How to Maintain Positivity and Thrive
Maintaining a positive outlook on life isn’t just about feeling good—it can significantly improve both longevity and overall well-being. Research shows that positive emotions and strong social connections are key drivers of a happier, healthier life.
A fascinating study by the University of Kentucky examined essays written by Catholic nuns in the 1930s. Researchers found that those who expressed the most positive emotions lived up to 10 years longer than those who expressed the fewest positive feelings. This suggests that cultivating a positive mindset can have tangible effects on our health and longevity.
The Science of Defense Mechanisms and Positivity
Defense mechanisms play a crucial role in how we manage stress and maintain emotional balance. They help protect us from overwhelming emotions and allow us to cope with stress in manageable ways.
Sublimation is one of our defense mechanisms. It is the process of transforming negative emotions into positive actions. By channeling difficult feelings into productive outlets, we can maintain a positive outlook and find growth through challenges.
2 Practical Tips for Maintaining Positivity
Here are two actionable steps to start cultivating positivity and thrive in life:
1. Reframe Negative Emotions
Sublimation helps us turn negativity into positive momentum.
In life, not every day will be a good one, but our well-being isn’t necessarily tied to the events themselves. It’s about how we perceive them. We often view life through the lens we've developed over time, but there are always other perspectives.
By reframing, we can shift our lens and uncover new possibilities we couldn’t see before.
An example of reframing. Mary loses a large client. The lens she chooses to view this situation through will significantly impact her well-being and happiness. She can see it as an opportunity to pivot her offerings, create new products tailored to different clients, or explore new segments and value propositions. Alternatively, she can focus on the loss, dwell on the reasons, assign blame, and plan how to prevent it from happening again. While addressing the cause is important, how much time she spends on each will affect both her confidence and enthusiasm, as well as her team's morale.
2. Strengthen Social Connections
Surround yourself with supportive relationships. Whether it's family, friends, or a professional community, fostering meaningful social connections has been proven to increase happiness and extend life.
Harvard’s 80-year longitudinal "Study of Adult Development", the longest of its kind, revealed that strong relationships and community are essential for living a long, happy life.
One could say that loneliness is more harmful to our health than high levels of cholesterol.
Positivity isn’t just a state of mind—it’s a strategy for thriving. By practicing these habits and channeling difficult emotions into constructive actions, we can move beyond the challenges of life with resilience and purpose. Science shows that embracing positivity and community doesn’t just help us live longer—it helps us live better.
My Journey Towards Beyond
My “Beyond” represents the many transformations I’ve experienced, each pushing me to new heights and challenging the boundaries of my comfort zone.
Few know that my journey began with studying theater critique, Latvian language, and literature. While I loved these subjects, life took a different turn. I left university in my second year and boldly took a year off to move to the U.S. to study English.
After my gap year, I relocated to Estonia and earned a degree in business and marketing. From there, I started my career in HR and Learning & Development at a medium-sized, family-owned firm before transitioning into the corporate world a few years later.
Fast forward 16 years, and I found myself as a marketing and commercial leader at Johnson & Johnson, responsible for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
At that time, my definition of success was tied to my career—job titles, societal status, and salary bands. I believed in making tough choices: the job or love, the job or freedom, the job or my well-being, the list could continue.
However, this view has since evolved.
I now believe we can have it all - meaningful and fulfilling work, personal well-being, deep connections, and the freedom to pursue our passions.
A significant transformation happened when I became a mother to twin daughters in my late 30s. Motherhood took me far beyond what I had imagined, challenging my beliefs and reshaping the life I wanted to live.
I learned to redefine the kind of example I wanted to set for my daughters and the kind of mother I would become. This was when the shift in my thinking started.
However, it took several more years to come to the decisions and choices I am pursuing today.
My first choice was to go back to school. I started executive education at Columbia University, followed by INSEAD and now Harvard. I was humbled by the depth of learning, despite my years of professional experience.
Life has a way of throwing unexpected twists and turns. Through a bit of coincidence and luck, I met people who saw potential in me before I did. Their belief gave me the strength to rise beyond what I once thought possible.
I transitioned my career from healthcare to leadership development. I will be forever grateful to those who supported and believed in me, which led me to enter the industry.
Yet, my journey wouldn’t be complete without another 'Beyond' waiting on the horizon. My next 'Beyond' is leading my business and leadership development practice. My purpose is clear: to become the guiding force for others, just as I was fortunate to have had on my path.
I look forward to amplifying my impact and empowering others to do the same.
It is yet another bold leap. It means trusting myself entirely; it also means leaning into the freedom to pursue my passion and do meaningful and fulfilling work every day.
I believe each of us can uncover our unique identity and the spark that drives us. When we choose to step into it, we can create a significant impact and leave a lasting legacy.
Through “Beyond,” I want to share my experience and insights, empower others, and present another lens to view the world.
The lens through which we might see that we can choose courage over fear. Courage to transform, lead authentically, and make bold moves that align with your values and purpose. The lens through which we see and choose a life where we can thrive, create, and lead with a mindset grounded in possibility. It's about daring to go further than where fear would otherwise keep you.
Success is subjective, but it means achieving goals that hold meaning and value to us. I hope the insights I share will bring you one step closer to the success you pursue.
My story continues to evolve, and with each step, my confidence grows, along with my dreams.
Connect deeply, evolve authentically, impact profoundly.
Live Beyond the Ordinary.
Warm wishes,
