Tag: positivity

Posted in optimism

It’s going to be a good day

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“I’ve decided it’s going to be a good day.”

I jotted those words my journal, a quote from Loewhaley I can’t find that post, but those words got me thinking.

Can I decide what kind of day it’s going to be? Can I decide in advance that I am going to be grateful? Is contentment an attitude I can choose? Can I deliberately frame my day with joy? Do I have any control over the kind of day I am going to have? Can I declare that I am blessed, and that today is going to be a good day?

My answer to all of the above is, “Yes!”

I can easily list out ten things for which I’m grateful. Gratitude feeds contentment. In any situation I can discover joy. If I decide it’s going to be a good day, no one can take that from me. I can determine how I will respond to the people, situations, and events going on around me. I define how I will react to the news, surprises, disappointments, success, insults, and compliments.

I believe we forget how much control we have over our reactions, emotions, and attitude. If you blame others for your feelings, you’ve allowed them to influence you. You’ve surrendered something to them.

How many people have forgotten that they have control over their feelings and attitude? Plenty.

If I set out on my morning walk intent on noticing the colors of the dawn, I will see a beautiful pallet of hues that leave me breathless. When I set out to make a list of things I am thankful for, I soon need an extra page. And if I determine that I am going to have a good day, no disappointment can steal that from me.

So shy not start with that assumption? Why not be an optimist, looking forward to the great experiences, interesting people, and fascinating stories to come?

Posted in Life

Go for a walk, drink water, eat a snack, and pet your dog

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Wade Austin Ellis on Unsplash
Daily writing prompt
What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?
View all responses

I wonder what the writer of this prompt meant by “negative feelings?”

Is it disappointment because I didn’t perform well? Or sadness because I just lost a good friend? Am I afraid of an approaching storm? Or am I angry because someone dinged my car and drove away? Did I look in the mirror and cringe at how I looked? Did I look at you and cringe at how you looked?

We live in a world where we’re not supposed to hurt anyone’s feelings. We’re only supposed to say positive, affirming words. Negativity and pessimism are big no-nos.

Guess what? You’re going to feel anxiety, insecurity, fear, guilt, shame, and anger every day.

How do I deal with all that negativity?

Go for a walk.

That’s it. Get up and move. Walk away. Walk outside. Walk around. A simple change of location changes how you feel. Moving, breathing, heat or cold, singing birds, barking dogs, the sun, a breeze, or a star in the sky refocuses your thoughts. Suddenly negative things aren’t foremost in your mind anymore.

Also, drink some water.

Feeling negative? Chances are you need to hydrate. Most of us don’t drink enough water. Your body and mind might just be saying, “You’re thirsty.”

In a similar light, eat a snack. It’s OK to snack. It will probably make you feel better.

Still not there? Pet your dog. You’ll enjoy it, he or she will enjoy it, and life will be good again. Don’t have a dog? Get one. A wagging tail effectively counters negative feelings.

That’s all I’ve got. Four simple and effective actions to counter negativity in your life.