A positive message about assuming the best.
Positive thinking is for some people a dirty term. They think speaking positives and being positives in the face of negatives is a form of denial. They prefer to sulk and stay serious when circumstances seem to dictate their unhappiness. I must say that admittedly, I get like that sometimes but most the time I remember that things tend to work out.
Case in point: We moved into this house 9 months ago and the landscaping was shot. We’re talking weeds in the entire front yard and back and the pool didn’t work properly. We managed to get the pool working and had a fun short summer which started in July. After that, we shut the pool down and pretty much neglected it. The front yard’s weeds grew out after the snow melted and the backyard has become an absolute mess of weeds. In the past month, thanks to my wife’s and my efforts (mostly hers) the pool and the front yard now are looking great. I can remember more than a few times when we’d talk about the house and get so down like we’d never have enough money to do what we really want to do. We were wrong, it looks great now and it didn’t cost us much at all.
The one thing that always crosses my mind after things work out is this: “Why did I stress so much?” I think we’d all do well to remember the end the next time we are caught in the midst of uncertainty and fear. The end is that it works out … always. This could be a mantra to use the next time you get overwhelmed. I have something really big going on that I am working through right now. They mostly require waiting. As I wait what I need to remember is the mantra: “Things tend to work out.” The question one should be asking her/himself in these situations is not: “What if it all goes wrong?” Rather, you should be saying to yourself: “What if it works out?” I’ll tell you from my experience, it will.
As a closing tip, if you happen to be depressed about your weight, or if you would just like to lose a few pounds for health reasons, I’d like to recommend a appetite suppressant. Sometimes these can help you get started on the life changes necessary to “work out” your weight issues. Thanks for reading.
4 Comments
Great reminder and I needed it today!! This entire last year, particularly the last few months, have been like one of those amusement park rides you just can’t wait to get off of. I’ve been majorly overwhelmed to the point that I even stopped blogging…one of the things I love to do most!!! I’m trying to get started again, but it has been a bit of a challenge for some reason.
You’re right, most things do work out. Gotta keep the faith!!!
Hey Damien, want to do me a favor??? One of my “in real life” friends just started a blog after much debate with himself and I’d like to get some reputable bloggers over there to just give a comment on his first post to give him the boost he needs to keep going. It’s hard in the beginning when you have no following, ya know??? I introduced him on my blog at http://lifeisrantastic.blogspot.com/2009/04/matchmaker-matchmaker.html
Gracias, mi amigo!!!
Gotta admit that I am, or have been, or maybe was, one of those people who see “positive thinking” as a dirty term. That’s because for many people I’ve known the term “positive” HAS been a form of denial, and worse. By that, I mean I’ve known a lot of folks who’ve talked a lot about “being positive,” and, in fact, used “positivity” as an excuse to judge and reject others. One guy I knew actually wore a button that read “keep your bullshit negative attitudes away from me”–failing completely to see any irony in it. Others responded to the suffering of those less fortunate by judging them for “putting out negative energy.”
More recently, I’ve realized that the “positive thinking” I’ve railed against is in fact nothing of the kind. Real positive thinking is compassionate thinking. A truly positive attitude in the face of other people’s suffering is one of kindness and empathy.
@YogaforCynics: I put you on my Google reader. Your comment is really full of truth. I had an overly positive mother growing up and as a result rebelled to assume negativism was more real … how unfortunate for my youth. Now I strive to have that same optimism even in the face of pseudo “realists” around me. Thanks for stopping by, I look forward to reading more from you.