Because mere positivity doesn’t help you get out of a rut
By Xenia S. Estrella
Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“On particularly rough days when I’m sure I can’t possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for going through bad days so far is 100%, and that’s pretty good.” – Vinny Genovesi
“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” – Bruce Lee
Aahhh… the power of positive thinking. Everyone really needs to give into this concept. It’s always better to see things as happening “for you”, not “to you”, simply because, it’s true! If you seriously think about it, great lessons always come out of any given situation (ok, they don’t have to be great all the time, but you get my point). What you do with these lessons is crucial. See, positivity quotes can only go so far. They’re great for inspiration; these can always bring about “a-ha!”, and feel good moments, which are very good. These feelings are all that it’s gonna be for you, though, if all you do is collect quotes.
I re-read Robert Kiyosaki’s book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, just the other week. I remember going through it for the first time in the early 2000’s and I gained a lot of insight. I may or may not have constantly followed every financial tactic he shared there all these years, but the key points he made throughout the book definitely made a huge impact in the way I think about life.
Positivity is good but not moving to get better will just allow you to slump back.
Problems and obstacles come with being alive. Times may be difficult when you have burdens to carry but there is always hope unless you refuse to accept your pain, stop persevering to work through it and give up. Holding on to a spark; trying hard to get better because you tell yourself good times are coming, will help you endure pain, find solutions and bring about healing.
Life pushing you around is life talking to you.
“Nothing good ever happens to me!”, or, “Why does God hate me so much!”, are merely exclamations supposedly made in sarcasm and, really, should not be given much thought. However. If you say these lines to mean them from your heart, my friend, STOP. You’re getting yourself in deeper trouble. You gotta see things from a different point of view. Why? Because, we make choices everyday.
Let me give you some examples:
A broken heart? You can choose to cry for a while (maybe three months to a year?), then bury that source of bitterness, in your head (seriously imagine. Picture the coffin actually going underground!) and move on to be a better you, after;
Are finances limited? You can choose to be thankful for the lousy-paying job that you have right now. Open yourself up and be ready for the possibility to receive a better-paying job soon, while devouring materials online during your free time (or time that you might need to consciously make for yourself) to learn a new skill or hone a passion that can help you earn more in the future, too;
Are you having difficulty accepting a sickness, whether your own or in the family? Still, cry. It’s ok. Being in that kind of a situation is understandably heartbreaking. But after your moments with tears, you can choose to find the strength in your heart to bravely carry your cross and do everything in your power to overcome. Read books, watch and learn from documentaries, seek help.
We all have tremendous potential. We all are blessed with gifts. There’s just a lack of confidence. Some, more than others.
Positivity is a gift that can bring out your full potential. You are able to accept circumstances because of it. You are able to get through each day with this powerful tool. Be careful about complacency, because positivity alone cannot change outcomes. It is not a magic pill that can suddenly shift circumstances to bring about changes in your life. Positivity gets you through your day’s fears and anxieties, but you’ll still be fearful and anxious tomorrow which positivity will help you get through again. It is not enough to get by, though. In order to use the gifts you are blessed with; in order to reach your full potential, you have to decide to take action. You can be hopeful and patient as much as you want but actual changes won’t happen if that’s all you got. So, face that fear; get past your insecurities. Know that everybody has his own ‘vulnerable moments’; winners just don’t allow such moments to define them. You are a winner. Push yourself to go beyond what’s comfortable and do what you need in order to see actual changes in your life results.
Life isn’t fair and you expecting it to run against its true nature, for you, is only gonna leave you feeling so defeated. That’s why, you have to see your power. You have to realize that amidst all this chaos you have it in you to move, even just one step at a time, to conquer your fears and ultimately live the kind of happy life that you deserve. For sure.
See more of Xenia, at https://xeniae.com
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