Sometimes life can feel overwhelming and it may feel as if it couldn't possibly get any worse. When you are stressed, depressed, upset, or otherwise in a negative
state of mind because you perceive that "bad things" keep happening to you, it is important to shift those negative thoughts to something
positive. If you don't, you will only attract more "bad things."
While looking for the positive may not be what you're in the mood for when you're feeling down, it really is a critical step to moving yourself to a better-feeling place and out of that deep rut in which you've found yourself.
It is often very hard to think positive when so many things are negative, but I can assure you that someone, somewhere is worse off than you. We can choose to think differently by beginning with the smallest of steps.
If you start with one small, positive thing and repeat it during the course of your day, you will begin to move into a more positive frame of mind: positive thoughts, feelings, opportunities and people will start showing up in your life. With practice, you will find that over time, you will change your outlook and choose to be happy, irregardless of the events around you.
Here are a few examples for you to practice. Say them out loud and with feeling!
1. Begin and end each day with a "Thank you for this wonderful, glorious day!" (or) say "Thank you, God, for another glorious day!" if worshiping God is important to you.
2. When you see the gas prices hiking, say "I am so glad that I am blessed to have a vehicle in which to get around."
3. When you are running late for work, say "I am so happy and grateful for my job as I know that many don't have one."
4. If you are having health problems, be grateful for what does work: Try "I really do appreciate my eyes that see, my ears that hear, my mouth that tastes, my legs that walk, my arms that lift, my hands that write, my mind that thinks, my knees that bend and my tongue that talks." The possibilities here are endless: insert what does work for you and feel good about it!
5.. Create a gratitude journal and write down what you're grateful for each day. This is very effective, especially if you start off each day with an entry. Then later, if you are having moments when you're feeling really down, you can go back and read what you wrote previously. This will help uplift your spirits. If you practice this regularly, you will find that your list will get longer and longer.
The key is to move yourself a little bit more each day into a positive frame of mind and keep it there long enough to feel a sense of relief from the things that are troubling you. The more you practice, the more you'll see good things around you, in your life, and in your future. Somehow, all those troubles that you previously worried about won't matter anymore.
Happiness is really a choice that we personally make. We can choose to find gratitude and appreciation everyday, even in the tiniest of examples, and be happy, no matter what is going on around us. So the next time you find yourself in a rut, choose to be happy by reaching for something--anything--to be grateful for. You will be glad you did and you'll begin to change your life for the better.
Barbara A. Clark has been a professional in higher education for over 25 years. She holds a Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Iowa and completed all course requirements for a Ph.D in International Comparative Education before several life-changing events interrupted her studies. It was during the interruption that Barbara discovered her passion for service to the world through love and intention. She is passionate about her new journey as "The Spirited Strider," serving the world in love, one step at a time. Barbara is a writer, educator, speaker, counselor and coach, specializing in the law of attraction and EFT techniques, and is an accomplished cross-cultural trainer.
I thank God for writing that article where you commented and I found you and then I found your articles. That's how the members of the Universal Church meet with each other...God Bless you...
Your article reminds me of count your blessings one by one. I wish I could reach more people and share the love and grace of God. I love the Universal church. The more we can reach the better the reward in Heaven. Keep going girl.
Nicely put, Barbara! A 'gratitude attitude' is essential to joyful living...and it's good to be reminded, especially when things seem to be heading toward disaster. One of my favorite 'mantras' is 'the more grateful you are for what you have, the more you shall have to be grateful FOR!'. Live it, yes?
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