Every Day, We Get to Choose

     One of the things I like most about a new day is that it's a new beginning.  A new chance.  A new opportunity.  On any given day I can completely alter the way I choose to relate to life.  Yesterday may have been a purely awful day, and I may have acted in some purely awful way to its challenges, but today is a new start, and I can throw off the old way of doing things and approach life with a new perspective.  How great is that?!
     I love being positive.  Shifting from a negative to a positive attitude gives me a sense of power over my circumstances.  Even when I can't change those circumstances I can change how I relate to them.  Viktor Frankl, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, wrote:  "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing:  the last of the human freedoms-- to chose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."  Think of it.  We get to decide how we will respond to whatever may be going on in our lives.  That is a very enabling thought.
     Handling unpleasant life experiences probably doesn't come naturally to most of us.  However, there are habits we can form that will assist us in getting through difficulties more successfully.  Here are some things that I do.  I think they can help you, too.

• Try to eliminate or at least reduce refined foods--especially sugary foods--from your diet.  They do not support you nutritionally, and sugar, especially, causes a lot of stress in your system.  Stevia is a totally natural sweetener that you can safely use when you want to sweeten a drink, oatmeal, yogurt, etc. It comes from the stevia plant and you only need a little because it is extremely sweet.  It also has no calories!

• Make it a habit to walk every day or to do a stress reducing exercise, like yoga.   
• Spend some time simply being quiet and still.  Arrange your day so that you have 15 minutes of alone time.  This can be first thing in the morning, last thing at night, while the baby is napping--any time you can fit it in.  Quiet your mind and empty it of any unhappy or contentious thoughts.  Allow yourself to breathe deeply and be still.
• Get out in nature as often as you can.  Being surrounded by trees, grass and flowers has a very calming affect on the body and mind.

• If you live near the beach or a waterfall, walk in that environment daily, if possible.  The air around moving water is filled with negatively charged ions that have a deeply calming, yet energizing, affect on the body and mind. http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/negative-ions-create-positive-vibes  By contrast, computers, televisions, air conditioning, traffic and many other things that surround us in our daily lives emit positively charged ions that can sap our energy and make us feel tired and listless.  High concentrations of negative ions have, in fact, been found to help us feel more energetic and have more positive moods. 

     If we can get into the habit of doing two or three of the things mentioned above, we will find that our whole being is generally calm and at peace.  When difficult days do arise--as they inevitably will--we will be better prepared to handle them.  And should we have an occasional bad day, we will more readily be able to shift our perspective and choose a more pleasant attitude.
     It is such a blessing to know we have the freedom to choose how we will relate to life.  No matter what is going on, we get to make that choice.  And having some effective ways of relaxing our mind and body only makes it better, because engaging in those calming activities just feels so good!


TODAY'S AWESOME BLESSING:          WATCHING  MY HUSBAND  WALK,  TALK  AND  ACT  LIKE  HE'S FEELING  BETTER.   I  AM  SO  GRATEFUL  WHEN  HE HAS  A  GOOD  DAY,  AND  I  CAN  TELL  HE  IS  ENJOYING  LIFE!