Look For The Good

Most days it is easy to find the good in our lives and to be thankful for what we have. Then there are the days that we are discouraged and must dig deep to find the positive. 

We all have times in our lives when we are faced with obstacles that can make it difficult to approach our days with a positive attitude. It can be something very personal, or it could be from the negative messages that we are bombarded with every day. Both have the same impact and will take over if we allow them to.

It is not easy to change how we think and approach our daily lives even if we know it would be the best thing for us. It takes significant effort, and the path of least resistance can seem much simpler. Unfortunately, that does not do anything for our physical and mental health. 

When we focus on looking for the positive in the world, there is one thing that stands out every time; people who do good things for others. Their focus is on what they can do to make another's life better. In doing so they more easily tap into what is good in their lives and can be thankful for what they do have. They do not dwell on the negative.

We need to retrain our brains as they say. Reversing the negative thoughts takes time and practice, but there are some things that can help in this process:
  • Take a few minutes each day just to breathe in silence.
  • Remind yourself what you have to be grateful for.
  • Say something good about yourself.
  • Make sure you laugh every day.
  • Turn off social media and television.
  • Let the past go.
  • Tell your family you love them.
  • If you find yourself complaining - stop.
  • Eat healthy and exercise.
And most important - during challenging times help others. What you get from helping far outweighs what you give. In the words of Mr. Rogers:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Even on our toughest days, if we look for the good, we will rise above the negative swirling around us.



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