“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
Sometimes we look at something one day and appreciate its beauty. But when we look at it another day, we might barely noticing it. Perhaps we do notice it, but we only see its flaws. Meanwhile, the thing we’re looking at is still the same. Whether it’s something physically around us like nature and people or something intangible like life changes or a difficult situation, changing our perspective on things can be very powerful. As this quote by self-improvement author and speaker Wayne Dyer suggests, changing the way we look at something can almost change that thing itself.
Living Life Poetically: Rest for a Barren Heart
“Rest for a Barren Heart” isn’t the most uplifting poem; however, it is hopeful toward the end. It’s for all those times we go to bed feeling a bit under the weather after a bad day. While the body needs rest, so does the soul. Rest for a Barren Heart If I hug this pillow tightly, Would it give comfort to my heart?If I press it against my chest,Would it support a heart’s barren weight of sorrow?If on it a heavy mind can press its head for dreams to follow,Can an emptied soul press its heart to fill the hollow? Perhaps, I would fall asleepand wake up to a better tomorrow …
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.”
Most of us are familiar with the saying about looking at the glass half full or half empty. This anonymous quote is similar in its underlying message. The point is that we can take any event or circumstance and either see the positive or negative. We can complain about everything that’s wrong or try to see the silver lining. If we search hard enough, we will find a silver lining.
“In the end, everything will be okay. If it’s not okay, it’s not yet the end.”
When reading a book, we eventually come to its definitive end. We turn the final page of a story or series and there’s nothing more to be said. Typically, things end on a good note. There’s a sense of closure. Similarly this quote, by Fernando Sabino, reminds us that if everything’s not ok, we’ve not yet arrived at the end of our story. However, unlike a story book the pages of our story are indefinite. So when everything feels broken and we feel like we’ve reached our last page, we can remember that tomorrow’s always a new page.
“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.”
This quote is from the children’s book, The Secret of Saying Thanks, by Douglas Wood. In reading this book and quote, we are reminded that it’s impossible to be thankful and unhappy at the same time. That’s because gratitude has a way of bending our attitude toward happiness. And this is something we can begin to recognize at a young age. If it’s difficult to have gratitude, you can practice it by simply writing something you’re thankful for each day. Perhaps you challenge yourself to write something different each day. By the end of the year, you may surprise yourself with 365 different things to be thankful for and 365…
“Every day may not be a good day but there is good in every day.”
This quote, by Alice Morse Earle, reminds us that it’s important to first understand that every day may not be a good day. Some days bring bad news, disappointment, frustration, physical pain, or emotional distress. There is a host of life challenges out there. But while we understand every day may not be good, we should also understand that there is still good in every day. The two are not mutually exclusive. It is, in fact, possible to find good in not so good days. This realization can be somewhat liberating. We become less focussed on making life “perfect”–feeling constantly unhappy and disappointed. Instead, we’re more inclined to do our…
“Rise above the storm, and you will find the sunshine.”
When we look at a sky covered with thick dark clouds during one of those storms in the middle of the day, it’s easy to imagine the sun is no longer there or that it has ceased to shine for a moment. However, the sun is still there–shining no more nor no less. It’s only hidden. This quote, by Mario Fernández, reminds us to rise above the storm to find the sunshine. Literally speaking, that is exactly what we’d have to do to find it. Above the storm clouds carrying rain and lightning, the sun shines on. Figuratively speaking, the same applies to life. The simple joys and beauty of…
Going From “Have to” to “Get to”
There are quite a few things we feel we have to do in life—various responsibilities, commitments, and goals we set for ourselves. You might say “I have to” do this or that, or at least think it consciously or subconsciously. “I have to exercise”, “I have to eat healthy”, “I have to go to work”, “I have to volunteer”, “I have to do chores”, “I have to run errands”. The list goes on. But what if we replace the words “have to” with “get to” for all these things? What if we reimagine them with all the opportunities and possibilities they possess? What if we’re grateful to even have the…
PositLive Music: “Fight Song”
“Fight Song” Written by: Rachel Platten and Dave Bassett Released: February 19, 2015 Less than a year before this song’s release, singer-songwriter, Rachel Platten, was struggling to make it in the music industry. However, she found the strength to go on, as expressed in this song (Source). In short, it’s a song about hope and perseverance. Rachel recalls her struggle saying, “Ten months ago I was on a house concert tour in a van playing to like twenty or thirty people a night…I wrote the song when I was going through such a hard time, and I needed to remember to believe in myself” (Source). Select PositLive Music: Lyrical Playlist…
PositLive Music: “Better Days”
“Better Days” Written by: Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, and John Nathaniel Released: March 25, 2020 The writers of this song, including lead singer Ryan Tedder, were inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic (Source). The promise of “better days” is in the context of a global pandemic. However, the lyrics to the song can be applied to any situation in which we might feel helpless. This song is about having hope that better days will come whenever we’re faced with such situations. Select PositLive Music: Lyrical Playlist to view all playlist songs as they’re being added.Select Exploring New Ways to PositLive to read about the inspiration for PositLive Music. “Better Days” Sung…
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“Don’t start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday. Every day is a fresh start. Every morning we wake up is the first day of the rest of our life.”
Is There Such a Thing as Being Motivated for the Wrong Reasons?
“You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it.”
