Be Positive…
I asked a student recently, “What skill would you like to work on in the next few weeks?” She thought for a few moments and then said these two words, “Be positive.”
Dang! I highly doubt most others would probably have the reaction I had to these two words, but this girl’s simple answer shook my world. My life has been going pretty well recently and there are LOTS of things in my personal life about which I can feel positive and good. This has NOT always been the case… definitely! There have been MANY times in my life when I have found it VERY DIFFICULT to find ANYTHING positive in this world.
Hearing these two words from this beautiful, young girl made me realize something REALLY important. Being positive IS a skill! It takes work and constant conscientious effort. It requires self-monitoring and self-knowledge and it requires action and perseverance and doing things even though we really might not want to so much at any given moment. It requires friends and family and people to help us out along the way. It requires a little luck and often a tremendous amount of hard-earned knowledge. It requires a constant pursuit and it is never guaranteed, but if you can attain it in this life, there are few better “gifts” this world can offer.
It is not for free. Nothing good in this world is for free, but it is a skill each of us can attain. Be positive. It is worth it!
No matter what, being positive has always been important in my life. I agree, it’s definitely not always easy. A person’s outlook or reaction to any given situation has direct implications on personal feelings as well as a significant impact on those around them. I think her goal is supremely worthy!
YUP! I couldn’t agree more, Betsy! And I think it is even more admirable when you NEED to fight to be positive, right? It is fairly easy when things are going well and life is basically as we need it… but when heck hits the fan and things fall apart in a big way… then what happens? I just really appreciate this girl reminding me very simply that life takes WORK!!! It is not meant to be easy… LIFE REQUIRES EFFORT… ALWAYS… and if we truly do want to be positive or happy or contented or whatever… it REQUIRES EXTRA effort… such a good, simply lesson!