One thing that I have struggled with in my healthy living journey, and my life in general, is staying positive. Positivity is so incredibly important in your daily life and health, even as much as eating well and exercising, but it isn’t something that always comes naturally to everyone.
We all know those people who seem to always have a smile on their face, telling you how awesome their day is, and seem to have the sun shining out of their butt. I’d be willing to bet that their life isn’t a thousand times better than yours. Heck, for all you know, that person could have more issues going on than you do! The only real difference is perspective.
I’m gonna get honest here. I spent the majority of my life with a crappy outlook on life. All I could see were all of my problems piled up in front of me. You know how it goes: that guy doesn’t like me, I didn’t get an A on that test, I don’t have enough money, she’s prettier than me, I have be in class/work on ALL the sunny days, my neighbors are annoying… Boo hoo hoo.
Finally, about a year ago, I told myself that enough was enough, and I went to work trying to change my perspective by altering the way that I think about things. It was a long, hard journey, and I definitely still have times when negativity gets the best of me, but I feel SO much better every single day!
The first step that I took was actually quite simple. At the end of each night, I would look back over the day and write down three things that made me happy. Even if the only thing I could come up with that day was “snuggles from my puppy”, it was enough to at least remind me of those good feelings, and that they did indeed exist. Slowly, I began to appreciate the little things as they were happening, rather than just in retrospect.
While you’re appreciating the good things, quit complaining about the bad stuff! The more you talk about it, the more you acknowledge the negativity of the situation, and the more that negativity is spread around. You may think that complaining makes you feel better about what’s going on, but in reality, it’s probably making you feel worse! Not only that, but you’re spreading that negativity to those around you! Hopefully the person you’re complaining to is a stiff optimist, otherwise you may have just turned your own bad day into a bad day for both of you! No fun!
Another thing that made a huge difference in my outlook was finding my faith in God. I know that many of you may not believe in God, so take it as you will, place your faith in the universe, or whatever it is that you’re most comfortable with. For me, knowing that God has a plan, that I am a part of his plan, and that he has my best intentions in mind, is a huge weight off of my shoulders.
Looking back at my life, every time that I have been discouraged or stressed about a situation, it has always turned out alright in the end. Chances are that situations in the future will turn out the same way. Even when I didn’t always get what I wanted, there was always a good reason for me. Real life: I was rejected from nursing school…twice! If that hadn’t happened, I never would have found my true passion in nutrition! I was also rejected from the dietetic internship that I applied to. But if that hadn’t happened, I never would have gotten the job that I have now, and if that hadn’t happened, I never would have run back into Keenan and begun our beautiful relationship!
There are so many situations in our lives that are out of our control. Being able to willingly give up that control, breathe, and acknowledge that everything will work out alright, brings an incredible feeling of peace! At first it might be very difficult to relinquish control over your life, but the more you practice, the easier it becomes, and the better you feel.
Practicing meditation can be another great way to learn positivity. I grew up thinking that meditation was some weirdo religious practice, but come to find out, it’s nothing of the sort! Meditation teaches you to focus your mind, to relax, and let go of all of the busy-ness going on in your head. I’ve found that practicing meditation, even minimally, has helped me to take a breath, analyze a situation, and then decide how to react to it, rather than reacting without meaning. I have a difficult time explaining the effect of meditation, but I find myself to be in a much more relaxed, aware, and positive state after meditating.
I discovered a wonderful website called Headspace that will take you through ten- 10 minute guided meditations for free. I highly recommend giving it a shot. After trying it, if you decide that meditation isn’t for you, then so be it.
Yoga and other forms of exercise can be beneficial for your mental state, as well. They all cause you to stop focusing on your problems and stresses, and commit to the moment that you’re in. I have found that for me, real happiness is being in the present, enjoying the little things about that moment. Right now, on this lovely Sunday morning, my bliss is found by sitting here, writing a blog post for all of my wonderful readers, sipping on hot water with lemon, and enjoying the sun streaming through the window into our living room.
I remember when I was a kid, my mom used to have a sign in her kitchen that said “Don’t do whatever you like, Like whatever you do!” I never understood it back then. It didn’t make sense to me that you could just choose to like something. Like, yeah right am I ever going to enjoy doing dishes! Now I realize it was incredible advice. Doing the dishes may not be the most fun thing you could be doing with your time, but if you reframe your thoughts to tell yourself that you’re doing these dishes to make your house pretty and clean for yourself and your family, then maybe the task at hand won’t seem quite so obnoxious.
Speaking of my mom, I want to send out a big Happy Mother’s Day in her direction! My mom is my biggest fan. She’s the reason I’m alive, and probably a big part of the reason that I somehow managed to make it to the age of 25. She’s forever generous, forgiving, and supportive, and I really don’t know what I would do without her, even though I often times take it for granted. Unfortunately, I don’t get to see my mom today, but I’m sure she’s having a great day wherever she is. I love you, mama! Happy Mother’s Day!!!
I hope you enjoy this beautiful Sunday!
<3 Lindsay
