I have opened up WordPress this morning ready to complain.
Not in a witty and charming way about something like car air fresheners, I mean properly rant about something, anything at all really. I can feel the tension across my shoulders, drawing them up closer and closer to my ears. I can sense that my jaw is set in a mildly scary way. If anyone was to get my order wrong in a restaurant right now, unlikely as that is at 8.59am, they would not feel good about themselves afterwards.
But as I mull over what vitriol to spew over the pages, sighing and snorting impatiently all the while, I stop myself. How helpful would that actually be? Would working myself up into a literary rage about something really do anything to solve my angst?
I doubt it. The act of writing is cathartic of course, but aside from that, wouldn’t it be better to channel things in a more positive way?
I agree with myself, although I am still full of stress and rage so in my head it comes out as cutting sarcasm. ‘Oh Josephine, aren’t you so very wise? People are definitely going to be reading this and commenting to themselves on how you are the first person ever to discover the power of positive thinking.’
You see how cruel I get when I am stressed?
Action needs to be taken.
I start with a quick Google of motivational quotes and for a few minutes immerse myself in promises of good things, if only I can learn to dance like nobody is watching.
Love like you’ve never been hurt? How does anyone even do that?? And seriously, do you know anyone who actually just works because of the joy they find in what they do, without any thoughts of paying the council tax?
I turn instead to pictures of kittens. It’s hard to feel angry whilst looking at a kitten. A bit like not being able to keep your eyes open when you sneeze, although without the risk of your eyes being catapulted out of your head.* This kitten looks a bit like me reading the motivational quotes:
This one speaks to me. It says ‘please internet lady, please stop whining, no one cares’.
Damn you kitten.
As powerful as positive thinking can be, I sense that this isn’t my morning and that I should listen to the kitten and get on with some work instead.
What do you do when you are feeling stressed? Do you believe in the power of positive thinking?
*I checked this. It is a myth. Probably something I should have known already.
Positive thinking is definitely a decision you have to make, it doesn’t just happen. I would say I live 80% or so of my life thinking positively. The other 20% though, oooooo, stay away from me!
I wish my wife would – She suffers from extreme stress and anxiety, and constantly wonders what could go wrong and finds the negative points in everything!
I’ve worked really hard over the years on thinking positively, I suffered really badly from Depression and I made a conscious effort to focus on the good things- it’s hard but it does really help
I actually opened up my blog the other day ready to write a whole post which came across as really negative, it was all about feeling crap and hating the weather but as I read it back I actually snapped out of my bad mood and decided not to post it after all. I do try and be positive but I find it hard sometimes, writing and getting it all out it definitely good therapy though! x
lol not at your rage but at that first kitten face. I really do believe in the power of positive thinking at that thinking of things as if you have already achieved them does cosmically order them/create new positive neural pathways. I used to be awful at telling myself I was rubbish at things and criticising myself A LOT! After counselling and some CBT the idea is whenever you want to say something shit about yourself you change it to a positive element. And if something is pissing you off then apparently smiling does release happy hormones.
To be honest I think that positive happy people attract happy people and negative attracts negativity. I seem to attract crazies so not sure what that theory says lol. x
I definitely agree with this. A bad mood poisons everything so that even the smallest stumble seems horrendous, whereas on a good day I can cope with actual things going wrong and just deal with it. I’m terrible at taking a breath and counting to ten though.., x
Haha love this post so well written! I do think that positive quotes and thinking can help but if does not stop you being affected by stress or getting angry/overwhelmed no matter how many personal time outs or mindful moments you try and have during the day
Laura x
When i’m stressed I try to just shut the F up. If i’m in a bad mood, then no amount of good intention can stop the crap that comes out of my mouth. I recently had one of those days where all i did was moan, about everything & i was sick to death of myself by the end of it! Good old fashioned ‘if you can’t say anything nice….” works when positive thinking falls by the wayside.
positive thinking is definitely something I try and consciously do, I am a total sucker for a motivational print! I’ve had a history of depression though so I know how hard it is when you are in that cycle to try and train your mind out of it. Although I think it’s healthy to have negative days, sometimes a good old wallow and a cry is very therapeutic too! x