13/60

“Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” -Zig Ziglar

Well well.  Writing tonight is going to have to be short and sweet as well.  Granted while the past few updates had been a little short, I am still very happy I have been able to keep up and keep writing.  Today I think todays quote is also very straightforward.  I think (as I have said quite a few times before) this explains perfectly why I am writing this blog and working on this update.  I think because I am always trying to do better and not get stuck where I am.  This is one of those quotes where it is very stipple and its a little tough to wright about - but I do like a great deal and is one I want to remember.  I think I'm going to want a quote board so I can see these every day.  

12/60

Well today is a good lesson for me. I won't be able to fit in a blog when I work till 11pm. Tonight blog will be much shorter just because I have to work for 11 hours tomorrow.

"the genesis for change is awareness" -Gandhi

This is been one of my favorite quotes for years. My goal for it tonight is that it is very simple and I don't have to write much :). That being said because it is one of my favorites I have to write something. Basically in my on mind it means nothing will change about your situation until you actually become aware of what is going on. I definitely try to be aware but it's sometimes hard to notice when you aren't aware of something either. I like it too because raising awareness about situations is often viewed as positive - and that is something that I do you like to share with others.

11/60

 My goodness. This is my 3rd time trying to post this.  And of course
I've had to re-wright it each time.  Last time turned out much better
than the first, and now for my 3rd time I'm hoping its as good but and
the same time I'm tired of it haha. But here we go anyways!


“I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love
today.” - William Allen White quotes


So I figured focusing on each part of this quote would work out well.
"I am not afraid of tomorrow" I dont think I am.  Althought that is
one of those hard things to judge.  I hontestly dont think too much
about tomorrow, which of course is probably not a great thing either.
I think at this time tomorrow just happens when and wherever today
leaves off.  Which probably is exactly the viewpoint that makes me
feel like I'm in a rut.  I think that developing goals, for probably
the first time ever, is a good start for that.  "I have seen
yesterday" I think yesterday is of course important - its brought me
to where I am today.  I definitely dont regret anything from yesterday
but at the same tme its hard to sometimes feel good about the past.  I
guess that leads us to the most challenging part, which is the last
part of this quote. "I love today" This is definitely the hardest part
for me.  I know I dont ever feel much of negative feelings towards
today.  But I do find it hard to "love" things.  I think this
re-adjustment of my attituede is something that is helping me.  I am
very hopeful for where this will lead.

10/60

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” – Alexander Graham Bell

So I would say that the first part of this quote is almost over quoted.  When I first saw it I almost didn't bother because I recognized it and it didn't really strike a chord with me.  But I never knew there was more to the quote after that.  While it still is echoing what the first part says, its still keeping in light a particular mindset, that we see closed doors as a negative situation and in a black and white context.  What this quote is pointing out is that I should be more observant to what new opportunity has come from this closed door. There are lots of other quotes that say similar things, but this was still a nice one.  I've had a door close in my life recently, and as of today realized that it wasn't just closed.  Its border up, cinder blocked, filled with concrete, and buried.  I'm not too sure what new door will open form this - BUT this quote keeps in mind that I shouldn't look regretfully upon that door.  So my new door could be job, money, new place on the horizon, etc... who knows? could be any way towards a new door.  

PS for today - I slept horribly last night.  Last night was my first night that I wrote this blog in the morning. It felt like a good start to the day but really didn't stay in my mind all day.  I think when I write at night it kinda stays in my thoughts which is positive thoughts as I'm falling asleep.  Whereas last night I passed out nice and early but still slept horribly. So back to night! ALTHOUGH nights I get off at 11pm are probably not good to even attempt to write then. Well daytime it is, lol.

9/60

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.” -Willie Nelson

And you know what? I've already seen this starting to happen. This quote is simple, and its pretty much a given when looking at the obvious reasons to engage in positive thinking.  But from what I've seen of this process as well, keeping track of where you mind is is very important.  So while this quote I almost already said, I like it because it is a good reminder of why I'm doing this.  There really isn't much to write about this quote, but nevertheless Its fitting into the theme and getting me writing (and finally I'm doing it in the morning!).  

