To look at the Sunny-side of Everything and Make my Optimism Come True
By: Darren Sproat May 10th, 2010Category: The Creed
This post is one in a series of posts inspired by “Promises to Yourself”, by Christian D. Larson. Check out the whole series and leave us a comment with your thoughts.
Image © Sandra Gligorijevic | Dreamstime.com
When are you able to stop for a moment and consume the beauty of everything around you? We all have responsibilities… some of which are routine daily tasks, some of which are inspiring and empowering, and some that can be irratating or down right depressing. There are a great many things in our lives (economy, disaster, finances, failed relationships, career woes, poor health, etc.) that serve to make us feel down and, should we choose to let them, lead us into a rut or depression.
There are ways to overcome uncertainties or adversity in life that serve to put us into a down state.
Sleep Well, Eat Well
Get enough sleep and eat well. The importance of getting enough sleep and eating well cannot be stressed enough. Your body is so much better prepared, physically and mentally, to deal with the ups and downs of life if you are making strides towards living a healthy lifestyle.
Gratitude and Positive Affirmation
A gratitude exercise and positive affirmations are always a good start. Take inventory of all that happens or all that you have in life that you are grateful for. It sounds repetitive on this blog but it can’t be stressed enough. This one exercise alone can bring some out of a rut or hole and inspire them to take action towards their goals. Choose affirmations that move you and write them down… heck, paint them on the wall of your house if you want to really make a statement.
What You Do Control
You control your attitude… how you respond to certain events or happenings in your life is entirely within your control. You can choose to dwell on the negative and feel sorry for youself or you can choose instead to focus on the bright-side, smile, and take the next step to deal with the situation.
What You Don’t Control
Learn to accept that which is out of your control. So much of what influences our attitudes and behaviors is outside of our control and too many of us allow these circumstances to get us down. Learn to accept that which has happened and move on. Look upon the situation through a positive mindset and keep your affirmations close.
The People Around You
Seek to spend time with those who you are close to. Resist the temptation to barricade yourself away from friends and family. Express to those you are close to that you need help seeing the positive side of something and be open to hearing them out. That said, don’t let negative people or opinion influence you.
Give Back to the Community Around You
This is a tip I just added… Lisa Kelly’s recent post on this blog, Giving Back, inspired me to add it. In serving your community, you have an opportunity to learn as much or more about yourself as you do the community you are serving. Involve a close friend or family members to help you stick to the commitment of helping out. You will feel good for having shared yourself with your community and learn something more about what makes you tick along the way.
Smile
Can it really be that easy? Of course not… but, if you are able to shift your mindset to believing there is a bright-side to everything that occurs in your life and being prepared to see and experience it, you will be able to smile that much easier. If you can look at situations that would normally have you dwelling on or worrying about them with a smile instead, you are that much closer to being able to deal with them and move on.
Comment on this Post
It’s true… I have seen it first hand. With readers from an extremely broad cross-section of life, you have a unique opportunity here to share your story and engage other readers who may have similar stories or tips of their own.
“What a fine lesson is conveyed to the mind — to take no note of time but by its benefits, to watch only for the smiles and neglect the frowns of fate, to compose our lives of bright and gentle moments, turning always to the sunny side of things, and letting the rest slip for our imaginations, unheeded or forgotten! How different from the common art of self-tormenting!”
- William Hazlit
There is a bright side to everything that comes into our lives… sometimes it may be difficult to see but it’s there and living your life with a belief that it’s there, prepared to see it and experience it, is one of the first steps to living optimistically and spreading that optimism to those around you.
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About the author
TwitterID: whats_yourstory
nice post Darren!
I definitely have learned to live a life of optimism- it’s necessary to stay focused, positive and happy! When others come to me and ask me how I am so darn happy all the time and having a good time just living life, despite my circumstances I say this: “if we stop and think, there will ALWAYS be someone worse off then us”. Hmmm, someone living in a 3rd world without all the luxuries we have, someone living on the street, someone living in an abusive situation, someone cast out from society because of disease, the list goes on, but I think you get the point. And those are the same things I tell others when they think their life is hopeless. Sometimes, we are hurting or sad or frustrated, but there is always something we can find that’s a good thing… right in front of us and that hopefully will give us hope to forge ahead AND be optimistic that things can always get better!
I’m making it a sunshiney day and hope everyone else is too!
TwitterID: DarrenSproat
Angela,
Thanks for the great comment. And yes, all one has to do is think of how much better off we have it then those elsewhere in the world… or, like you said, across the street. To be able to put one’s circumstances into perspective is a powerful skill to have and even more powerful to share.
Thanks again,
Darren Sproat
Hello Darren, isn’t it difficult to ignore a disease stricken family member to go off living life positively? Isn’t it our responsibility to be available for them in their time of need? I wish it could be as easy as your post seems to indicate but when it is something you are consumed by daily to support the life of a loved one it can be very difficult to remain optimistic.
TwitterID: DarrenSproat
Lillie,
You are doing the right thing by being present for an ailing family member and you are so correct that it can be difficult to find the bright-side and stay optimistic when you are caring for someone stricken by disease. I posted, some time ago, that in order to be in a position mentally, physically, and spiritually to be truly present for your loved ones, especially when they really need you, you have to first be present for yourself. I will argue that it is NOT selfish to consider your own needs first while caring for another… as it is a healthy you, again, mentally, physically, spiritually, etc. that will better serve your loved one. You giving of yourself to care for another is inspiring… I truly hope you know how special you are.
If you would like to continue this conversation off the blog (via e-mail, perhaps), don’t hesitate to contact me via the contact form here >> http://www.thenlifehappens.com/contact/
Hopes for only the best to you and yours…
Regards,
Darren Sproat
TwitterID: ColorsMag
I try living this way, and I must say it helps a lot. After a while you start seeing things in a differeте perspective.
And I actually love your site here. Glad I accidentally landed here. Now subscribing.
.-= Check out Lena’s recent blog >> No One Waits Forever =-.
TwitterID: DarrenSproat
Lena,
I truly appreciate the comments about the site. With respect to living life viewing the bright side of everything, it really is a powerful way to live. It keeps your mindset at the ready to deal with any adversity that should come your way and spreads to those around you too.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Regards,
Darren
.-= Check out Darren Sproat’s recent blog >> Negative is Positive… and other things I’ve Learned =-.
TwitterID: thisshouldhelp2
Darren,
There really is a bright side to everything. If we are willing to look, we will find it. Everything happens for a reason, and it can take years to realize the blessing. Even seemingly terrible experiences have something in them that is worthwhile. I mean something good ALWAYS comes from something we consider bad.
Glancing back in my life to all the events I have put myself through, I am grateful. “My experiences made me who I am today.” We can be appreciative of incidents that have transpired because there is excellence in the Universe. I have asked myself if I could go back, would I change anything? When we can acknowledge, we would leave happenings as they were, we have embraced who we are.
Each day I am thankful for everything I have learned. The many adversities were essential to make me who I am. Every time I go through something hard I believe that sooner, or later I will see the good.
.-= Check out Sandra Hendricks’s recent blog >> The Mind is a Phenomenal Part of Us =-.
TwitterID: 4leafclovergirl
What a wonderful post, Darren! I am mostly a glass half-full person, but there are some days when it’s a challenge to maintain that point of view! And I believe whole heartedly that giving back to the community often times does more for yourself than it does for the community! Have a wonderful day!
Cheers!
Lisa
TwitterID: Delyth Bradshaw
An excellent post and on a day when I needed to be more positive. Thank you.