“Just keep swimming!” Dory sings in “Finding Nemo.” Although aimed toward children, this message of persevering through difficult times applies to people of all ages. The challenges of 2020 that we continue to face in the new year emphasize the importance of staying positive.

     Everyone has heard the phrase “glass half-full” or been reminded to “stay positive” at some point. Being in a negative headspace makes it difficult to recognize these happier perspectives. However, when one is in these headspaces, finding a way to pull yourself up is imperative.

     “There is always a bright side, even if it’s just a sliver,” English teacher Rebecca Hart said. “Was I bummed to miss events this summer [due to the pandemic]? Absolutely! Have I missed my [students] in-person and teaching the way I learned how to teach? Most definitely! But, I have enjoyed spending time with my family and having the opportunity to try new things virtually with my students.”

     The people you interact with can also impact your positivity. According to UW Health, those who surround themselves with positive people tend to have higher self-esteem and find it easier to accomplish their goals.

     “Being positive is important to me because it can spread to other people,” senior Hunter Murphy said. “However, positivity can become difficult if you don’t have positive people around you.”

     The challenges 2020 brought the world inspired many celebrities to begin using social media to spread positivity. Musicians such as Jack Johnson live-streamed mini-concerts for fans on their Instagram pages to bring awareness to issues like mental health and poverty.

     “Lizzo spreads a lot of positivity, especially body positivity. She always has something encouraging to say,” sophomore Jordyn Keegan said. “Justin Bieber also spreads a lot of positivity with his music.”

     Isolation has become a universal feeling during this seemingly endless pandemic, making it more difficult than ever to remain positive. However, social media puts people facing similar challenges right at your fingertips, creating a virtual community in a time where we cannot gather in-person.

     “Social media can be used to uplift people and tear them down,” Murphy said. “However, I think it has a positive impact on my mental health. I use it to learn about what is happening around the world and as a distraction or just to waste time.”

     However, when the content you are seeing becomes negative, limiting exposure to those accounts, or cutting them off, is essential.

     “Honestly, my social media browsing time has been way up during the pandemic,” Hart said. “I went through my profile and unfollowed a lot of negative accounts. I’m trying to concentrate more on the ones that bring joy.”

     Maintaining a positive mindset is a difficult task. However, finding ways to keep yourself optimistic can improve any situation.

     “I know that being positive all the time is hard,” Keegan said. “However, we should all strive to be genuinely happy and positive. We shouldn’t let negativity dictate what we do or how we feel because then we aren’t really living.”