8/60

Ok. So part two of my recent research was titled 'practice rational thinking'.  I'll try to sum this up as well.

It explains that once I start identifying my negative thoughts that are repetitive, I should compare them to rational thinking and determine their validity.  If it is valid then identify the areas that must be fixed. If it is not, then it can simply be dismissed.

A little more I didn't mention of the stress diary part that I wrote about yesterday talked about how when you are identifying - it should be very obvious to see the most frequent and most damaging thoughts and make them a priority.

But with all this research it seems that most of the advice is given towards those with negative self esteem issues.  This is something that doesn't effect me, so I am constantly thinking of how to apply these to my life as well.

Tomorrow I will jump back into quotes.  Maybe that'll be a 5x a week thing, and then have 2 days of general writing.  This upcoming Wednesday I have off and so I think my goals need to be:

Figure out money - Write out goals - Figure out a way to keep all these exercises in mind easily

7/60

TODAY I felt more positive.  Yes its Christmas and I'm home alone, and I enjoyed it.  Then work was slow but very decent as well.  Inexplicably I am in a better mood.  Could be being back to work, could be this exercise, and its probably both! I enjoyed it!  So instead of doing another quote today I've decided to write a little more about my goals of tho process.  I did some more research last night and I find writing it all down helps.

I found this information from two different websites, but one goes into more detail about thought awareness.  The other is a little different from the others I listed the other day and is called 'practice rational thinking'.

Thought Awareness - now before I kept this as a more minor aspect of what I found.  But recognized it as something small I could do.  However this article elaborated it differently.  To paraphrase - it mentioned that most of the time people are unaware of their negative thoughts and thus refuse to challenge them when they come it.  They said to keep a stress diary.  By keeping track of when you were stressed out by your thoughts, or have negative ones, and what you were doing at the time, it can provide a clearer picture to step back and analyze.  Again giving you the opportunity to identify and eliminate said challenges.
I don't think I could start another process of writing things down.... this project is large enough so far! But it made me realize how important is to identify my negative thoughts. Simply... well, I suppose not 'simply' changing my thoughts from negative to positive should not be as simple as a task as I expected.  I think so far I am doing well, but ultimately I might have to this about why rather than just be happy alone.  I should have seen this coming! lol.

Well, as its getting late and the 'practice rational thinking' information I've found so far is much more in depth!

6/60

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” -Winston Churchill

Now this I can relate to.  I think that I typically pose my views as 'realistic' which people can see as negative.  I just say 'it is what it is' and 'thats that'.  Its not necessarily negative or positive its just a fact.  But a lot of the time is can be recognizing the difficulty of any situation.  I think difficulty can be viewed more broadly as well and put as a challenge or anything wrong with a situation.  I do know that I like challenges.  I like trying to find a solution to problems and there should be no reason I can't apply this quote in the same way.  Instead of recognizing the problem of a situation, I need to recognize what I can make of any situation.  And this process of writing I believe is a very good start.  I can see the 'opportunity' (benefits) of this 'difficulty' (positive perspective).  So far I think this quote has stuck out the most so far.  I usually read a couple trying to find one that I feel I can write about, but this was the first I read today and I knew I would want to write about it.  I am starting to feel like I need to find a good way to have these quotes visible so I continue to remember them as well.  I guess thats a project for sometime this week.

On a life note - today was a nice relaxing day.  Getting my own place here soon is going to have a tremendous impact on my life in a very positive way. Can't wait.

5/60

So TECHNICALLY its after midnight - but I'm home from work and writing now so I think it still counts!

"The great thing in this world is not so much where you stand, as in what direction you are moving." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

So true. Even without me practicing these exercises I see this as true.  That being said, I probably realize it our think of it based off negative experiences or situations. SO.  I think this is good to keep in mind in a couple of aspects.  For instance, I have NO idea where I stand.  I do know morally and ethically etc... but I suppose there "where I'm going" with whom, work, blah blah blah... all that. Such a great outlook while Im exhausted from work huh?  Ultimately I need to figure out that exact depiction I'm moving.. that being said I don't have to know the destination nor all the pit stops along the way, but as long at it moving in the right direction I should be on the right track!  I do like this quote and wish I could find it in me to expand on this more, but alas I see this going further in circles lol.  

