Life is hard right now.
There’s a lot going on. Life is uncertain. Everyone is feeling the stress.
We could all use some joy and hope right now…
Some irrepressible optimism to make us smile and remember everything that’s good.
That’s why we’re so happy to share with you this week’s YBTV interview with certified life coach and unshakable optimist Lucy Liu.
Lucy will put a smile on your face and remind you that things are never as dark as they seem. There are always moments to be grateful for and new opportunities that arise from uncertainty.
Lucy shares with us her 5 top ways to stay positive when life gets you down. You’ll learn why positivity is a choice, the importance of your daily routine, the power of perspective, and why you should always keep the faith.
Get Your Free Instant Happiness Toolkit
What You’ll Learn
Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations.”
Lucy Liu chooses positivity every day.
It’s who she is. It’s the way she’s chosen to live her life.
“When I say I’m a eternal optimist, it doesn’t mean things don’t happen to me,” she clarifies. “But I have to remind myself that I choose optimism over anything else. It’s my choice.”
Lucy brings that perspective to her work as a life coach, where she helps her clients see opportunities where they previously saw only obstacles.
“I feel like my superpower is to help my clients see the positive in the negative, so they are able to push through,” she says.
How does she maintain a positive mindset, during these particularly challenging times?
Here are 5 of her best tips.
#1. Focus on the Present
Lucy wasn’t always content with her life.
She used to be an overachiever and a perfectionist. “I was always hustling, I was always chasing my dreams, and I was never truly happy,” she says. “It took a decade of personal development to get to where I am today.”
Today, she focuses on living in the moment. One of her favorite quotes is:
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, which is why we call it the present.”
For her, it’s about not letting fears about the future or regrets about the past affect your present experience.
“A lot of times, we’re feeling low because of something that happened in the past or external circumstances,” she explains. You can’t change what happened or the world around you. But you can choose what to focus on.
“Really, it’s all about coming down to focusing on right now,” she says. That’s where happiness lies.
#2. Be Intentional with Your Thoughts
It is hard to not to worry about the future, especially now.
“It’s impossible to always have that positive mindset,” Lucy admits, “but you just have to be really intentional about what you choose to put in your head during this difficult time.”
She urges the importance of perspective. “Things happen in life to all of us, not just to you,” she says. Those circumstances aren’t bad or good in and of themselves. It’s how we perceive them that matters.
“We all lack things in life,” she says. “If you’re focusing on what’s lacking in your life, it’s never-ending. But if you focus on what you’re grateful for, you will always see how beautiful everything is.”
Lucy actively practices putting a positive spin on her life experiences. Whenever anyone asks her how she’s doing, she always says she’s doing great. “You have to be in that state of gratefulness, truly being thankful for what you have,” she says.
Having a positive attitude can transform difficult experiences into valuable opportunities.
“I see so many people who have lost their job who have already started their business … people who have became sick, and they have healed and they are changing the way they live their lives,” she says. “These new opportunities will arise, and those opportunities are only available when there are times of uncertainty like this.”
But, she adds, “you have to make a conscious decision each morning when you wake up to be that person to radiate positivity and never let go of any opportunities.”
#3. Practice Healthy Habits
One of the cornerstones of Lucy’s life is her daily routine.
She meditates between 20 to 30 minutes a day. She journals every evening, focusing on positive affirmations, daily wins, and the things she’s grateful for. “These will help you go to sleep feeling like a winner,” she says.
Lucy has also learned other healthy habits from guests on her podcast The Lucy Liu Show.
In the beginning of the pandemic, she found herself feeling anxious and low. She invited one of her clients, a breathwork coach, to come onto her podcast and teach some simple breathing techniques.
She encourages everyone to explore the various wellness practices out there. “You’ve got to try things … to see what’s a good fit for you,” she says.
#4. Value Your Time
All the positive thinking in the world won’t get you anywhere if you don’t take action.
“Value your time,” Lucy says.
“If you’ve ever had online courses that you never finished, finish them. Read those books that have been sitting on your shelf, or start that business you’ve been thinking about. Don’t waste time!”
That’s not to say that you should push yourself if you feel burned out. Sometimes, you can accomplish more by slowing down. Spend your time deliberately on things that bring you joy and satisfaction.
#5. Keep the Faith
You’ve got to really, truly, deeply, madly believe that there is always a way.”
The most important factor in positive thinking is to believe there’s always a solution.
We can get trapped in the negative spirals in our head. We keep finding excuses to put off our dreams.
“As women, especially, we tend to look for external validation,” Lucy says. “We want that permission slip from someone else. But you know what? You don’t need to wait for that permission slip. You’ve got this.”
To help you get started on your path to joy and success, Lucy is offering a free gift!
Just hop on over to her website and pick up your free e-book on personal development and motivation. You’ll also get an Instant Happiness Toolkit with 10 tools that will give you an instant boost of happiness and energy. Get your copy now.
Jump to Topics of Interest
2:02 Positivity is a choice
6:26 Gratitude
9:53 Lucy’s daily routine
11:56 What Lucy has learned from her podcast
13:20 Lucy’s coaching practice
16:05 Free gift
16:34 Believe there is a way
Lucy Liu
Lucy Liu is a certified life coach helping high-achieving women in life transitions get unstuck, beat overwhelm, see clarity, set new goals, live a happier fulfilling life and thrive! She is an unshakable optimist, wife, mother, easy-going entrepreneur, women empowerment workshop facilitator, motivational speaker, and host of her weekly podcast The Lucy Liu Show. Find out how you can work with Lucy.
Let us know what you think!