Each day brings challenges, to be sure, but it also brings at least one reason to smile and cherish life. Maybe it's the mere fact that you're alive to see another day. Maybe it's your spouse, kids, friends, or pets. Perhaps it's your extensive book collection, side business, or the charities you're active in.
Whenever I feel the urge to complain about something, I quickly try to cancel out that negative feeling by thinking about something I'm deeply appreciative for and passionate about. As bad as things get, there's always a silver living that can turn our frown into a smile -- however fleeting it may be.
Even if you've come across a string of bad days, if today is even slightly better than yesterday, that alone is a step in the right direction. For example, let's say you're on a diet and are aiming to drop 20 pounds. After a day or so of dieting, you weigh yourself and, to your dismay, you've actually gained a pound. You repeat the process the next day and notice you've neither gained nor lost weight. But on the third day, you're relieved to see that you finally lost a pound.
As you can see, while you might not get the results you want as quickly as you desire, you can still take incremental steps that get you closer and closer to your goal. That alone should warrant a smile and a better mood in you.
Even if you feel you've hit rock bottom, remind yourself that there's nowhere to go but up, and anything you do going forward can only help you get out of the whole you've dug yourself into it.
Richard DeVos said, "Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A world of optimism and hope. A 'you can do it' when things are tough."
Don't focus all your energies on the things that bring or people that bring you down. Think about those that infuse your mind with positive thoughts and your heart with sheer joy. Life is too short to be unhappy all the time.
Rather than brooding over the negative, beam with pleasure at the things that are going right in your life. Before you know it, that optimism will seep into areas of your life that could use a boost, whether it's your marriage or career.
Never lose hope in a better tomorrow!
Comments