Filling up your positivity gas tank is a term that can be used to help convey a similar idea as when one fills up their actual gas tank in their car. When you know you will need to drive your vehicle, and it needs to get you places reliably, and the gas tank is running low, you ensure that you stop and fill up the tank so that your car may perform as you need it to when you need it to. This metaphor is fitting for how our tolerance works in our daily life. Many people who suffer from common mental health challenges struggle with a thought distortion referred to as “filtering out the positive .”

As we start the New Year, the phrase “new year, new me” often resurfaces. This phrase brings up many different thoughts and reactions, first starting with, why do you need to create a “new you”? This has the connotation that you need to completely recreate yourself. Rather, why not focus on crafting the best version of yourself. The New Year tends to bring pressure to create a big resolution, but often these goals do not seem attainable and are often forgotten. This year, instead of formulating one overarching specific resolution, why not try something new? The following are just some ideas of how to be kinder to yourself while creating goals.

As we grow, our families hope that we remain healthy, feel satisfied with our careers, have satisfying friendships and romantic relationships, and feel positive overall about our lives. Are there factors that might impact the transition from adolescence to adulthood, ensuring we feel positive about these life transitions? Absolutely.

Research suggests that a teen’s affect, particularly positive affect, is a critical factor impacting positive outlook. So what is affect? It’s the tendency to express positive or negative emotions, which in turn influences how we experience things and determine whether to judge a given situation as positive or negative.