The Sunday News
How is your typical day like? If you don’t wake up with a smile on your face and go to bed with a smile then you are not a very happy person.
The next question you want to ask me is how you can do that with everything else that’s going on in your life.
Try thinking of a few things you are grateful for everyday when you wake up, like the comfortable bed you slept in, the roof over your head, the electricity that will warm your bath water or the shower that will provide your cold shower, the food that you will eat . . . the list goes on.
This will make you realise that no matter what you’re going through, you still have a lot of good going on in your life and it will set the mood for your day.
Get ahead of your day
Most of us like a quiet environment just as we wake up in the morning, that is the best time to reflect, meditate, pray or just lie there appreciating life before you jump into the activities of your day.
Some people take this time to mentally plan their day, sending thoughts ahead of outcomes of what is on their to-do lists.
Some people call it “getting ahead of your day” because they believe that mental planning actually lines up circumstances, people and situations that will make your plans doable as long as you do not sabotage yourself by doubting that they are possible.
At the end of the day as you lie in bed again, do not think about what you failed to achieve, what went wrong and who did what to you if it’s in the negative. If you want to think of those things be sure that they will invoke some positive feelings in you, like how you will make time tomorrow to carry over plans that you didn’t have time for today or how you forgive that person who did you wrong.
If you can’t think of anything good about negative outcomes, let the memories go, they will just frustrate you.
Now you are probably thinking that I am asking you to ignore a part of your life.
Yes, I am, because it does not benefit you if it’s not teaching you a thing or two.
The best you can do is acknowledge it but not dwell on it much.
Rather focus your thoughts on the best thing that happened to you on the day.
Really ask yourself what the best part of your day was, relive the memories and notice how you feel when you do that.
The fact is as you scan your mind for that best thing, your mind will have no choice but to go through several wonderful things that happened today while you decide which, among the rest, was best and how is that for a positive outlook on your day.
If you were to fall asleep with those thoughts in mind, I guarantee you a goodnight sleep and you may even dream in colour, wake up more relaxed and ready to roll again.
Rome wasn’t built in a day
So if it’s that easy why is everyone not doing it? Why are there so many people who are sad, angry, conflicted, worried, in despair or who are depressed? Choosing what you focus on takes practice and self-control.
Most people regret their actions after reacting to circumstances, but often think clearly about it later and realise they could have handled it differently.
How about pausing and thinking about it first and acting later. Of course controlling your emotions takes some getting used to but it is worth your time, and money to learn.
The good thing is that it is something that you can teach yourself.
Days are not the same, obviously, but if you can have more days when you sing in the shower than cry in it then your life is headed in the right direction.
If you still lie awake unsatisfied and angry every end of the day you might want to practice some self-love.
When you feel unsatisfied what does that do to your spirit, feelings and your body? When you are angry what happens to your body, your breath, your heartbeat? Before you beat someone how do you feel? If you ponder on it honestly, you will note that the negative feelings affect you more than those you think you are inflicting pain on.
It’s more like the “drinking poison and expecting someone else to die from it” scenario.
If you were to be aware of that, you would stop complaining and you would treat others with respect because whatever you do to others affects you more.
Love yourself enough to create that environment that you would like to thrive in.
Smile often, even though you feel like crying, laugh more and look at others with positive expectation and watch how the world will smile back and show you positivity.
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