Gratitude and positivity…we are bombarded with these two words daily. It is always easy to be thankful and see the good in life when things are going great around you, but it is so stinking hard to when your surroundings are filled with disappointments, frustrations, heartache, and difficult or negative people. It's just not super easy to hold on to an attitude of positivity and thankfulness during these times. When you are happy, you tend to see all the wonderful and amazing things that life has to offer, but when you are upset or down, it is hard to even find one thing to be thankful for.
During these hard times, it is so easy to be negative, bring others down and just enter in to a twilight zone of “whoa is me” attitude. When I find myself in these situations, I really have to look deep inside and remind myself that this, too, will pass and, with the Lord's strength, I will make it through and come out on the other side.
I remind myself of that quote that states, “Every day may not be a good day, but there is something good in every day”!
How true is that?! If we can refocus and reframe our thinking and outlook, we will ultimately change our thoughts and turn around our mood for the day (and save those around us from our negative repercussions).
Bad, unfortunate things in life are bound to happen... we can not prevent or avoid them. Life is a journey - we have all seen highs, and we have all experienced lows, sometimes separately, but often times at the same time. Life, in general, is not all bad or all good; it is a mixture of both each and every day. Since we experience a mix of emotions it is our responsibility to develop and fine tune our outlook on the situations. We must keep our eyes and ears open, remain focused on our Creator and move full steam ahead knowing that we will get through it, and we have the ability to train ourselves to feel both the pain of the situations, as well as acknowledge the many blessings that we have been given, all at the same time!
If we can refocus and reframe our thinking and outlook, we will ultimately change our thoughts and turn around our mood for the day
Some days may be more challenging than others to find the positive thoughts and aspects of the day, but they could include things as simple as, appreciating the food that you are blessed with, the clothes on your back, the memories that you are about to smile about, the beauty in nature that surrounds you, a job that allows you to pay your bills, a loved one who brightens your life. The options are really endless when you dig deep to fish out the small blessings of life to be thankful for and to smile about!
Now, I won’t claim this to be a miracle drug for immediate mood improvement; it won’t make you feel like jumping for joy and celebration. It won’t take the hurt or pain away, but it allows yourself to find the positive and good currently in our lives and helps us to remain actively aware of the blessings that we do have. It gives us the ability to elevate our thoughts toward a more positive subject matter.
Life is not a perfect place... we will feel many emotions, but embrace them and learn how to balance them. It is important to feel the pain, hurt, anger and heartache, but it is just as important to look above and see the many small blessings that you have, acknowledge them and keep your head held high!
You are amazing, and the things that you go through will only make you stronger AND give you the ability to help others, if you put in the effort to find the positive and uplifting lesson that each trial and tribulation provides. Together and with the Lord's help, we WILL get through this, I promise!
Let's Love More!
Alissa Nelms
