It’s easy to become discouraged during hard
times, especially if you aren’t financially stable.
Increased problems, such as job insecurity, fear
of the unknown, and everyday stress, can lead to
anxiety and depression.
When so much is out of your hands, it’s
important to remember what is in your control.
Positive thinking is a strong force everyone can
tap into. Do your thoughts nurture you and bring
you hope for your future? If not, create a
healthy belief system. Think uplifting thoughts,
choose uplifting feelings and focus on creative
ideas.
Toxic thoughts create toxic emotions. If you
think fear, you will feel fearful. If you think
you’re desperate, you will feel desperate. You
can set yourself up for a good life or a life of
failure. Here are some tips to help you with
thinking positively and dreaming about a happy
future, even in tough times. What do you have
to lose?
Choose determination over desperation. Think
of how you feel when you feel desperate, versus
when you’re determined. Living in fear, anxiety
and negativity will cause you to feel desperate
and lead you into a downward spiral. As long as
you have food, shelter and clothing, you aren’t
truly desperate. As long as you have family and
friends, you aren’t desperate. Determination, on
the other hand, offers hope. It’s necessary to
trust and embrace possibility. Yes, even in tough
times. Be determined to take persistent action
every day toward making your life better. Be
bold, and do whatever it takes.
Uplift yourself. Choose to listen to music, watch
comedies, watch old movies or play games.
There are a million ways you can spend time
lifting yourself up. Any time you engage in
something positive, you produce neuropeptides
that echo feelings of happiness, contentment,
excitement, joy and hope. When you do this,
your energy will change as well. Read
inspirational stories, listen to positive podcasts
or watch DVDs about people who have
overcome great obstacles. There is no difference
between them and you. Countless people have
survived war, the Depression and recessions,
and have literally lost everything. Yet they came
back stronger than ever, in all areas of their
lives.
Appreciate everything. Learn to live in a state
of gratitude. Acknowledge the value within and
the value without. When you are fretting and
fearful, stop and think of your best memories.
Dwell on them for a while, remembering the joy
and gratitude you felt. Bring those feelings into
the present moment. The more you
acknowledge gratitude, the happier you will become.
Gratitude heals. Your energy from this
exercise will bring you even more things to be
grateful for in the future. You can choose to
focus on what’s missing in your life…but what
you need instead is a solution. It’s not necessary
to have a new relationship, a new home or a
better job to be happy. You can choose
happiness now by choosing gratitude and
appreciation.
Learn to live with less. Most people blow their
needs out of proportion. No matter how much
stuff they have, there is an insatiable desire for
more. They live in a constant state of
dissatisfaction. When I was growing up I had one
pair of shoes. Today, I have several. Shoes don’t
bring happiness. In fact, they are often in my
way. How would your life change if you become
satisfied with what you have? Get rid of clutter.
Become aware of how much you bring into your
home versus how much you carry out or give
away. Stop wasting anything. Choose to lead a
simpler life.
Forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for anything
you could have done but didn’t do. If you would
have known better, you would have done better.
Let go of the mistakes you have made in the
past. You’ve carried that ball and chain for too
long; take it off. You will feel lighter and free.
Breathe. When you catch yourself feeling
fearful, worried and desperate, stop and take a
deep breath. Bring yourself to the present
moment, and remind yourself that you can
choose to feel peaceful instead. Unless someone
has a gun to your head, you can choose peace in
any moment. Learn to stop scaring yourself with
your thoughts.
Relax your muscles. Quiet your mind. Think of
the people you love and the joy they bring you.
Let go of striving, and become aware of thriving.
The quality of your days will increase, and you’ll
experience more joy. Seek professional help. It’s
normal to be stressed, down and frustrated
when you live in uncertain times. It’s important
to monitor your moods. If you find you can’t
shake anxiety and depression, you may need to
seek the help of a professional. Be brave. Be
bold. Take the necessary steps.
—Tess Marshall
Appearing in Pathways to
Family Wellness Magazine
Issue #33—Spring 2012
