Reasons to be cheerful ... Part 3

It is in these exceptional times that we need to find ways to help each other out so that we can make it through these tough times. Here is a little something from me. I have had so many people ask me recently “Mark, how come you stay so positive or keep such a positive frame of mind?” Well, I have many secrets, which aren’t secrets at all, but I do have a strong mind and will which I apply to myself on a moment to moment basis … when I remember. 

It’s always worth remembering in the words of Robert Schuller that tough times never last but tough people do! But by tough we don’t mean fighting with the person in the aisle over the last packet of bog-roll (toilet paper to my more cultured readers, or arse wipe to the even-less cultured ones). No, like the Dalai Lama we really ought to be practising more compassion with our fellow humans. Fear is driving the behaviour of many people and all because they have lost contact with their true humanity. It is in there, I’m sure it will come out again.

But in these times of much uncertainty and unpredictability as we look outside ourselves to experts to solve our problems for us, maybe we could just take some time to give ourselves a check-up from the neck-up by keeping our own attitudes in check and don’t allow the media “free rent” in our heads! 

At those moments where I find myself being less than my positive optimistic self I take time to do this following exercise that was taught to me some time ago by a spiritual mentor … See how long it takes to start to shift your emotions and eventually your mind and your thinking, which in turn effects your emotions, which has the overall effect of strengthening your immune system … what a beautifully virtuous cycle! It takes just five minutes; I’m sure right now you have five minutes to spare yourself the drama and instead create some positivity for yourself and those around you. 

A rampage of appreciation

Take a moment to clear your mind, take a few deep breaths. Now look around you, what can you feel mild appreciation for? Is it your partner? Your dog or your cat? Is it the fact that the sun is shining today? Is it the birds singing or the spring blossoms coming forth? Whatever it is say “I appreciate the …”, say it loud so you can hear yourself; now stay with the appreciation for 10-20 seconds and then find something else to appreciate … repeat the sentence of appreciation. What you should find is that very quickly your emotion starts to shift in a positive direction, which in turn brings to your mind another thing to be appreciative of, which brings about more positive emotion and so on.

I hope this helps.  Let me know ...

I have by way of appreciating others out there included a list of positive people that I have worked with in the past as part of the comments section below. If you would like to appreciate someone else too, then please feel free to pass this positive exercise on and on, we all need it right now, don’t you agree?