Editor’s Note: Post originally published on November 5, 2019.
Growing up, I enjoyed constructing blanket forts in the living room or playing under the deck with my siblings in our dirt-laden bunker. Something about forts invokes nostalgia. Security and strength also are words that immediately come to my mind when I think of fort [and fortresses].
Over the past few years, I have noticed an increased anxiety, not only from myself, but from society as a whole. Americans enjoy the pleasure of living in a wealthy and free society—privileges not afforded in other places and times.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on June 26, 2019 but the power of gratitude still remains relevant.
Today started out much like a normal day. I woke up. Ate breakfast. Got ready for work. Arriving at work, I encountered a lot of negativity. Frustration from customers. Lack of understanding from co-workers. Dullness, dreariness, pessimism besieged me.
My ego weakened and trust damaged I felt like giving up. Something provoked me to pause. Wait. Think it through. To fight back.
Gratitude caused me to push back against the negativity. Pulling out a post-it notes I quickly jotted a ton of things (ability to write, family, life, job, pens, calculator). Most of these were blessings immediately in front of me. I soon relearned that I have much to be thankful.
Stopping to reflect on my blessings put distance between myself and the negativity. Recognizing all the things large and small I have to be grateful for proved to be the turning point in my day.
Gratitude is the greatest weapon to defeat negativity. If you are encountering pessimism daily, at work or home, please don’t despair. Think about the blessings in your life great and small. Thanksgiving will help dispel the storm.
💡Positivity tip—Create a positivity archive or arsenal to utilize on your worst days.
Negativity on social media is everywhere. It’s easy to get sucked into the storm.
🔷 Reading comments of a gossipy thread.
🔶 Trolls posting hurtful things about you.
🔷 Falling victim to comparing yourself to others.
The list goes on and on.
Because negativity sticks in our mind longer we need to battle it with more positive things.Our Enemy enjoys bringing us down with negativity. It is important to know you can fight back. Kindness kills cruelty.
Here are a few ways I collect things for my positivity email folder 📁 archive/arsenal:
🔆 Save thank you emails from clients, customers, friends, or family.
🔆 Screenshot positive comments where a person compliments you & email to yourself.
🔆 Keep inspirational quotes—authors such as Maya Angelou, Simon Sinek, & C.S. Lewis provide me keen insights.
🔆 Copy/paste an uplifting DM you received.
🔆 Include humor—send yourself funny and witty memes, pictures, gifs, or videos.
My wife always sends me memes from our favorite television show—The Office—to get me to laugh during a tough day.
