It's not always easy to have a positive outlook when life throws you so many punches, but having a positive outlook can help you handle tough situations in a productive and beneficial way without the burden of negativity. The following tips will help you keep a positive attitude.

1. Be optimistic.

Don't assume the worst when things aren't going your way or something bad happens. Try viewing the situation through a positive lens. There is always something to be learned from a bad situation.

2. Smile.

Smiling puts ourselves and everyone around us in a better mood. Endorphins are released during a smile, and other people are more likely to smile.

3. Exercise.

Exercising releases endorphins that boost your mood. It also reduces anxiety and depression, and it can help you manage stress. You will be healthier and fitter, and therefore you'll feel better about yourself.

4. Surround yourself with positive people.

Hang out with people who accept you for you and who want the best for you. People with positive energy are more uplifting and encouraging than people with negative energy that sours your mood and drags you down with them.

5. Believe in yourself.

Have confidence in yourself that you will be able to accomplish anything you set your mind to. Keeping a positive attitude when you're working towards your goal is important in order to stay motivated and focused, especially during a difficult time. Encourage yourself along the way, you can do it! Don't doubt yourself!

6. Find inspiration.

Find someone you admire, someone who inspires you to reach your goal. This person should give you the inspiration to stay motivated and focused on staying on track and achieving your goal. There are always bumps in the road and an occasional mountain, but having inspiration can help you climb over them.

7. Take criticism well.

Don't become offended or upset when receiving criticism because you can use it to improve your skills. Positive and insightful criticism can help you grow as a person. Use the criticism to motivate you, don't let it get you down. Look on the positive side and use the criticism to better yourself.

8. Cut negative people out of your life.

You need to put yourself first and consider how the people you hang out with affect your life. You should be friends with people who love you, support you, and want the best for you; be friends with people who selflessly care for you and pick you up when your down.

9. Be mindful.

Mindfulness is defined by the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis." Being mindful allows you to stay positive. Being aware of your thoughts and emotions puts you in control of yourself and how you respond to a situation. Mindfulness will also help you learn from a bad situation because being emotionally and mentally focused on the present allows you to more clearly assess the situation and grow from it. Being mindful allows you to see the positive side of the situation by taking a step back and view the situation rationally.

10. Don't stress the small stuff.

Instead of over reacting to a negative experience, consider how the experience can be turned into a positive one and the problem won't seem as bad. This will prevent you from

11. Learn to let go.

Don't hold grudges, you're only hurting yourself. The burden of the negative feelings you carry towards someone that you're holding a grudge with only weighs you down; the other person you're angry with doesn't have to be bothered by it at all. Forgiveness is difficult, but you can forgive someone for yourself. Even if they don't deserve the forgiveness, at least you can rid yourself of the thick fog of negativity that clouds your vision.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ~Winston Churchill