4/60

Well I am exhausted!  Day 4 of my 5am shifts and am so glad it was the last one!  Today's writing will be very unoriginal I am sure.  So here goes! 

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing, it's when you've everything to do and you've done it." -Margret Thatcher

This. Is true. Of course.  Who could argue with it.  I would say that these past few months I've moved back home I was lounging around doing nothing, and was extremely unsatisfied.  Thus I think my motivation to get a job so much, also part of where I think my friendships failed.  At times I would have things to do, run errands, or hang out, and keep 'busy' but thats not the same.  I know I like to work and need to have something keeping me busy with my time.  I do enjoy it.  And I'd say that days where I get things done and do them well are best examples of that.  One thing I will be cautious of is letting my work be simply all I do.  While I am very very tired now, I will be working evenings coming up here soon and that fits my schedule more.  But it does tend to be harder to do things in the day before work, but I can be productive and get them done.  I think having goals that will fit that sort of thing will be a good 'goal' as well.  And doing all of this once I move out on my own will feel even better.  I think this can apply to friendships as well, not just letting it be to feel like something worthwhile, but peruse what I'm after and not be afraid of the results.  We WiLl JuSt HaVe To WaIt AnD sEe! 

3/60

So ideally I would start this more in the morning, not the last thing before going to bed so I'll actually think about it during the day.  BUT until I get off my 6:30 shifts thus waking up at 5:00am I will keep doing this whenever I get the chance later.  So here goes!

"Remember, happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have, it depends solely upon what you think." -Dale Carnegie

Well - its interesting to think how this applies to my own life.  I definitely don't find much in material possessions.  While I like to have nice things, I'm a compulsive saver and always get buyer's remorse.  So thats definitely not what I find happiness in.  But i think the aspect of happiness depending solely upon what I THINK is something else.  I think this seems like, I choose to be happy.  And I do find that I am in general, but in my natural state of things I feel more content and placid rather than any feeling more commonly associated with 'happy'.  I think this goes well with yesterday's point of 'check yourself' - keeping track of what I'm actually feeling as I'm feeling it and work on a way to keep it positive.  This admittedly sounds exhausting, but I think there's something to it.  As I'm not attempting to find 'happiness' in material things or false pride, what am I finding to be happy with?  Thats honestly a question I'm not sure I know the answer to.  But obviously this quote is recognizing that most of what being positive is, is in the mind, and a mental road block sort of rather than anything else keeping me from obtaining this goal.  

Tomorrow is another busy day, but even while this was short, I am happy I got it in and continued and survived an entire 3 days! 

Day 2/60

Yes, I'm going to count yesterday's post as a day.  I definitely think's its long enough to count!  So while I meant to jump into it today with a quote and response thing, BUT in looking at a few quotes I had favorited I realized I have to think about them a  specific way, not just in the way I typically would.  SO I thought I could take this post as an opportunity to respond to what I found about positive thinking.


Out of the negative traits I think this one fits well with me: 
"Polarizing. You see things only as either good or bad, black or white. There is no middle ground. You feel that you have to be perfect or that you're a total failure."
I know I do this.  I really do think of things typically as a 'yes' or 'no', a 'must' or 'must not' and definitely apply it to anything else to "this person is either my friend, or isn't" etc etc... While I really don't see anything WRONG with this, its nice being able to feel clearly and definitely.  But at the same time I know it often sounds negative even if I do not mean it in a negative way.


Here were steps for positive thinking:


A)  Identify areas to change. If you want to become more optimistic and engage in more positive thinking, first identify areas of your life that you typically think negatively about, whether it's work, your daily commute or a relationship, for example. You can start small by focusing on one area to approach in a more positive way.

B)  Check yourself. Periodically during the day, stop and evaluate what you're thinking. If you find that your thoughts are mainly negative, try to find a way to put a positive spin on them.

C)  Be open to humor. Give yourself permission to smile or laugh, especially during difficult times. Seek humor in everyday happenings. When you can laugh at life, you feel less stressed.

D)  Follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercise at least three times a week to positively affect mood and reduce stress. Follow a healthy diet to fuel your mind and body. And learn to manage stress.

