Earlier this year, I took on a challenge to express my gratitude
over the course of one hundred days. The fact that I
finished the challenge is no surprise to me because I knew I would complete it.
What surprised me was how this challenge impacted and changed me.
I think you'd agree that social platforms are flooded with
overwhelming negative information, drama, and not enough positive stories. We spend
more time on the Internet than any previous time, this information is bound to impact us . And it takes a concerted effort every day to see
the positive impact around us because we are bombarded with so much negativity. For example, if you read ten positive
comments on your newsfeeds and one negative comment, it is the negative comment,
which stands out and stays with you longer, right?
Well, this challenge made me more aware of how I was responding
to everyday situations. It provided an opportunity to challenge my thinking. Taking
on the challenge flipped my thinking around because
I found that the more I saw things is a positive light the more positive I
became. It is not about just seeing the good but seeing what is happening
through compassionate eyes. Moreover, I found myself creating more positive
moments if I saw the day being overburdened with negativity. I made a decision to see create the positive I wanted to see and to be grateful for the smallest thing.
However, I've experienced the darkest days of my life during
this challenge. The death of my mother
hit me especially hard. It is difficult to comprehend how someone so important in my life in no longer in my world. Then in May 2016, I watched my family and friends lose everything
to a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta. My world was changing and not everything was sunshine and roses. The occurrence in Fort McMurray cemented how different it was going to be without my mom. I am certain some family will be setting up home elsewhere in the Province. No more impromptu family gatherings.
Yet, I turned my mind and my heart to the brighter side of those
darker days. It is not about forcing myself to be delusional or to be an
optimist but more about seeing the good in spite of the bad. As I see it, we
have a choice in how we react to situations.
You can either see the positive influences around you or you can be a
victim of your circumstances.
The power and strength are within each of us. Create those positive moments for yourself and
others around you. Be an architect of
your life, create the best life you can dream, and be thankful for each
day.
