It’s not too late. You’re enough. You’ve done enough preparation.
Begin.
(I’m cheering you on!)
Remind yourself – click HERE to download the wallpaper photo below for your smartphone.
I’ve been reading this book… and that’s what has prompted today’s post. Our inner dialogue impacts what we begin and finish. One of Neil Fiore’s suggesions when you find yourself overwhelmed by a task, perhaps feeling unequal to all the effort it’ll take, is to work on the project for a half hour, and then record on your calendar your progress. It’s part of taking credit for the work you’ve done. You’re proving to yourself that you can.
Keep that in mind when you’re dealing with disappointment, worry or unease over the timing or waiting.
We all have dreams. Sometimes those dreams are seeds of what God has put into our hearts. However, HIS PLANS are always greater than what we, as flawed humans, can dream or imagine.
Ask the One who loves you more than any other to trust in HIS plan for you. How do you know it’s from God? It’ll be filled with hope.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
If you’re looking at your “now”, and it’s so far from what you want or what you had, it can feel discouraging. Our inner push to set goals or our outer need for achievement and affirmation can poison our current spot.
Be thankful for now.
Take care; we can get all caught up in our “dreams” and striving for what we want, that we forget there is joy right now.
It’s rare to know how much someone else is hurting…
Even if you’re standing next to them…
(Regardless – even if you’re their spouse, parent, sibling, best friend, significant other, and especially if they’re a stranger.)
That person could be feeling totally broken, but we couldn’t realize.
Make kindness a habit. Always. No matter the provocation.
A few years ago I had a heart-breaking experience with a grouchy security guard at a library in Florida. We had been traveling full-time for a while and regularly used the WiFi at the public libraries to work during the day. This was the only library, over the space of two years, that had a “be silent” policy and a guard to back it up.
He prowled the stacks of books seeking those talking out loud or on their mobile cell phone to “shush” them with a scowl and to point to the outside door. (Yes, he found me twice – I was “that” woman.) It both humiliated me and made me grumpy too, even though I was clearly in the wrong.
At the end of the day, I sat outside on a bench waiting for Rob to pick me up. (The truck was parked a fair ways away.) I saw the grumpy guard on another bench. It was so tempting to ignore him. And yet…
Be Kind. Always. To yourself and others.
(Do you ever get those inner promptings? I do. And I’ve learned not to ignore them.)
So I got up and walked over to the grumpy guard’s bench and sat beside him. I started the conversation about the weather. (You’ll find that’s often the opening line with a Canadian… I don’t know why.) Since it was Florida in the winter, the sun was shining and warm, it was a good start. Anyway. He began to share.
He shared his whole life story with me – I guess I appeared to be a friendly ear.
He hadn’t had an easy life. And the latest blow was his cancer diagnosis.
The grumpy guard was scheduled for treatment the next week and he was afraid. He wasn’t on speaking terms with his siblings and It didn’t seem like he had a support system around him. But for those few moments, I was privileged to listen and put a hand on his arm to convey that someone cared.
He told me he believed in God, so I assured him that I would pray for him. By the time Rob pulled up in the truck I had gotten a few smiles out of that grumpy guard. I hope, with all my heart, that my kindness made a difference. Even if it was for only a few moments.
There was no way I would have known his story. And his fear, hurt, loneliness, and isolation. I’m chagrined that I just saw an old man who “shushed” me. At least at first. However, I’m not going to beat myself up – I’ve learned from that experience. Hopefully, I won’t make the same mistake again.
Or, if you want to go further, then why not explore and document being kind – it would be a good way to foster an attitude of kindness in your family… Here’s a journal/workbook I wrote with 100+ ideas and places to document being kind – it’s available on Amazon:
Looking on the bright side – can you do that? All the time?
If you’re anything like me, it takes real effort to continue to look on the bright side – regardless. But even though it takes effort, (and sometimes huge effort), it never hurts me in the long run. In fact, it makes my life better, and all those around me feel it.
Once I’ve found the “bright side”, and go with it, then other aspects where negativity could creep in seem easier to manage.
Is it simple to look for the positive in life? Not always.
Looking on the bright side even when it’s hard.
Here are some ways to encourage yourself to focus on what’s good in a circumstance:
Review all that you could be thankful for in this situation. Make a list. Dig. Here’s a post on thankfulness that will give you practical ideas.
Express your thankfulness in a concrete way: words, or actions.
Take time to ponder. We allow the rush of life to overwhelm us and by default the place we end up is negative. Use a timeout to process what’s going on. Prayer always helps me.
Make a pro and con list on paper. (or your computer) Seeing the issues in black and white will often clarify those nebulous clouds of gloom and doom. Talk it through with a trusted friend. A person who loves you can see situations differently. Neither of you is right or wrong. Sometimes it’s good to have a discussion to see another’s view.
Get out of your own way. In the Lead Like Jesus Encounter, there’s a part called “Ego’s Annonymous”. It’s designed to help the participants recognize we all struggle every day with pride and fear – it’s an addiction. As a Christian, I see EGO as “edging God out”. Most times, at least for me, when I can’t find the bright side that’s at the root.
How about you?
What techniques do you use to successfully find your positive place?
PositiveThanksLiving is about being strategically optimistic – not just pie-in-the-sky everything is perfect. Living as an optimistic and thankful person takes work – but it’s worth it!
A few ways to look on the bright side – even when it’s hard. Be strategically optimistic.
Begin with positive thoughts and there’s a good chance you’ll “feel” better! Since you have control over both your thoughts and feelings, maybe try an experiment.
