Positive Thinking: A Habit Worth Cultivating

"Is your cup half empty, or half full?"

That age old question.  It's such a simple question, and we hear it quoted so often it almost sounds silly, or at the very least cliche.  But, regardless, I still think it's a good question to ask and it illustrates a very powerful point:  There is more than one way to look at things.

Perspective is an amazing thing.  Two people can be given the same set of circumstances, good or bad, and have a totally different attitude and reaction, depending on their perspective.  One person may perceive a sudden onslaught of new customers for their business as an exciting opportunity to grow, while another person may see it as an inconvenience that will mean they have to change things to accommodate their increase in business.

It's all a matter of perspective.

And sometimes, (do I dare say it?) sometimes, our perspective just flat out stinks.  Which means its time to change things up a bit, and get some new perspective, right?

Now I know, you are probably thinking: "But Maria,  it's not as easy as just gaining a new perspective" or "I was born a pessimist, its incredibly hard to change".

I know change can be hard sometimes.  I was one of those children that loathed change in schedule, plans, or life.  A creature of habit you might say.  To the extreme.  But change isn't always bad, in fact, as I've come to learn through the years, sometimes change can be really, really good.

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret:  thinking positively and looking at things from a different perspective is much, much easier than our brains (and some people!) would like us to believe.  Because when all is said and done, the honest to goodness truth is that thinking positively is a habit. And, like most habits, once you start and the longer you do it the easier it becomes.  After a while, it becomes something that no longer takes concentrated effort, but rather is just a part of your thought process and who you are as a person.


The more you smile, even when you don't feel like it, the more you will feel like smiling. (Try it!)

The more you try to find the opportunity in difficult or challenging circumstances, the more opportunity you will see, and then be able to seize.

If you look for the good in people, you will find a lot more than if you are looking for the bad.

The more you view each day as an opportunity to run closer to who you want to be, what you want to do, and the One who loves us very much, the better your days will become.


In case you haven't caught my drift, the more you look for the good and positive in a situation, person, place, or thing, the more likely you are to find it.

(Because if you aren't looking for something, how in the world can you expect to find it???)

Now, don't think I'm trying to say that thinking positively is some sort of magic spell that suddenly changes our lives into a fairytale.  It's not.   It will still be the same life.  They will still be the same imperfect people (just like you and I!).  You will still have difficulties and challenges.   I'm sorry, but positive thinking won't magically make whatever difficulty you are facing disappear.  What thinking positively does change is our perception of life and of people.  It can motivate and inspire us to do something other than wallow in misery thinking about how awful life is and create the change we want to see come about.

You see, we have a choice:  to let our circumstances determine what we do and define who we are, OR we can take control of our thoughts and outlook, and decide what we will do and who we want to be.

YOU and I were created for a very specific purpose, and with the ability to do great and amazing things.  I don't believe God created us with the ability to do great things, so we would waste that potential on a life continually defined by and filled with negativity.   He wants us to reach our full potential in Him, and that simply will. not. happen. if we are continually holding ourselves back with negativity.

Negativity is like a chain shackled to us.  We might be able to get a little ways, but only as far as that chain is long.  Positivity, removes that chain.  Suddenly there are more possibilities then we ever imagined when we simply change our perspective and change our outlook on life from negative, to positive.

The way I see it, (others are welcome to have their own opinions) there really is no time like the present to drink a good cup of tea, give someone a hug, or start a new habit.


So.


I'll ask again.


Is your cup half empty, or half full? =)