Staying Positive

LOL...isn't it interesting to see the internal battles I have with myself all typed out for the world to see?? :)

Anyway...got an email today about how positive thinking is healthy for us.

Need proof that optimism is healthy? Recent studies show a positive outlook boosts health and lowers your chances of developing heart disease.

Positive Thinking: Tips for Maintaining Optimism

To maintain positive thinking, pay attention to basic needs such as getting enough rest, proper nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, and heath care; in other words, keep your life in balance. Here are some tips for maintaining a positive outlook:

Let it out. Keeping feelings of sadness, anger, or guilt bottled up inside is unhealthy and can undermine positive thinking. Talk to a friend or loved one.

Replace negative thinking with positive thinking. People who are optimistic are able to reframe negatives into positives. Practicing this kind of positive spin will eventually make it automatic.

Learn to deal with stress. Some stress is inevitable. Learn to handle it in a positive way. Getting regular exercise, having a good social support system, accepting change, and keeping life in perspective are healthy ways you can deal with stress.

Now, most of the time I try to be this way...of course, often life gets in the way and it becomes a struggle but overall I am so glad that I see the glass as half full. I have enough problems in life without dwelling on everything negative in life. It would drive me nuts to always be gloomy and down. Balance is what it's all about. Can't let everything get to you but can't let nothing get to you either. Life is meant to be loved and enjoyed. Sure, life will not be perfect but those times can even still be turned into something sweet. God wants us to be happy and optimism is healthy!

Feeling a lot of anxiety

Lately I have been feeling a lot of anxiety. It's quickly becoming time that I have to act and no longer sit on the sidelines and hope that things will just fall into place. Many things in my life I have to either get the ball running or finish the race, no matter if I'm gonna win or not. I can't procrasinate any longer. I know that's where my anxiety is coming from. It's not that I don't trust that God will see me thru or that I won't heal from all that I'm about to endure but just knowing that I have to endure it still is quite unsettling. I made comparison to a little kid about to get a spanking. Now, they know it won't hurt forever and that (for the most part) their parent (or whomever) still loves them but when they know it's coming they still have the anxiety of having to go thru it. That's the way I feel and I wish it could be as easy as that- so I can get over it quick but I know better. There is no bandaid way to deal with this. Thank God he is letting me know that so I don't sell part of my soul for that numbing feeling that many people seek out.

I'm so familiar with the notion that the decisions you make today will impact you tomorrow. My whole life has been like that. I can see the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel but I can't figure out how long it will take me to get there. As long as I'm moving towards it I know I will get there in God's timing.