Staying Positive When the Universe Tests You

  “Always look at what you have left.  Never look at what you have lost.” – Robert H. Schuller

Alright, I’ll just say it… today sucked. Bad. Last night I was up most of the night with a bad stomach bug, which involved nausea, stomach cramps, fever, and other “issues”. Even though I felt horrible, I was determined to push through and go into work today, because I am finally getting caught up. Well, the universe had other plans. On my way into work my car overheated, and it appears there will be a hefty repair bill in order.

Several hours at the dealership, and dealing with various technicians regarding what would, and what would not, be covered under warranty, made for a long and taxing morning/afternoon. Although, I had plenty of reasons to get bent out of shape and angry, I was determined to stay as upbeat as possible.

I am a huge believer in staying positive, even when the universe seems to test your moxie. After all, getting angry and upset at the stomach virus, or my car, would not improve my situation, I just needed to roll with the punches. While some events and situations from today might have stunk, it doesn’t mean that my attitude has to, nor does it mean that my life is bad. Instead of focusing on the negative, I focused on the many good things in my life, especially my wonderful family.

This evening my son and I enjoyed some quality time together, we played with bubbles, hit some baseballs around, played with our rabbits, and climbed some trees in the backyard. These are the moments when I know how lucky and blessed I am, and no matter what the universe throws at me, I’m thankful.

Practical Tip: When times get tough and you are having a bad day, instead of focusing on what has gone wrong, choose two things that you are thankful for. This way your positive to negative ratio always tips to the positive side. 😀

 
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