Mindful Strategies for Maintaining Positive Attitude in Difficult Times
IT is difficult to argue with the old axiom that maintaining a positive attitude for everything and everyone allows for a life lived in happiness and blissful. The day-to-day attitude you carry is important to your overall well-being and personal health.
Regardless of how harsh the realities your life may seem, maintaining a positive outlook and a good attitude can frequently lessen the impact of the negative occurrences in your life. The very old example of asking yourself, “Do I see my glass as half empty or half full?” is an excellent place to start. There is also the question of gratitude. Can you take the time to look around you and experience gratitude for some of the things in your life? It is more logical and optimistic to look at your glass as totally full at all times. There is X amount of liquid and X amount of air. When you can challenge your life instead let yourself be defeated by it, you can start finding solutions rather than problems and opportunities instead of hurdles. Being an optimist is a choice and not necessarily something that comes natural
The following are a few tips which you may find helpful in getting through times when everything around you seems to be chaotic.
LIMIT YOUR EXPOSURE – It’s high time we start protecting ourselves from too much negativity that is surrounding us. It’s like food. When we put junk in, we feel like junk. When we put good stuff in, we tend to feel better. By limiting your exposure means deciding how much time you will spend on any given social media platform. Once you start spending the planned time, you will observe a marked difference in your stress level. You can substitute the amount of time you spend listening to the news to do things like: 1. Spend some time in nature by taking a leisurely walk amid the lush green scenery to clear your head of negative energy. 2. Read inspirational and uplifting books. 3. Get some exercise everyday by doing yoga, calisthenics, or move your body to your favorite music. Any of these things can rejuvenate and refresh you.
REFRAME YOUR THOUGHTS – The most effective way to limit the stress in your brain and body is to become aware of the thoughts you let run through your mind. It doesn’t always seem like it, but we do have control of our thoughts. Often our thoughts are just habits that we are used to. You can try to reframe your choice of words and the descriptions you tell yourself about the world around you. When we feel sad, bad, mad, confused or guilty about someone, it is great to surround them in soft, loving light and let it go. When you’re going through something adverse, step back and look at the situation as if you’re seeing it from a bird’s-eye view. This can help you identify the things over which you have control and those that you do not. Then, you have more energy to focus your attention to find solutions for the things you can change.
LET PEACE BEGIN WITH YOU – It is a known fact that peace in the world begins with peace within. Instead of focusing on all those things on which we have no control, why not focus on our own inner peace. Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of 13th century wrote: “become the master of your mind, don’t let your mind master you.” Let there be peace in your thoughts and words. Let there be peace in everything you do.
Limit your exposure to the negative. Look for opportunities to reach out to others. Keep your own mind peaceful, and attend Moon Solstice Ceremonies in Colorado that are conducted by Harmonious Heart Counseling. The moon solstice is a time for setting intentions. In this workshop, you can join a group of like-minded individuals for a sacred two-hour ceremony to explore your inner desires within the safety of sacred space and clearly define your positive intentions. Keep