Who here has had a bad day? How about a bad month...year? Who has wanted to completely shut down and give up? I bet you have a million reasons why you can't accomplish what you want to or it just won't work. Guess what! You're human. You're not alone at all! But, you know what? Your ONE reason to keep going has to be your focus. You may trip and fall, but your willingness to get back up is what is going to determine whether or not you get to where you're going. Everyone is on their own unique journey. Some are longer and slow than others, but the speed of something isn't what makes it meaningful. Anything worth doing is going to have obstacles, but those tests are the things you have to go through to show yourself that what you are working towards is worth it!
I am an over-thinker in the most extreme sense. I am an empath, a giver, and an introvert. Days like these make me want to curl up into a ball and give up, but its the way we respond to days like these that defines us. Happiness is a choice. I started to just sit and feel sorry for myself, but what would come of that? We have to choose joy!
So, here is a little trick. This is what I do when I start feeling sorry for myself, and it works!
Ready?
Count your blessings!
YES, I'm serious. It sounds cliche, but gratitude is the secret to a joyful life. If we shift our minds to see the good in every situation, we invite so much peace into our life.
Here is my list today!
Both of my kids have the flu, strain A. Strain A is the milder strain. I am blessed to be a stay at home mom and to be able to give them the time and attention they need. I am thankful that they need me, want me. I'm soaking in every second I get to love on them.
My house is under construction right now. I am so blessed to have a hard-working husband who is willing to spend every waking hour trying to make our lives better. I am thankful for our home.
I have to go outside and through our garage to get to the washer and dryer. I am SO blessed to have a laundry room, running water, electricity, clothes for my family. We lack nothing. What a ridiculous thing for me to complain about, right?
My sister had to cancel her visit to come see me because the kids are sick. I'm blessed that she is flexible, and we will get together eventually. We didn't spread the flu to her family.
The dust barricade came open twice, and my entire upstairs was covered in sheetrock and plaster dust. I am so blessed that I had extra motivation to get my spring cleaning done early, and scrub away some of the ick that has undoubtedly come into our home with this sickness. Im tired, but my house is clean! Worth it.
I had an opportunity to second shoot at OBX, and I wasn't able to confirm quickly enough and lost my opportunity. This was straw that broke the camel's back today. The moment I found out my pitiful, feverish daughter crawled into my lap crying and told me she "felt like frow up" with her red cheeks and bloodshot eyes, and I cried with her! I was blessed to be considered. This wasn't my first opportunity, and it won't be my last. Its a bummer, but its not a big deal. Im thankful that its ok to cry! Sometimes you have to let it out!
When I write it all out, it seems so trivial and temporary. I am SO fortunate. Today, I choose joy! I challenge you to do the same. Odds are the good in your life drastically outweighs the bad. Be blessed, friends!
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 NIV