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So you made some new year’s resolutions, and have already fallen off the wagon. Or maybe you are one of those people who “don’t believe” in resolutions, so you didn’t change anything in the first place. The end of January can bring a serious slump when reality meets good intentions, and the positive energy I saw on social media at the beginning of the year is already giving way to negative.
I can’t stand having negative energy and people around me, because it instantly feels like all the air has been sucked out of the room, and it drastically affects my own perspective.
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Positivity is a choice, but there are definitely things we can do help keep our minds in that space. I have been doing some intentional things to keep the toxic stuff out of my life and head, and let the positive stuff in.
Positive Mornings
I recently read the book The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, which promises to transform your life before 8 AM. He touts the benefit of starting your day off with personal development, and working on the most important areas of our lives like our health, our spiritual life, etc. I am NOT a morning person, but I really do see the power in this morning ritual! I don’t often exercise because I don’t have time, or I miss my daily Bible reading because something else comes up. By getting up an hour earlier and kicking these important habits out, not only am I guaranteed to get them done, I start my day refreshed, and ready to go.
Removing Toxic Elements
This may seem like common sense, but getting rid of negative people and circumstances in our lives is the number one way to have a more positive life. Something that has really hit home for me this year is that if you aren’t happy with something – change it! Do you dread going to work every day? Then get a different job – seriously! I have allowed fear to hold me back from making changes, and I was miserable for a lot longer than I needed to be. Sure, it was scary quitting my job and working for myself when I was the main breadwinner, but I have been rewarded with a fulfilling, less stressful life, and now I can’t believe how many years I wasted being unhappy.
Sometimes a toxic element can come in the form of a person. Be it a family member, neighbor, or whoever, it can seem like you are “stuck” with their toxicity. Establishing healthy boundaries isn’t only good for your sanity – in the long run it it good for the health of your relationship, too. I highly recommend the book Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud if this is a situation you are dealing with.
Keep a Journal
If there is a situation or event that is upsetting to you and you can’t get past it, try writing it down! There is actual science behind the theory that writing things down can be a healthy way to work through those emotions. I use my bullet journal to document situations, and as I flip back through and read some of my writing, its amazing how angry or upset I might have been about something, but by the end of the entry I have worked through it.
Positive Music
A couple of years ago my daughter and I were in the car, singing along to the radio. As I listened to the words coming out of my daughter’s mouth, I was horrified. Inappropriate! Now, I’m no prude, and I don’t think there is anything wrong with listening to all types of music, but the experience really got me thinking about the quality of media I was filling my mind with.
Now, we predominantly listen to praise and worship music, especially in the car. Not only do I not have to worry about questionable content, it really makes my heart smile to hear my kids belting out words like, “let the walls come down in Jesus’ name, let the lost be found in Jesus’ name.”
I was recently given a copy of the new Passion album, Salvation’s Tide is rising, that releases January 29. It has been in regular rotation on my iTunes and has songs from Kristian Stanfill, David Crowder, Matt Redman, etc. The Passion movement was founded by Louis Giglio and has been producing worship albums since 1998. The recurring theme in this years’ offering comes from Isaiah 26:8:
We wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
I usually find myself skipping through tracks on albums like this, to get to the one or two “good songs,” but this entire album is amazing from beginning to end.
Your grace amazes me
Where else could I go? Where else could I run but Your arms
There’s no height, no depth You can’t reach
and nothing in this world could ever come between us
Jesus I am Yours
Your grace amazes me
I’d love for you to have some positive music to add to your playlist, so enter to win a copy of this CD in the widget below! I think winning it before you can buy it is a positive!
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
Is your 2016 still on a positive note? What things are you doing to keep it that way?
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