Let it Go

When moving into young adulthood, I quickly realized how everyone had a different attitude about the world and their situations.  Some were positive and could smile on command.  Some were so far down in the dumps that it broke my heart.  Even so, some people were indifferent about their lives and their own needs.  The positive ones were able to surpass insurmountable odds despite tough situations.  Those who had a negative outlook were mad at the world and had less hope in their futures.  These people were bogged down in life and stagnant in their journey.

I rarely experienced negative emotions growing up and through high school.  I heard of anger, hate, doubt, and depression.  But, I never understood them.  To me, they were emotions that strangers experienced and nothing I would com into contact with.  My first job after college job showed me different.  I had MANY patients who were down in their luck.  Sometimes, it was of their own doing.  Often times, it was from situations they could not control.  I felt their anger, resentment, hate, and hurt.  Not only did these feelings make people feel miserable, it made them think in a different way.  

After a while, I unfortunately let it get to me.  I became angry, irritable, and upset.  At one point, I felt depressed.  The world seemed hopeless and all against me at once.  It occluded my judgment and how I saw people.  I could not think straight and felt guarded a lot of the time.  There were many times where I was at a point of breaking down and giving up.  I felt like there was no way out.

The fact is, that negative emotions close us off to the limitless possibilities in this world.  They make us closed minded and stagnant. Anger, fear, and anxiety cloud our thinking and stop us in our tracks.  They even prevent us from learning effectively when we are in a negative state.

Curiously enough, a positive state and set of emotions opens us up to possibilities.  It makes us more clear minded.  We are able to think, be, and do more effectively.  When we feel good, we communicate better and connect with others at a more intimate level.  We have hope, motivation, and enthusiasm in our futures.  All it takes is gratitude- a GREAT ATTITUDE. Some ways to create a positive out look include:

Just as importantly, venting negative emotions in a healthy way can be helpful.  Getting rid of these negative emotions take the control away from them and come back to you.  The least healthy thing to do is to bottle up negative emotions and hope they go away.  My rule is to never express negativity to people.  This creates even more problems and strained relationships.  Better yet, find something that loosens the grip those negative emotions have.  Some examples include:

Ultimately, cultivating a good attitude will improve not only the chances of reaching your goals, but it will also improve your relationships and your present circumstances. Above all, Eat, Move, and Improve!