Silent Storms

Emotional Health: Focusing on the Good

There are many things to be grateful for.

I can see.

I can hear.

Those are the two senses I would be most lost without. Music and reading are my two favorite passtimes.

When living with a chronic condition such as us spouses have to deal with can drag a person down into negativity. This is evident from my last few blogs, I think. Often, receiving a daily positive thought in my inbox is enough, and sometimes it is not. Those are the times when it is most necessary to focus on the apparently receding goodness of life.

A good way to do this is through making lists.

One web site advises to make a list of 999 things to be grateful for. This will then attract even more goodness, because your attitude is open to being blessed. Spiritual wisdom suggests that negativity perpetuates negativity. I have experienced this myself.

Perhaps 999 is a bit ambitious to start with. The Positive Thought site on the other hand suggests to be grateful for two things daily. This is more managable, especially if you're feeling negative to begin with.

Here's an exercise:

1. Get a small notebook and a beautiful pen. Put these by your bedside.
2. Before getting out of bed in the morning, write down two things you're grateful for. These have to be two different things every morning.
3. Get out of bed and go through your day. When you're feeling negative, think about the two things you wrote down.
4. Carry your notebook with you. Stare at the words you wrote, and think about how you feel about these good things.
5. Do this until you feel better.

May all your sorrows turn to joy!

Posted by cathi at May 27, 2004 08:39 AM | TrackBack