Want to feel better? Begin with positive thoughts!
Hurricane gust. Gentle breeze. How do you “feel”? Our feelings often shift according to the emotional “winds” in our life. Take control.
What if we first use our thoughts to frame and process our feelings?
Thoughts have great power and we’re the only ones who control them. Could we “feel” better by first inputting a positive thought?
(I think we could.)
To begin with positive thoughts, try these:
My world is filled with possibilities because I’m unique.
I’m thankful for _________, _________, _________.
Today will be a good day because I’m loved and respected.
I’m capable of so much. I just need to do it.
Every challenge today will help me grow.
I can make a difference in life just by smiling at others.
In every situation, there’s something to learn.
A person who can do “that” (something you’ve achieved) can handle today’s stuff.
What positive thoughts do you begin with to “feel” better?
Have you ever experienced this? Leave a comment – share your positive thought!
Want to see positive thoughts every day? Download and make a Positivity Garland!
Or meditate on this Scripture verse – write it out in your journal and respond to each of the eight points, one per day: What’s true in my life right now? What’s lovely in my life right now? etc.
… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phillipians 4:8
Learn to laugh at yourself – it’s a sign of maturity!
I found a fun quote from Ethel Barrymore, a great-great aunt of Drew Barrymore. She was an actor from 1895 to 1957 and part of a family who made their life on the stage. She said,
“You grow up the day you have your first real laugh at yourself.”
~ Ethel Barrymore
When did you first learn to laugh at yourself?
I’m guessing that learning to laugh at yourself isn’t a one-time event. I think we grow into the ability.
Eventually, we all learn that nobody is really looking at us, even if we think they are. And that we’re not all that important, and the actions we take (on the whole) may or may not be wise and won’t usually make everyone happy or unhappy.
None of us are that important or famous that we shouldn’t be able to see our faults or mistakes and laugh along with others. No one is perfect. Not even us!
What makes you most often laugh about yourself?
I laugh at my own “boring-ness”. I find it easy to put children to sleep (especially the grandboy) because I’m not very exciting. And I laugh when people notice how often I say, “I’m sorry”. It’s a Canadian thing.
Have you ever seen Ethel Barrymore? Here’s a compilation of some of her stage/movie roles – she began acting at 14 after her mother died of tuberculosis and her career spanned 60 years. Her parents were actors, and her brothers were John and Lionel Barrymore. Today her family is represented by Drew Barrymore.
Below you can watch a video with Ethel Barrymore in 1952 on “What’s My Line?” a TV show that had guests guessing the identity and profession of individuals. I cued the video to begin when she came on the episode at minute 16:45, but you might find it fun to watch the whole episode! If you can’t see the YouTube video below, click HERE to go directly to YouTube.
It’s not as though we won’t experience pain just because we’re optimistic people… every person on this planet will suffer in some way, at some time. This hurt that could be physical, mental or spiritual will afflict all of us.
It’s not going to be possible to be cheery all the time. How can an optimistic person deal with these afflictions that cause an ache?
You can treat pain with the love of God.
C.S. Lewis’ book, “The Problem of Pain“, explores the question, “If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?”. I’ve underlined a great number of phrases as I’ve read the book, and the quote below is especially poignant for me:
“When pain is to be born,
a little courage
helps more than much knowledge,
a little human sympathy
more than much courage,
and the least tincture of the love of God
more than all.”
So, to paraphrase C.S. Lewis — just a little bit of the Love of God when dealing with pain is more effective than anything else.
Where do you go to feel the Love of God?
I can feel God’s love in many ways – including
reading His Word,
pondering and praying in solitude,
when I listen to praise and worship music,
hearing the Word from the altar at church,
when receiving communion – the body and blood of Jesus and hearing the absolution,
when I pray with Rob, and with friends,
and when I honestly force myself to list all the blessings God has provided for me. Being thankful helps me feel God’s Love.
How about you – where do you feel the Love of God?
Plant kindness. What grows from being kind to others is beautiful and nourishing.
Kind or Critical?
In case you were wondering, criticism is not kind. Criticism is like a poisonous weed.
I’m imagining criticism – that deliberate judgment of others – is like hogweed. Hogweed’s sap burns and scars.
If you try and mow or weed-whack a hogweed plant, it’ll just send up new growth. Isn’t that exactly like being judgmental? Start criticizing one action or aspect of a person’s character, and you’ll quickly find other points to criticize… And hogweed might appear to be Queen Anne’s Lace or Angelica, just like criticism can be disguised as helpful advice, but it’s not. Get involved in criticism and it’ll burn. And scar. You.
Plant a Garden of Kindness
Now, imagine a garden filled with beautiful flowers, fruit, and vegetables. It’s nourishing for the soul and body.
That’s just like kindness – when we watch others be kind, isn’t it a joy to behold? When we, ourselves, are beneficiaries of a kindness, isn’t it nourishing to every part of our life? And, when we are the authors of an act of kindness, isn’t it something we rejoice over with the other person?
Make this a day to sow seeds of kindness.
(Toss those critical thoughts/words on the burn pile!)
Be prompted to be positive via email- to remind you that you're loved, to be thankful, of encouraging and to be encouraged and of setting and achieving goals. That's Positive ThanksLiving!
Excellent! I'm looking forward to prompting you to be positive. Let's do this! (Check your email.)
I say, “I’m sorry”. It’s a Canadian thing.
Plant a Garden of Kindness
