Be Positive

The summer months are a time to rest and relax--or if you are a busy author like me, the summer months are a time to write a book in three months, receive guests, entertain friends, babysit the gradchildren, visit the in-laws, prepare for a national conference, attend THE conference of the year, pitch your new story, submit a partial or full, edit your galleys, huh...did I forget something. Maybe.

Can I do all that? Why not? If I concentrate on the POSITIVE.

According to my friend Gaby, a known psychologist and preacher,

it takes twenty-one days to create a new habit, if you do the task daily.

Negative emotions are natural and provide us with benefits. They give us the opportunity to learn, grow, and make changes in out lives. The key is not to get stuck in the negativity, but allow it to pass through its natural course and let it go. We will come in contact with consistently negative people and energy drainers. Let them be themselves but don't allow them to to suck you into their world of complains and demands. Change their focus. Not yours.

Rather than forcing yourself to deny negativity, balance the negative feelings with positive ones. Increase the quantity of your positive emotions by placing your focus on what you CAN do and build on them.

Here are simple techniques to cultivate more positivity:

1. Give yourself permission to be human. we all have failures and do mistakes. Learn from the mistakes and do better next time.







2. Become a benefit-finder: look in the good that is around you. Focus on what you admire about yourself. Ask how you can do better.





3. Self-Acceptance; believe in yourself. Focus on your talents. Open up to others.







4. Mind-Body-Spirit Connection: Take time for yourself--I am listening!!. Cleanse your mind of the pollution from the outside.


5. Cultivate Relashionships: Open yourself to sharing, forgiving, collaborating with others.




6. Giving Gratitude: every morning think about one thing you are grateful for .

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you will start having positive results.

Do you agree with the psychologist? Can you follow his suggestions?