Keeping Positive 

Let's be honest staying positive in this world can be a challenge. We have all had our share of sad, depressed and lonely days. One thing is for sure, you're not alone. Whether it's work, school, family, relationships, or weight problems you're struggling with doesn't matter. The feeling of depression can hit anybody and everybody. I have met some of the most famous and well respected people in the world. They have it all: money, fame, love, you name it yet still have their moments. Is it a part of our human nature? I believe we are wired to be happy and live our lives to the fullest, but unfortunatly through modern day media, social standards, and finances this can be a difficult task. With things like photoshop, teenage millionaires, drugs, alcohol and plastic surgery glamorized, it's easy to get lost in the never-ending carousel societal norms have forced us in.

Woman in the red dress. What these are, are distractions. Distractions to keep us from realizing our own unique potential. Potential for what, you ask? That's for you to find out. I didn't realize I had the potential and natural knack I might add to play the drums until I was eighteen years old. Why? I was told I wasn't musical my whole life and believed it. I never let myself see inside to the wonders of what I was capable of. I went to school for directing and came out a writer. You have to allow yourself to grow and be free. How can we unlock the creative powers within us when it so easy to let one little comment get into our heads and welcome a wave of negativity? An inception seed, if you will. I'm convinced it's because we live in a society where self obsession and self loathing are one in the same. 

No one person can make anyone feel unwanted, unloved, fat, ugly, etc. That comes from inside. When we allow external factors to effect us, we hold down our own unique self. The self that is capable of anything. After all, the person who got you into the bad day is going to help you get out of it. Look in the mirror. That is your hero, your knight in shinning armor, your angel, and your best friend. Cheesey? I know. I wouldn't be writing this if I didn't whole heartily believe that we have the power to change our own lives. Don't fall into that carousel that society norms have pushed you in. Don't compare yourself to others or let their lives effect you. We all have different and powerful gifts to give this world, the thing that makes it so great is that not one can be the other. My advice on staying positive can be similar to others, but its' never the same. The expression, the experience, the relativity all differs from person to person. The feeling that accompanies that self society is a thing of beauty. When you know and feel what you have to offer is good enough. 

How a person treats you is a reflection of how they treat themselves. My mother told me that one day when I was feeling pretty low. I had just moved up to Seattle, WA and I didn't know anyone. My boyfriend was at work all day and the only connection I had with another being was with Chester (my dog). An opportunity presented itself to both make some money and get to know people. An event planning job. I had never done it before, but my mother threw the best parties on the block so how hard could it be? I accepted the opportunity with an optimism. I eagerly told my friend back home in LA, to my disappointment she had a more negative approach to this otherwise wonderful situation. She mentioned that Seattle has no party scene and it will be more than difficult for me to get attendees to sign up. Instead of brushing off her ignorant comments that had no factual basis to them, I let her words seep into my head like water into dirt. They were on constant replay. The next few days I continued my event planning work, only I felt this dark lingering cloud all around me. I didn't know why, but all of a sudden the task felt overwhelming and burden like. The worries of, where to hold the party? What to have on the menu? How many balloons? Do I get balloons? Where do I go to get people to sign up? People aren't going to want to go to this thing. Why would anyone want to go? Why am I doing this? I should have said no? I don't have any experience with party planning. This is stupid. I'm stupid for saying yes. Wow! See how quickly that escalated? One little droplet of water and Niagara Falls of pessimism come flowing through your head. Negative thoughts upon negative thoughts, all someone connected back to you as if you're the one to blame.

Over the next few days I felt tried and lethargic. I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything. Finally my mother called me to see how I was doing. I told her of the event opportunity and she was more than happy and excited for me. She gave me words of encouragement that I shot down given my state of mind. She asked me what was wrong?  I told her of my friend's reaction, it was eating at me all week. She reminded that I was allowing her words to stay in my head, that I decided to focus on them instead of letting them pass. This is when she told me, how a person treats you is how they treat themselves. I realized then that my friend always had a hard time keeping a job and making money. She, probably on some level, felt unworthy of a career and projected that onto me. I can't blame her, she is living in her own world that makes her feel inadequate. I, on the other hand, am living in my world where I think anything is possible. I had to remind myself of this. I quickly shook off this depressed state of mind and went for a run. I looked around me: green trees, running water, smiling people walking their dogs. I felt myself again. I was back in my world where I choose to surround myself with positivity and love. Everyday we make choices and they're our choices alone. That day I choose to see the blue skies instead of the grey clouds. In case you were wondering I planned my event and it turned out very well. 

So, my advise to you to staying positive is to look at the situation with eyes of love and an open heart. Remind yourself you are capable of anything. No one can make you feel anything less than. If we all approached our setbacks with this knowing, I feel we would waste less time in those depressed days maybe not even have any. In any case, if you're down and can't find that positive light within you that is always there by the way, then I recommend getting out in nature. See the blades of the grass and how they sway in the wind ever so gently and gracefully. They don't fight nature, they bend and move with it. Try to allow your mind to be like that. One door closes another door opens type mantra. Find the love and positivity in yourself to fight those negative demons. I believe in you, if only you would too.