Today’s Editorial was originally a different topic.

Saturday night, I was livid with a woman and her need to text, email and/or post on Facebook or Instagram the photo of a critical scene. So inappropriate. I was going to write about Social Media and the effect that it has had on society today. In fact, I had already written it in my head.

But this evening my neighbor stopped by to pick something up from me. I knew I didn’t look like I felt well so I apologized for my demeanor. Of course she asked what was wrong. I had a major headache, was worn out, stomach uncomfortable and the list goes on. I then told her that I was sure it was stress related. Well…now I had opened Pandora’s Box and I had to tell her why I was stressed.

I gave her the run down of the whole weekend. What I realized, when she left, is that I didn’t feel well and was in this funk because I chose to be.

It has been a very heart wrenching weekend…that is for sure. There were a couple of deaths, a critical event/scene, work issues and actual work activity.

Naturally I then think of the frustrations with my family, the work that still needs to be done, laundry to wash, blah, blah blah. And I am much more easily aggravated.

What I realize is that I am dwelling in the negative. Negativity breeds negativity. No wonder I don’t feel well?!?!?

I decide…I am TAKING A STAND!! I am going to think of positive thoughts…use the Power of Positive Thinking to change my attitude.

In order to do so, I have to think of the positive things both in my life and that occurred this weekend.

In my life I have:

• A great family
• Great friends
• A good job
• An opportunity to grow my business
• Great colleagues
• Great influences both personally and professionally
• Opportunities to grow personally and professionally
• Great neighbors

This weekend specifically though:

• I was able to work from home as necessary
• I was able to spend time with my family
• We took a road trip
• I had the opportunity to learn from an experience
• Had some new family pictures taken
• Had a fabulous breakfast at a great spot (which we never do)
• Was able to blog my thoughts

We have a choice. We have a choice to be happy or sad. Sometimes circumstances are such that we are in situations we would rather not be in. But we have to look through them, to the other side and realize that there are some positive things in our lives.

 

Everyone has something positive…you just have to find it.

So your challenge…the next time you are sad, negative, and/or frustrated is to find something positive. Whether you have a weekend as I did, or a bad day, STOP and think of at least one Happy or Positive person, situation, or personal attribute to help you put things in perspective.

I am 100% certain that when you are negative, you will find yourself in more negative situations. But the reverse is, the more positive, the more positive things happen.

I will leave you with these quotes:

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results. – Willie Nelson

In order to carry a positive action, we must develop here a positive vision. – Dalai Lama

It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts. – Robert H. Schuller