I can't say things in my life have gotten worse over the years...I live a pretty steady existence. We have a good income, enjoy the fruits of our labor and have a very stable homelife full of love. But it hasn't always been easy. Most of our issues over the years, stemmed from financial issues...mostly with me finding a good job that I liked every time we moved. It really gets to be frustrating to renegotiate from a $50k+ salary to begging for $30k a year. But the stress I have now is mostly things I can't control, and apparently I am a control freak.
So last night...I am laying in bed (where I do my best thinking) and I had a particularly draining issue arise with a former friend. I have chosen to cut this person out of my life, along with another one because they were bringing lots of negative energy my way. It had me all riled up and I was starting to feel very anxious. Then a commercial for the HGTV Dream Home came on, and I started thinking about how nice it would be to win. As I laid there, daydreaming about what I would do with the dough...I realized that the anxiety was lifting off my chest. I felt the weight come right off. Just thinking about something positive made me feel so much better, and so relaxed that I drifted off to sleep.
This got me thinking...maybe there IS something to this "power of positive thinking" and "laws of attraction". Okay, maybe that was taking it a little too far...I am still waaaayyy too dark to believe that you can get something just by willing it to happen. If that was the case, I would have married Donnie Wahlberg at age 10 (he was 17. I loved me some NKOTB.) But in any case, if thinking positively and having that element of hope could make me feel better...then at least it would alleviate some of my anxieties and relax.
Don't worry..I'm not getting all "zen" on you. It's not like I'm about to get up and start doing Yoga. (There is little risk of me getting up to do anything other than get more coffee!)
But I am going to start my "3 Weeks of Positivity" experiment. Every time I start to have a negative thought...I will revert myself to thinking about something good. I know..it's a little bit too "rainbows and puppy dogs"...but those positive thoughts might just be the margaritas I am going to enjoy in St Lucia! (There is ALWAYS a way to spin it!)
If you are so inclined...do it with me. I will report back on Fridays to see what the results are.
Have a great weekend!
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That is such a great idea! Normally, I'm optimistic, but when a negative idea hits, I usually keep thinking about it until it drags my whole mood down. I will definitely try to do it with you (even if my happy thought isn't as cool as St. Lucia!). :)
ReplyDeleteI do that on a regular basis and it works for me.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a hoot! Keep on writing because I am loving your style. Your humor will see you through. That and the drugs.
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! All out of the good, mood-altering drugs. I'm going au natural for now. Trying to find alternative forms of treatment for anxiety since they seem to only keep me down and not bring me up.
ReplyDeleteI'm in!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and I am in like Flynn! I too am watching a toxic friendship dwindle/crack/slither away and I know it's for the best but it's still painful. Thanks for the perspective and the positive vibes, man.
ReplyDeletelol NKOTB. I wanted to marry Jordan, I was 13 lol. Not surprisingly that is what I got out of your post. You sent me reminiscing and I forgot the rest. Oh, apparently I forgot what my previous bout of anxiety was about as well. Cheers!!
ReplyDeleteI started giving to homeless, letting people cut in front of me, and not slamming my horn at crazy drivers. I wanted good karma to come my way to get out of my hell job.
ReplyDeleteWhat actually happened was that I was stopped going 85 mph on a highway of 65 mph. I sucked it up that I deserved the ticket and made no attempts to squiggle my way out of it. The officer let me go with warning!
By the way, I had no make up on, so it had nothing to do w/ my looks.
Maybe I'll go back to doing this.
I LOVE this idea. Ok, I'm totally in. I totally let the negative thoughts overwhelm me. Even today. But, after reading this post, I took a minute just to think about something positive, and it made me feel a lot better. I noticed my shoulders going down just a little (I keep my tension in my shoulders and they tend to raise up when I'm stressed.)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the inspiration.
Sounds like one heck of a plan to me! I think more of us need to do this. In this life, the anxiety is enough to drive me to the fully padded room. So maybe this challenge will help out.
ReplyDeleteI love love love your blogs. They have a tendency to make me giggle at random moments, making the people in my general vicinity question whether or not I have finally, truly lost it. ITS GREAT!!!!1
Did you write this about me? C'mon, admit it, you were totally in my head!
ReplyDeleteI love what you had to say and I have been trying my best to do RAK's (random acts of kindness) for a while, but you really revealed the reason WHY I was doing it.
{great post}
http://rawpotatoes.blogspot.com/
awe, this is great and has brought a lot to my life, I LOVE positive thinking and DO believe in attracting that which you put your attention to AND work for :) Love this post and your dark sarcastic tongue, though you shine more light than you probably know :) AND I share your frustration of finding a job you love then having to leave..then being stressed about finances, but NOT because of YOUR doing or lack hard work... it can be a vicious cycle... that's why we write right? ;) xo
ReplyDeleteFellow control freak here, who would also love to be more positive - I'll join you in experimenting in being optomistic! Can't hurt, can it?
ReplyDeleteFollowing you from blog frog - jump by mine if you get a chance!
http://www.whoopsidaisy-tonya.blogspot.com/