A Xmas Surprise from the Boss!

When I was young, my mother had a hair salon in the top floor of our home. On the mirror in it, was a bumper sticker stating, “look for the good and praise it”.

It wasn’t until a few decades later, after being unceremoniously dumped by the so-called love of my life, that that phrase came back to mind and I began to understand and even embrace it. It’s a mantra for me.

When you’re feeling low, for whatever reason, whether it’s being single, being jobless, being overweight, losing a loved one, or simply because it’s January – it’s hard to see the good. I know, but I believe that in every seemingly “bad” situation, the seed of good is lurking. Always. It may be well hidden, it make take a while to see it, but it’s surely there.

As a result of that particular break up more than a decade ago now, I’ve become a more positive person. I can honestly now find the positives in just about any so-called negative. It’s become second nature to look for them almost immediately now too.

So when someone cancels last minute on me, after a moment of anger or disappointment, I immediately switch my focus to something positive that come out of the cancellation.

Great, I say to myself, I can read that chapter I wanted to read. I can hit the gym. I can call someone else to meet up with or simply chat to. Whatever.

So if you’re currently struggling, for any reason, pause, shift your focus to what possible good could be lurking underneath it all. All too often we fixate on “how bad” everything is – completely oblivious to the good that is actually present.

I got news for you sometime (more often than not) being left by the person we loved can be the absolute best thing that ever happened to us but of course it doesn’t feel like it at the time. I know.

Treat Yourself to Something Good

CALENDAR OF GREATS!

 Yesterday I bought a new Scotland calendar with big boxes. My intention is to write down any and all great things that happen in the day on it.

On my calendar of greatness, it could be someone paid me a compliment, or sent me a card, or that I met someone interesting (either personal or professionally speaking!)

It could be that I finally managed to get my butt down to the gym (I just did today and would you believe that it was shut? But the good that came out of that is that the inspiration to write this blog arose. Plus I decided to make soup in my underused slow cooker!) So really it could be anything.

So humor me a little will you? Try it for a week. Write down once a day something great that happened to you. It could be something as simple as “I didn’t cry”. Or “I didn’t drink alcohol”. It might be that someone paid you a compliment, sent you a card, or called you up just to see how you were.It could be you went to see a great film, band or play.

What you’ll likely find is the more you look for the “good” the more you’ll find it. Remember big or small, find them.

TODAY’S GREAT STUFF

Even though it’s only noon, mine will be:

1) Wrote this blog (it takes a lot of effort for me to sit and write them these days)
2) Sold an iPad1 on eBay (it’s ending tonight, but has several bids and like 40 watchers!)
3) Went to the gym (even if it wasn’t open!)
4) Discovered a new, inspiring TV show “The Mentor” on Bloomberg.
5) Made carrot soup in my slow cooker

These things may not seem “good” to you – but it doesn’t really matter. Perspective is a mirror not a fact. What’s good is subjective. It only matters that YOU think it’s good!

Feel free to post on the comments below any good things that happen to you today! I’d  really love to hear them. Thanks for reading.

Remember “Look for the good and praise it”. I leave you with a poem from William Arthur Ward by that same title.

In everything the good is there; our goal is to find it.

In every person the best is there; our job is to recognize it.

In every situation the positive is there; our
opportunity is to see it.

In every problem the answer is there; our responsibility is to provide it.

In every setback the victory is there; our task is to claim it.

In every adversity the blessing is there; our
adventure is to discover it.

In every crisis the reason is there; our challenge is to  understand it.

Be different, be original, be unique …

Look for the good and praise it!