The Power of Positive Thinking Revisited

I am a recovering negativist. It's been four months since I decided to change my outlook and attitude towards everything. I labeled my negative outlook as the outlook of a realist and scoffed at anyone who cared to challenge my opinion. Slowly, (and I mean it took years) I came to realize I was my own worst enemy when it came to making positive changes in my life. I wallowed in self-pity and negativity. Thank goodness, a well meaning (and patient) girlfriend started me on the path to recovery with just a simple sentence: "It's not a world conspiracy against you"!

We all know people who can zap all of our energy with just one sentence. (I was one). We also all know people who are constantly upbeat and see the silver lining in everything. It is harder to be an uplifting sort of person all of the time. Life is hard and things happen to knock us all down. My grandmother always said, "You lie there in your self pity until you get good and tired of it, and then you pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and walk on your way with your chin up in the air".

I know she meant this metaphorically, but I actually had the physical experience of this wisdom back when I was in college. The rain was coming down in buckets, like it usually does in Boston. Umbrellas are of no use, and usually end up inverted and blowing down the street in tatters. It was after classes and I was hurrying to my job downtown. The brick cobblestones are slippery even when it's not windy and raining! Down I went, landing square on my back in a huge mud puddle! Plenty of people saw me tumble, but I picked myself up and walked on so fast, (looking like a bedraggled street beggar, I'm sure) that nobody had time to react. Thankfully, grandma's advice had flooded into my head the moment I splashed down in that muddy water! I decided not to wallow in it! My boss was not so happy to see my soaked, muddy clothes, but aprons do wonders as cover-ups!

Things are unusually hard right now for many, many of us! They are going to get better, though, they always have and they always will. I am a Christian, my faith will carry me. If you don't have a strong faith to carry you, at the very least believe in the power of positive thinking! Positive thoughts produce positive energy. Positive energy attracts more positive energy! Nobody is having much luck accumulating money these days. But we can all try to fill our "positive thoughts" bank accounts on a daily basis. Amazingly, since I started trying to think this way, the days have been much better, overall. I have much more energy to put towards my goals, too. I guess being negative took a lot out of me!

It takes time and perseverance to remain on a positive path. It helps me to read positive affirmations each day. I keep them right by my computer where I can read them at a moment's notice. Mine are simple, like, "Today is going to be a GREAT day"and "Smile"! Before long, you will start believing in good things and good things will start happening for you. Refuse to adopt "victim mentality". If you have been a victim, refuse to remain in that mindset. The only one who can hold you back is you. You have the keys to your own jail cell. Break out of it! If you must wallow awhile, fine. But then remember what my grandmother said: "Pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and walk on your way with your chin up in the air"!