Tired of being tired? Had it up to here with negativity? These six tips help you see the bright side of life.

A pessimist sees the glass as half empty. An optimist sees the glass as half full. Who are you, if you are honest?

Greater happiness translates to better health, improved job performance, more satisfying personal relationships, and reduced stress. And it’s true—being happy simply makes everything in life a little better. Finding more joy really can help you reach your full potential.

We know being an optimist isn’t always easy, but it certainly beats the alternative. Follow these six simple rules and you may just find your life getting better.

Take out the trash
Rehashing the past prevents you from claiming a brighter future. Let it go and lighten up.

Find the silver lining
You are ‘rewarded’ with a new project at work, the client lunch meeting ran 90 minutes longer than expected, and you got a flat tire on the drive home. When you feel yourself getting bogged down by the bad parts of your day, take a moment to pause and find a glimmer of good. Maybe you changed your own tire. Great, you’ve got something to brag about. Enjoy!

Be prepared
Stay on top of little things (like your never-ending e-mailbox) to prevent them from becoming big things that make life difficult (like that heaping pile of papers). Carve out a few minutes each week to tackle your clutter. Feel like moaning about the mess? Take a deep breath and focus on positive thought. The grumbling voice in your head was from the pessimist-formerly-known-as-you.

Be grateful
Don’t we all know this father or mother of three, who has a busy job but still manages to cook dinner every evening and also looks great every day? How on earth is that possible, you may think. What’s their secret? Well, they are grateful for what they have been given. They have faith that everything will be alright, and they have a pretty good sense of humour. Never underestimate the power of a healthy sense of perspective.

Distract yourself
If you find yourself stuck on the same negative thought, force your attention elsewhere—like on the spin class you’ll be taking later or that weekend trip you’ve planned. The key is to escape with something that requires your full focus, so those negative thoughts can’t push their way into your head.

Pay it forward
Being an optimist doesn’t mean you meekly accept whatever comes your way. It means that you exude the strength and resilience to not let anything keep you down. Try to use your positive energy to overcome challenges, no matter what is thrown at you. That way, you can handle everything!