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We Travel With A Purpose

How to become positive on a sh*?ty day

November 18, 2010 by Sonia Marsh

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Photo by amin49
You’re feeling sorry for yourself.
Your (fill in the part of your body) hurts, you’ve got a meeting you’re not looking forward to, you cheated on your diet, you had an argument with someone close to you, you’re looking for work, or perhaps, like me, you’ve got a deadline to meet and you’re stressing out whether you’ll finish on time.
So what better time than, now, to shift to a positive attitude. After all, “A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.” Patricia Neal.
I know, it’s easier to feel bad and make excuses than to shift your thinking. I’m guilty of that too, however, wouldn’t it be nice to find that ray of sunshine, by making a small shift in the thoughts going through your mind?
How can I shift to a more positive attitude?

  1. Start by doing something small and simple: make a special cup of tea or hot chocolate with whipped cream Take your dog for a walk in a different place, so you see new surroundings. Listen to a song you love. Pull out an old book you haven’t read in a while, but remember enjoying. Call someone you’ve been meaning to, but haven’t allowed yourself to take the time to.  
  2. Help someone out: I have a friend who recently broke her leg, and I know she loves her cup of Peet’s coffee just as much as I do. I would bring her a cup over and spend fifteen minutes chatting with her, before we each had to get back to our writing.
  3. Read Inspiring stories: Feeling overwhelmed happens to all of us, and sometimes reading an inspiring story, like the one I read on Mary Jaksch’s blog GoodLife Zen: “How catastrophe can open a door to new life,” can help you change to a more positive outlook on life. Christopher Foster has his own blog: The Happy Seeker. Christopher shifted his outlook on life after losing a 36-year connection with his community, and the sudden death of his wife as they were returning from a Caribbean vacation to celebrate their 25-year wedding anniversary.
  4. Turn your list of negatives into positives: Make a list of all your negative thoughts and next to each one, turn it into a positive statement. So in my case, instead of saying, “I shall have a hard time getting my memoir published,” I write, “I can already see a bidding war going on between publishing houses who want my memoir.” 
  5. Learn and practice meditation: This is a skill many already follow, and others like myself, need to develop. I’m gradually learning to practice meditation as I realize the importance of becoming still. As Christopher Foster mentioned in his guest post: “I have come to realize also that this stillness I love is my own stillness. It doesn’t come from some strange, far-off place. It is my own stillness, and it has found me at last.”
  6. Start a blog: This is a great way to share with others and feel connected to a community. If you have friends who feel lonely, why don’t you encourage them to start writing and connecting with others. It’s never too late, and age is not an excuse either. Just look at Christopher Foster. He started his blog: The Happy Seeker, last May, and I know he is not in his 20’s, 40’s, 60’s …?
 Your thoughts are always welcome.

Filed Under: Inspirational, People Tagged With: Christopher Foster, Gooflife Zeb, positive thinking, The Happy Seeker

Comments

  1. Barbara says

    November 18, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    I really needed this today. Don't know if it will work, but my normal pattern is to wallow for a couple of days and then slap myself out of it. I have a meeting tonight that should be the slap I need to complete this process.
    Thanks for the post.

  2. GutsyWriter says

    November 18, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    @Barbara
    Isn't it nice that we can try to help one another online, just like Christopher's post helped me. Good luck and smile like your photo.

  3. Diana says

    November 18, 2010 at 2:28 pm

    This was so sweet of you to post Sonia! Very thoughtful. I am grateful that I rarely feel down and when I do I get up and do something different.
    Thrift shopping is great therapy for me. I just get lost looking at other people discards! Love Di ♥

  4. alwayswellwithin.com says

    November 18, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    Hi Sonia,

    I love these ideas because they are so simple and easily made a part of our life. You really show us that it's easier to shift our attitude than we might think and a whole lot more fun than being stuck.

    Many thanks for introducing us to Christopher too. What a gem!

  5. Robert the Skeptic says

    November 18, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    7. Mix yourself a Michigan Mai Tai.

  6. PM Taylor says

    November 18, 2010 at 8:48 pm

    In the "timing is everything" category, this blog post arrived just at the perfect moment … Thanks, for the great reminder … Wonderful suggestions, wonderfully written …

    PMT
    http://thisthattheotherone.blogspot.com

  7. ladyfi says

    November 18, 2010 at 9:51 pm

    The power of positivity cannot be denied! Sometimes, though, it is all too easy to wallow in negative thoughts. Just getting out of the house for a walk always lifts my spirits.

  8. GutsyWriter says

    November 18, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    @Diana
    I saw in your post how clever you are at finding gems at Thrift stores, plus your creativity makes it special, like your Thanksgiving centerpiece.
    @alwayswellwithin
    What I love about Christopher is that he shows that age is not a factor in starting a blog. In fact sharing wisdom, is something I appreciate.

    @Robert
    I printed the recipe and love the addition of mango juice.

    @PMTaylor
    Thanks for that. I'm happy when things arrive at the right time.

    @ladyfi
    You seem to be outside quite a lot, since your photography shows us your beautiful surroundings in Sweden.

  9. Murr Brewster says

    November 18, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    Great post, except instead of "hot chocolate" I would substitute "a nice hoppy ale, with options for a second." It sure cheers me up. I also like Barbara's idea of slapping myself, except that I always duck. Then the neighbors get concerned. They really should be used to me, and my bathrobe, by now.

  10. Rob-bear says

    November 18, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    Short sketch from the iconic Canadian comedy team of John Wayne and Frank Shuster (now both dead, sadly — we really need them today).

    John: Only fools are positive.
    Frank: Are you sure?
    John: I'm positive!

    I don't bother to think positively. I just think, "Well, this is another day, what can I do?" Often there isn't very much, because of my health. But I keep saying, as I did to a guy (an old friend) at a radio station today, "For the record, I'm all right for the shape I'm in." That pretty much covers it.

    Besides, like the rest of us, "I get by with a little help from my friends." Very important to remember!

  11. Rob-bear says

    November 18, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    P.S.: I like all your ideas. They're very practical. Fact is that I do most of them, most of the time.

    Yes, Sonia! Way to go for it!

  12. GutsyWriter says

    November 19, 2010 at 2:13 pm

    @Murr Brewster
    I said hot chocolate as I can't really write about beer and wine at 7 a.m. I can tell Robert=the-Skeptic and you are on the same page.

    @Rob-bear
    As usual, I am happy to hear from you, and you do sound more positive these days than a month or so ago.

  13. SimplyForties says

    November 19, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    It's amazing how uplifting helping someone else can be and it's so easy to do! Even just complementing someone in the grocery store (love those shoes, for example!) will make you both smile! Great advice!

  14. BLOGitse says

    November 20, 2010 at 12:23 am

    Greetings from freezing (-2 C / 28.4 F) Helsinki! brrrrr…..
    I'm happy to meet my friend this weekend. Too many things going on and I need to clear my head. (business issues)
    It's important to have a friend you can talk about everything. To trust. To talk. To talk even more… 🙂
    Have a relaxing weekend!

  15. Lauren says

    November 21, 2010 at 10:40 am

    I love this post. Shifting to a positive attitude is tough…but I really like your ways to do so… especially the one about helping others. I always find that helping others helps the person doing the helping just as much if not more than the person being helped.

  16. Donna B says

    November 22, 2010 at 1:41 am

    I just copied this and put it in my documents folder. GREAT ADVICE. I do several of these things already, but often, when I feel sh**ty, my mind goes blank and I don't remember my way out of it. Now I have your list to remind me. Thank you!!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone…

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