After talking to a few friends prior to the start of the new year I realized even more that we have a choice in life in regards to our outlook and happiness. I have seen friends wish for things that don't happen and what results is bitterness, anger, sadness, and sometimes a "woe is me" attitude. I think we all experience these emotions in life when things don't happen the way we want them to. I've had moments where I'm down and I always tell myself that I'm allowed to feel that way for a few days, but after that I need to get with it. No, it's not always easy and I'm blessed to have friends and family to help cheer me up and to pray for me. I can say that having their support and prayers has meant the world to me over the years.
I have read some of my friend's Facebook posts that center on the negative, and I've always thought, "Instead of focusing on the negative, why don't you name one thing you are grateful/thankful for?" I thought it was a great idea myself so I started a thankful journal where I would write one thing that I was thankful for each day. I can attest to the fact that it does make a difference to find something that makes you grateful each day. So while driving to my friend's place on New Year's Eve I thought about my year and everything that I was thankful for. I thought about my life, the amazing trips I've gone on, all that I experienced in 2013, my friends and family, God in my life, the food I've had the opportunity to eat, and all the simple and small things that make my life wonderful.
What I realize is that each day is a choice. A choice to center on what is positive in my life or a choice to center on what I don't have and want. It is up to me to choose what to focus on. This doesn't mean I won't have down times or sad times, but it does mean that I can still focus on the little things or big things that I should and can be grateful for. So I ended 2013 feeling happy and thankful, and I started 2014 feeling the same way. My hope is that I continue to count my blessings and make the choice to focus on the positive each day.
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