An excerpt from the book, Living life as You Always Dreamed
There is quite a difference between concern and worry when it comes to the way you handle day-to-day life and the obstacles that occur along the way.
A problem-focused mentality, which is called Murphy Law Syndrome, worries and sees your obstacles in the form of problems. This can cause ego struggles and pain. This leads to greater fears, limitations, self-doubt, negativity, judging, powerless words, time pressures, and more problems. You continually focus on it by dwelling on the obstacles and playing the self-pity game. You find yourself constantly complaining, blaming, moaning and groaning, forming a domino effect in all areas of your life.
Your attitude becomes negative to the point where you are not willing to let go of the struggles and attempt to control the situation. Due to a persistent negativity, you are unable to let go of the constant thoughts and complaining and relax. You feel stuck and unable to become proactive and resolve the problem. You feel like a victim.
The more you worry, the more your attitude is affected negatively. It has been medically proven that a negative attitude affects your health. One can manifest depression, headaches, ulcers, colds, heart attacks, and even cancer because you are repressing your emotions and thoughts in a negative way. These repressed thoughts and emotions are in the form of negative energy. When these negative energies are stored in your body and are not released, the body reacts by getting ill.
The following come from a non-positive attitude:
- You focus on what you do not want.
- You focus on doing in order to control some outcome.
- You focus is on negative results.
- Your emphasis is on what you do not want.
- You end up attracting more problems.
- You have conflicts, frustrations, fears, etc.
- The results are procrastination and/or quitting.
- You feel out of control and powerless.
When you perceive your obstacles as challenges, you experience feelings of concern rather than worry. You focus on your obstacles and life with a “serendipity attitude.” You choose peace, love, joy, prosperity and well-being. You choose to live life being love, joyful and peaceful. You are proactive and look for solutions that support overall well-being and harmonious peace for all concerned, not just for yourself. You know the challenges that you face are not permanent and that there are lessons to learn. Your attitude is positive because you look at challenges as opportunities for growth, and you focus on being in the present moment with gratitude.
The more you accept life for what it is and what it is not, the greater inner peace, joy and love you experience. From that place, you are better suited to know how to live a proactive life that allows you to enjoy life rather than just live. You enjoy the simple things that life offers, such as nature, laughter, the affection of animals, reading a book, and taking a walk. By realizing that you don’t have to do something to have greater peace, love or a positive attitude, you enjoy life more. “Doing” in order to “have” joy, love and peace is looking outside for what you seek. All that is necessary is to go inside and choose to be at peace, to be happy, to experience inner love. Thinking grateful thoughts supports a positive attitude. Feeling appreciation supports joyful living. Gratitude and appreciation are the means of moving your consciousness and emotions away from what is making you unhappy and towards the choice to BE happy.
Here is what results from a positive attitude:
- You focus on what you would enjoy.
- You choose to be joyful, peaceful and loving.
- Your emphasis is on positivity and opportunities.
- You receive insights and innovative ideas.
- You attract people who are supportive and caring.
When you compare the two lists — results from a non-positive attitude and from a positive attitude — you can see it takes fewer steps and far less invested energy to create intentions when you have a positive attitude than when you try to control outcomes with a negative attitude. To enhance a positive attitude, it is imperative to take responsibility for your life. You alone are responsible for your happiness and well-being. It is important for you to truly know who you are and what makes you happy.
By being happy, you will create a more fulfilling life. Doing something in order to BE happy is backwards. Being happy — and claiming it and choosing it — provides more effective decision making. Mistakes will occur along the way, yet they won’t be perceived as failures to blame on yourself or someone else. Rather, see them as opportunities to grow, mature and develop more wisdom. Release those feelings and thoughts that are not caring or do not have compassion toward another. Accept and choose peace versus trying to figure out or understand the reason. Use discernment rather than judgment. Avoid personalizing, so your attitude is not affected by any possible unfavorable behaviors.
When you take better care of yourself, you enjoy life more. Your attitude says, “I choose to live life and I would rather enjoy life than worry about it.” By taking responsibility for your life and the obstacles you face, the decisions you make are more productive. Your life is run by what brings you happiness and well-being, because you know you deserve it. You assert in a responding manner with conviction and compassion, rather than becoming reactive with unpleasant feelings and thoughts on situations and other people.
Having a positive attitude includes balancing your life in all areas — family, friends, health, exercise, work, spiritual, education, and eating healthy. You enhance a positive attitude by trusting your intuition and allowing it to be your guide, rather than allowing fears and other outside sources to be your guide or tell you what is best for you.
