Day 26- Is Your Glass Half Full Or Half Empty?

Is you glass half full or half empty?  Do you tend to focus on the negative aspects of life rather then the positive?  If you are a negative thinker, this could be bringing you down more then you know.  Earlier in this series I wrote about attitude.  How we, as moms, can set the tone for the whole family by being in a good mood.  But what about when something bad happens or we have situations in our life that really bring us down and wear us out?  We have the ability to create our own reality.  Are we going to focus on the negatives or choose to see the good that can come out of it?

I know in the middle of a "storm," it can be really hard to see the silver lining, but  here are some tips to help keep your perspective in check.

1.  Remember there is a season for everything- when you have a house full of babies and toddlers just realize your house will usually stay messy, you won't get much sleep and most days you will feel like you have been hit by a mac truck.  Once you come to terms with the phase of life you are in, it is easier to realize IT IS A PHASE, IT WILL BE OVER AT SOME POINT.  I have had a problem, my whole life, of wishing I was in the next phase of life.  When I was in high school, I wanted to be in college, when I was a newlywed I wanted to be a mother.  I finally saw that way of thinking left me feeling unsatisfied with the season of life I was in.  Once I overcame this obstacle, it was a game changer for me. 

2.  Think about your words before you say them:  Do you find yourself making statements like "I have a killer headache and you never help out,"  or "The kids never listen to me and I'm sick of it,"  Chances are, you are over exaggerating.    By making overgeneralized statements like this it is another form of negative thinking.  Statements like these cause resentment and make the person receiving the words to feel threatened. Rephrasing those statements to, "Honey, I have a headache coming on and would love to lay down for 20 minutes, would you mind taking the kids out to play"  or "The kids are really struggling to listen to me, could we sit down with them and talk to them about it,"  can change the outcome of the situation.  

3.  Write down or say out loud what you are grateful for:  By writing down what you are thankful for, you are channeling positive energy around you.  Positive thoughts and happiness create more of the same. 

4.  Ask yourself what can you learn from this situation: If I go back and think about the most difficult times in my life, I ALWAYS see a lesson I learned from it.  Armed with this knowledge,  I suddenly am not so fearful of the future or obstacles that come my way.  I know I will come out of it a better person. 

5. "No one said it would be easy, but no one said it'd be this hard":  This is a quote from Sheryl Crow's song, of the same title.  I never realized how hard it was going to be to grow up.  When people said things like, "enjoy your childhood," I scoffed at them.  If I knew then, what I know now!  Life is tough, marriage is a lot of work and raising kids is like wearing your heart on your sleeve, but IT IS ALL WORTH IT!!!  The person I am becoming and growth I have experienced as a result of growing up has made me so appreciative of this wonderful life God has given me.

6.  Someone has tougher challenges to overcome:  I was taught this lesson about 4 years ago.  Growing up I had a good life, great parents, nice house, didn't want for much, life was easy.  Then, I became a mother to my second child and I suddenly faced some issues I had not planned for in my "ideal" life.  I often asked myself, "why me?"  "Why does my child have developmental concerns, why do I have to take my child to the doctor every month for medical testing."  In the mist of these hardships, my husband was transferred to a new job, in a new state.  In the new city we moved to, they had a preschool mixed with children with special needs and typical children.  For the first time, I was exposed to the harsh reality some parents are faced with.  Children, that will never walk, talk or see past their 5th birthday.  Parents faced with decisions about feeding tubes, wheelchairs, seizures and breathing machines.  My eyes were wide open to the fact that I had little too complain about, in regards to my child and his issues.  While it is true, my concerns and fears were real and matter to my family, my perspective switched gears to thankfulness and appreciation. No matter what your situation is, someone out there, has it a lot tougher then you I promise!

7.  God's plan is better then mine:  Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Who am I to argue with God, he says He wants me to prosper I better believe Him. 

What are some things you do to bring out the best in situations?

This is a 31 day series, to read more click here.

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