How to Stay Positive

...in a world that tries to drag you down

This has been the question that pops up so frequently in conversation with me.

How do you stay so positive?

Let me honestly answer this one for you. I mean, that's why you come here? Right? To receive HONEST feedback? Trust and believe I am not a 'positive patty' and my former cheerleader self isn't on queue ready to be cast out into the world! Can I just say, boy do I WISH! I say that and would probably get sick of myself for always being so gosh darn positive! There's that tricky catch-22.

I find that I cannot sleep, more often than not, because I'm stuck in the period of rumination. Hence, this morning. My sleep neurologist says that I should be reading a book OFF SCREEN in these moments, but I felt the need to share these thoughts with you. I won't tell if you don't!

Ruminating thoughts are often 'negative' thoughts. You tend to think about the past and all the things you could have, or should have, done to make the outcome different.

I am here to say that these ruminating thoughts can be turned around. You can turn these thoughts into POSITIVE thoughts. You have that CHOICE. I know what negativity does to me physically (run into walls, slur my speech, tired as all get out); so, I step out to make that choice to have only positivity in my life.

John 1:5 states that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.

We can then go into Matthew 5:15 that states people do not light a lamp to put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on a table to light the way for everyone.

No, those were not verbatim so please get out your bible to read the exact wording!

These passages talk about being followers of Christ and a light to the world, spreading God's word.

Essentially, YOU have a choice.

Set those boundaries to EVERYONE near and dear to you.

If anyone chooses not to respect those boundaries? Then YOU can simply cut off ties and not feel guilty for doing so. Remember YOU have a choice. But so do they.

Do NOT let those ruminating thoughts dictate your day.

Think about those thoughts for a minute, as they are a part of you. But ONLY give them a minute. You can change those thoughts very quickly! Turn them into something positive and GOOD. Give those thoughts a name, if you'd like, and kindly escort them out of your house. Doing things physically helps my mind to truly process the thoughts.

I am sure, by now, you see where I get my positivity. I get it from my Father's word. I sit in what I hear, ask questions, and become a light. I study what I am led to. It almost becomes a mildly obsessive routine of mine. I also have a permanently damaged frontal lobe, so my emotions, judgement, executive functioning, overall thoughts...really what I'm getting at is everything that makes you, YOU...are damaged to an extent! The "obsessive" act of studying the scripture, and I mean STUDY, is what the outcome is for me. To be honest, I'm okay with that! As I say, I could have worse impulses or obsessions! The fact that everything goes back to my Father, still amazes me to this day.

In the beginning, I could have chosen to disobey my Father. But my oh my, I can't even think what state I would be in now! I could very well be sitting in a corner, balled up, rocking back and forth, unable to speak the thoughts pouring into my mind.

See? It all comes back to YOU. YOU have a choice... always. Be kind to yourself. Do yourself a HUGE favor and choose the light of positivity. It's not easy to do and I am not going to pretend that it is easy. I have many days where I let the thoughts of the past (as in two years) get to me and I want to just stay curled up in my bed all day long. I also know that I have a choice to make. What is the best choice for my overall health and mental well-being?

DRAGGING MYSELF OUT OF BED.

I instantly feel better about that choice. Perhaps to some I may 'seem' overly positive. I may 'seem' like I let it control every aspect of my life. Truth is, I'm not and I don't. I always make a choice. Stay positive friends.

xo, Jess