Positivity

No matter the prevailing wind, it’s important to give emphasis to the positive things happening lest we become overwhelmed with our difficulties. Expressing gratitude is key to maintaining life-balance.

Shifting To Positive Polarity (Article 1)

Those who active the power of positive thinking will testify to the results. Imagine living in a time or place where everyone was poor, entire families, an entire nation groveling for their next meal. Out of the Great Depression was born the “New Thought” movement. Writers such as Norman Vincent Peale, Frederick Bailes, Ernest Holmes, Florence Scovel Shinn and Emmet Fox brought tremendous hope and inner peace to millions through their process for turning people away from fear and into positive thought. More recently, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle and the blockbuster book and film, “The Secret” all espouse the power of right thinking and the power of “intention”. “Life is like a box of chocolates”, we don’t have control of people, places, things or often circumstances. However, we do have control over our thoughts, our words and our actions. This is our power which no one can take away from us. However, we own it and no one else is responsible for how we think, or speak or act. I have come to understand that many of my “issues” develop out of my own thinking, not from external factors. My vicious cycle goes like this; a) I want something 2) I don’t get exactly what I want 3) I’m pissed off about it 4) I carry that resentment around within me indefinitely. Instead of manifesting positive productivity, I manifest resentment, jealousy, anger and fear of not getting what I want, what I have convinced myself what I deserve or what I am “entitled” to. It’s exhausting. I have arrived at a place where I recognize that the cycle starts with “wanting” too much or having unrealistic expectations on people and unrealistic material expectations given my present circumstances. I know now that this insatiable “wanting” was at the root of my difficulties in relationships and more deeply at the core of my inner discontent and unhappiness. The solution is really quite simple; 1) stop wanting so much and 2) develop, what Tony Robbins calls, “a massive action plan” to effect change in my circumstances. There is nothing wrong with having aspirations and dreams. However, to just want, want, want and not really map out the steps required to achieve my goals becomes just another form of lust and jealousy for what others have. This is where journaling has really helped me. Yes, I have mapped out a “massive action plan” and further broken it down into manageable daily, weekly and monthly actions, not goals but actions. Beyond that however, perhaps the most beneficial was to look at how I was being negative, catching myself in the act and writing it down. This became an extremely revealing (yet horrifying) exercise. I was catching myself thinking, “I deserve that car more than she does”, “she has a charmed life but does nothing to deserve it”. Not just, “I want those shoes” but beyond that to, “I would look so much better in that outfit”. Not only were my thoughts caddy and jealous but I wasn’t even living my own life, my own presence, in my own awesome shoes. I was constantly comparing myself to others materially and worse, completely ungrateful for my life. Let me get into the solution, the daily journaling Q&A that brought about the shift for me:

1) How was I excessively “wanting” and jealous today?
2) What am I grateful for today?
3) Did I think of anyone else besides myself today?
4) What person did I notice today that was struggling or less fortunate that I?
5) Did I help anyone out today?
6) How could I have been more loving?

Exposing the negative motivated me to shift my polarity. I’m happy to report that the negativity has subsided and I can now focus and expand upon the positive. For me gratitude is the number one game changer. I have made a conscious decision to treasure my life. Instead of a “human wanting” I have evolved into a “human being”. I’m just sharing what worked for me. Here is relevant article I found in Psychology Today by Gregory L. Jantz, PhD: 6 ways To Become More Positive Today