E)  Surround yourself with positive people. Make sure those in your life are positive, supportive people you can depend on to give helpful advice and feedback. Negative people may increase your stress level and make you doubt your ability to manage stress in healthy ways.

F) Practice positive self-talk. Start by following one simple rule: Don't say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to anyone else. Be gentle and encouraging with yourself. If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with affirmations of what is good about you.

Well thats a lot to think about!  So:

A) I think this whole exercise fits well with this point, I think identifying goals is also important in identifying areas to change as thats something I'm starting to feel more strongly about.

B) I think this can help.  While being positive all the time can definitely be exhausting, I think its something simple that I can stop myself during the day, and just try and think about it in a different way.

C) I'm definitely open to humor.  Again a reason why working will be good for me, having fun social interactions with co-workers!  Its been great so far and something I've needed.  

D) Yeah yeah yeah... eat well and exercise.... I think that'll be up near the top of a goal list once I get one going haha.  It'll be tough for sure but its one of those things that does seem to always have such great results

E) Ahhhh well if I had friends.... lol.  I think some negative ones are phasing out... at least how I view the friendship as turned into a negative way, so once again new people from work is a good start.  I always seem to be great friends with people AT work, but its outside of work thats a bit harder... but something I'm going to try for.  Last night I went to our work holiday part after only having worked 4 shifts.  I really knew no-one but a great co-worker made if fun and it was a good start for sure.  Something I probably wouldn't have normally done but glad to have.

F) I don't really talk myself down ever... but I don't talk myself up either.  I don't think i really NEED that but encouragement on this experiment will definitely be beneficial.

ALL that being said I'm not sure thats helped me much with responding to quotes! BUT reminding myself of these points its a good start to thinking better and getting a better grip one what I want this to become.

And with that... I feel good for tonight.  End of day two!

Wrapping up 2011

Well 2011 has ended up being kinda a flop.  After graduation has somehow spiraled into the end of the year and what can I say happened? Pretty literally, absolutely nothing.

As I have been continuously impressed with how bad I am at picking friends - there are a few changes I want to be make.

Ideas:

1) Practice positive thinking
2) Find a quote a day - and write about it
3) Make goals

Reasoning:
1 - I've had many people say I sound negative, I always say I'm just being realistic.  That being said I've had people say I'm the happiest person they know.  I definitely don't feel that.  While I am very good about not letting things get to me and not wasting time on regret, its still not a positive mindset you know?  In looking into information about this exercise is part of positive thinking... double dipping with goals perhaps?
2 - This is an exercise I want to try with of course a positive quote (not just any) to force me to think about things rather than simply not (which I'm very good at).  Again blogging will probably be a great outlet for this.  For a minute I thought about writing in a journal, of course the idea coming from tv shows where theres a character who has their life all documented by various journals they've kept.  But when I'm at the keyboard my fingers just go.  My brain can sometimes take a minute to catch up and think about what to say next, but the words just flow out, its definitely the best way to make this a reality.
3 - I've never made goals.  I just go with the flow and whatever happens happens.  And I'm totally fine with that.  But someone asked me the other day what are your goals, and of course I have that usual response, but it did get me thinking - while I take life as it comes, maybe I dip down into whatever rut every so often BECAUSE I don't have goals. I like challenges and keeping busy and I suppose when theres nothing that is challenging me or keeping me busy I don't necessarily become complacent but I just need something more.

I think this new job will be great for me.  I am going to break down my walls a little bit and really make myself grow with this. New place, new people, new new new - I like it.

So as all these things tie-in together fairly well, my ideas will kick in tomorrow.  With the positive thinking I will be putting up a few notes to encourage myself to write about a quote to start this process.  I think tonight is a good start and I hope I will be able to keep it up.

I vaguely remembered hearing it takes 21 days to form a habit.  And in google-ing that information the 21-28 days to form a habit saying seems to result with: its enough to make you feel like you can do it... but you probably still won't.  More positive results have been said about doing something for 66 days straight.
The thought of that itself is a bit daunting - not gonna lie. BUT why not try?

FEB 20th .... here I come!