4 Easy ways to create a positive mindset and attract happiness

Everyone — across every geographic border, economic level and background — has had to deal with a challenge at some point in their lives. While different people will encounter different situations, it's how they respond to the obstacles that makes all the difference.

When you approach life with a positive mindset, you may find you can accomplish things you never thought possible. As hokey as it may sound, the power of positive thinking is real, and it can truly be life-changing if you commit yourself to it!

So, what is a positive mindset?

When you're able to maintain a positive state of mind, you tend to approach situations expecting things to go well. You can apply this kind of positive thinking to every aspect of your life — work, school, relationships, hobbies, you name it.

Chances are you've heard of the power of positive thinking before; it's become popular almost to the point that it's a pop culture cliché. However, what you might not know is that there are several schools of thought that focus on living life with a positive mindset, including:

• The law of attraction
• Positive mental attitude
• Manifestation

All of these philosophies center on the idea that positive thoughts will bring positive experiences into your life. Basically, you can do anything you set your mind to!

4 Easy positive thinking exercises to practice every day

The awesome thing about thinking positively is that you can give it a shot right now. It doesn't require any money, any commitment — anything at all, really, beyond a willingness to try. A positive mindset can help you feel less stressed and more confident, and it can even boost your psychological and physical well-being. With all of these potential benefits, why wouldn't you see if it works for you?

If you want to give positive thinking a whirl, start with one (or more) of these four easy exercises.

1. Start your days off with some optimism

It's a good idea to start cultivating a positive mindset from the moment you first open your eyes in the morning. Before you reach for your phone or even grab a cup of coffee, repeat a positive mantra out loud. It can be something as simple as "Today will be a good day," or you can make it more specific to your life at the moment. Starting your day on a high note is a simple way to give your positivity momentum that will stick with you long after you've shaken off the last traces of sleep and started your day.

2. Use the "mirror technique"

Another way to manifest a positive attitude is to look in the mirror and say something you like about yourself. Too often, we focus on the things we don't like, and that type of gloomy mindset can spill over into other parts of our lives. Use this technique every time you're in front of a mirror — whether it's reminding yourself how good your outfit looks while getting dressed in the morning or complimenting your spectacular technique while brushing your teeth before bed.

3. Check in with your thoughts

If your daily activities tend to put you in a bad mood, it can be nice to set up periodic check-ins for yourself throughout the day. For each one, take a break from what you're doing and examine your thoughts. If they're negative, try to spin them in a positive way. For instance, if your work presentation went poorly, focus instead on the things you did well and make a list of skills to hone for next time.

4. Keep a jar of accomplishments

Most of us accomplish more than we give ourselves credit for — it can be so easy to overlook the wins we achieve every day. To better visualize your accomplishments, write down one (or more) of your daily wins and put them in a jar every night. Think about the little successes that you might otherwise forget about, like finishing a really hard crossword puzzle. Your jar will quickly fill up, giving you a reminder of everything you've done right lately!

When you approach life with a positive state of mind, you might be surprised to find good things are waiting around every corner. And in those times when obstacles do present themselves, there's nothing better to arm yourself with than a can-do attitude. Give yourself permission to live your best life every day!