everything better.

I also keep photos of my loved.

Ones and a few of my favorite motivational quotes kind of scattered around my work workspace.

And I have motivational stickers on my work laptop.

These things, they work like positive triggers, and they remind me to stay upbeat.

Even when my to do list feels.

Like it's a mile long.

If you have maybe a corner of your house or your office that needs a little sprucing up, try filling it.

With things that make you smile.

It makes a huge difference.

Okay, now this one is super practical, and it's something that I use often.

It's called the five second reset.

You know those moments when you feel.

Frustration is bubbling up or something just doesn't go your way.

This is a simple tool to use in those times.

I'll give you a real example.

Just last week I had one of those days.

Everything seemed to go wrong.

I was stuck in traffic, late for a meeting, getting more and more irritated.

Instead of letting that negativity take over, I used my five second reset.

I took a deep breath and I thought, you know what?

There could be a reason why I'm stuck in traffic.

Maybe being stuck in traffic prevented me from being involved in an accident.

Who knows?

But it wasn't worth getting myself all worked up over, and I just took.

The meeting from my car.

Heck, I was already sitting in traffic, so why not make the most of the time, right?

That tiny moment of pause helped me.

Stop the spiral of frustration and reset my mood.

The idea is to stop yourself just.

Long enough to focus on something positive in your surroundings.

Whether it's a sound, a sight, or a kind thought.

Trust me, it works.

And here's another one with a twist.

The 1 minute gratitude walk.

Now, I know we've all heard about.

Gratitude list, and you know I talk.

A lot about gratitude journals, but I sometimes like to take take it a.

Step further by adding movement.

I'll give you an example from my own life.

I have this little routine where I.

Walk around my yard or even sometimes inside the house.

I'll make this circle downstairs the morning, and during that time, I spend the first minute thinking about what I'm grateful for.

It could be as simple as the fact that I have this beautiful space to enjoy, or even just that I.

Had a great cup of coffee that morning.

Adding movement just kind of really amps up the effect.

It gets me moving.

It helps me start the day thinking of something positive versus what's on my to do list.

And it's a quick way to boost my mood.

You don't need a lot of time for this.

All you need is 1 minute.

Now let's talk about journaling.

My favorite topic.

One day I'm gonna create a journal, but in the meantime, here we go.

I keep a standard gratitude journal as well as one where I just vent.

And when I say vent, I let.

It all out, which can feel really good.

But I realized that sometimes I want, or shall I say I need to focus more on what I did each day that brought positivity into my life.

For example, last week I wrote down that I had taken time to help.

A stranger with something small.

It wasn't a big deal, but the act of helping someone made me feel great.

Focusing on the actions that I take, whether it's helping someone or just treating myself kindly, it's been really helpful.

I encourage you to try it.

Instead of just writing down your thoughts, jot down the positive actions that you've taken each day.

It'll make you realize how much good.

You'Re really putting out there.

And lastly, this is one that I do every week.

The positivity reframe.

Once a week, I think about something that didn't go as planned.

It's so easy to dwell on those.

Moments, but now I try to reframe them.

So let me give you an example.

I'm not good at having to wait for others to provide me with information or to review something that I've submitted in my nine to five.

It's very fast paced and decisions are made quickly for the most part, so I'm accustomed to working at that pace.

Recently, I found myself in this situation where I'm waiting to hear back from.

Someone and so that I can move forward or adjust or pivot whichever direction.

I need to go.

I just need to go there when I say it's annoying the crap out of me.

And if I'm being really honest, I've.

Been frustrated because waiting is throwing me.

Off of my self imposed schedule.

But then I realized the delay.

It's given me extra time to refine.

My ideas, to get some other things.

Done, and to get better organized for.

When I do start working on this project.

That's what I mean by a reframe.

The key is to find the silver lining in these tough moments and to shift your perspective.

It's a great way to keep a positive outlook, even when things don't go perfectly.

All right, my friend, there you have it, seven unique, actionable ways to bring more positivity into your life every day without the fluff.

Now here's my challenge to you this week.

Try one of these tips.

Whether it's going on a micro adventure, starting a positivity partner check in, or practicing that five second reset, see how it shifts your energy.

Remember, positivity isn't about being perfect.

It's about creating moments of joy, no matter how small.

Thanks for hanging out with me today.

I hope you're feeling inspired and ready.

To own your awesomeness.

I love sharing this space with you.

And if you love today's episode, do me a favor.

Share it with a friend who could use some extra inspiration.

A quick rating and review really helps, too.

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Let's keep this conversation going.

Head over to pod agingwithgraceandstyle.com to sign up for my newsletter.

Until next time, keep shining with grace, style, and a whole lot of sass.