Look for the Positive!

Someone special in my life told me today to try to look for the positive. She told me this because she knows it's not something I have a habit of doing.

So every where I can, I'm writing this on a post-it, in attempts to constantly remind myself of this goal. It may sound simple to some, but for me it isn't. I'm often pretty hard on myself, focusing on the negative and ignoring the positive. (I say "ignoring" but honestly, I don't even see it half the time.)

Just to give you an example, for a week now I have been tempted to pay something for someone just because they won't do it for themselves. However, every time I'd pick up that phone to pay, I'd hang up. It's not that I don't want to help people, because I do. It's that I have to set boundaries and know that people usually learn the hard way. But here I was beating myself up for even having the thought of paying this persons bill. She pointed out that I should be proud of myself that I had the temptation and beat it, several times. What's funny is that I hadn't even thought of it that way until she brought it to my attention. The negative thoughts come pretty automatic for me.

So, as I'm trying to look for the positive today, I decided to make a list. Here is a list of 5 of the positive things I've done or that have gone on around me today that I normally wouldn't even notice or give myself credit for.

1. I went paperless today on one of my bills to save the trees!
2. I brought coupons to work that I normally would have thrown away at home so others could use them.
3. I sent my grandparents a 'thank you' card....in the mail. :) (Although not paperless, personal correspondence is always nice to get. Beats email any day!)
4. I beat the temptation of fast food on the way in to work today and ate what I had brought.
5. I beat the temptation of coffee and have only been drinking water today.

I know it may seem silly, but when you try to think of things to write down, it sure does make you feel better. :)

Why don't you try it? Make a list of 3-5 positive things that have happened today. Let me know if you do. I would love to hear them all.