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“Worrying is thinking negative thoughts about things that are outside of your control.”
-Mel Robbin
The title of today’s post may seem oxymoronic or counterintuitive. Worrying by definition is a negative trait so how can it be optimistic?
Let me elaborate.
For every obstacle you’ve ever faced, you’re still here.
-Anonymous
This is it. The end of the road so to speak. There’s no way out. You’re doomed forever.
Do the sentences above sound familiar?
“Hitting rock bottom doesn’t mean you have to stay there.”
-Michelle Parsons
Is there actually such a level as rock bottom? Or is it just an expression?
By definition, hitting rock bottom is losing everything possible to the extent that ascension of any kind is ostensibly impossible.
If we believe tomorrow will better, we can bare a hardship today.
-Thich Nhat Hanh
If you’re a member of this site and have read some of my previous articles, you’ll notice several of them stressing on focusing on the bright side. You’ll also notice articles that stressing on displaying gratitude for the smaller things in life.
It’s the repetition of affirmations that lead to belief. And once that belief becomes a strong conviction, things begin to happen.
-Claude M. Bristol
Do self-affirmations really work? Does saying something over and over again make it true? Was the book The Secret accurate?
“Smiling does not necessarily mean you’re happy. Sometimes it just means you’re strong.”
-Nishan Panwar
In the past, I’ve written a post or two about the power of a smile. I talked about how it could make someone’s day and the psychological effects it can have on you even when you’re not really happy.
Although that post is quite old now, I recently received a message from a new reader who didn’t agree. Their argument was that why should they fake an emotion? Isn’t the norm today to encourage people to speak up if something’s wrong?
“There are two great days in a person’s life – the day we are born and the day we discover why.”
-William Barclay
Today happens to be my birthday. I, like many others, rejoice in getting birthday wishes, the love of family and friends, parties, etc. In short, I love celebrating.
“Acceptance makes an incredible fertile soil for the seeds of change.”
-Steve Maraboli
“Life is only a reflection of what we allow ourselves to see.”
-Unknown
Two years ago, I remember going through a horrendous experience when there was a tumor discovered in my liver. Not only did this put a strain in my finances but I also had to deal with other little nuisances like my hair falling out.
Today, while not grateful for the tumor, I am grateful for lessons the whole ordeal taught me, especially perseverance.
Life occurrences will be good and bad and there’s not a person on the planet who can change that.
What we can do is reflect on those occurences and see what good came out of them.
Admittedly, that’s not easy especially if the adversity is extreme like the death of a loved one or a nasty divorce or something equally traumatizing.
But then there’s a reason hindsight is called 20-20.
We can’t change the past. But we can definitely have an alternate point of view when reflecting back.
It’s all part and parcel of growing older, wiser and more mature.
And while the cons may outweigh the pros, there is always something good to come out of everything. Sometimes it just takes a little longer to see it.
How do you look at negative events in your life? Do you still feel bitter about them? Do you consider them a learning curve? Join this discussion to give your outlook on it.
“When life puts you in tough situations, don’t say ‘Why me?’ Say ‘Try Me.'”
-Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
It’s human nature to think you’re the only one in the world to have problems when encountering turbulent moments in life.
During those given moments, it feels like the worst problem in the world.
It’s important to observe, however, that no matter how bad the situation seems, someone somewhere always has it worse.
It’s certainly not easy to remember or remind yourself that.
But should you remind yourself, it can play a very significant role in shaping your outlook.
If you have a car accident and survive, remember, it could have easily been fatal.
If you fail a class, remember that some people in the world cannot even afford to get an education.
Recently, I was forced to move into a smaller apartment due to a fire in the apartment complex.
At first, I hated it. But then I reminded myself that are so many people that don’t even have a roof over their head. In that thought process, I found myself grateful that A, there was no serious damage from the fire and B, I’m lucky to still have my stuff and a place to move that stuff.
Agree or disagree? Join the discussion by commenting below.
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
I’ve always believed that our outlook on the occurrences in life, both good and bad, can determine our future in significant ways.
If something bad happens and we learn from it, we can decrease the chances of it happening again.
Many have argued otherwise, stating that certain things like death, natural disasters, etc are out of our hands.
And while that is true, there is some science behind having a positive outlook.
When you approach a problem thinking, “This sucks, but it already happened. So how can I soften the blow?” you’re more likely to think of a solution than in a state of constant anger or disappointment.
To specify, I don’t mean to say don’t get upset or angry. That’s natural and shouldn’t be suppressed.
But it doesn’t hurt to couple that anger with the thought process of possible solutions.
You may not be able to smile right then and there. But you can certainly pave the road to that smile.
As Charles R. Swindoll believed, life is 10% action and 90% reaction.
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”
-Wille Nelson
Yesterday, I talked about understanding the value of grief. Today, I thought I’d discuss giving the same prevalence to the good things in life.
I don’t just mean major accomplishments, I mean the small, everyday occurrences in life that we otherwise, may not even realize.
One of the things I started doing in the last year or so is being thankful for the tiniest good things in a day. It changed my outlook of things in ways I couldn’t have fathomed.
If I wake up in the morning and it’s sunny, I’ll say to myself, “Thank you God” or “Thank you universe for this pleasant weather today.”
And I’ll carry on like that for everything throughout the day even if it seems insignificant.
As crazy as this may sound, just yesterday there was a movie I particularly wanted to see that randomly aired on TV. And I was grateful for it even though in the long run, it hardly meant anything.
Even if you’re not a spiritual person, scientists have argued that such behavior has the potential to produce more endorphins which give you a feeling of euphoria.
So whether you thank a higher power, the universe or just the aura around you, just acknowledge anything and everything good. In time, your entire outlook on life could change.
