positivethinking

We all have bad days. We all struggle and have negative elements of our lives. In the Disney version of Chicken Little, many horrible things happen to him that could negatively impact his self esteem and his relationship with others, yet he has the mentality and quotes often, “Today is a new day.”

Having children, I often consume and reiterate the mottos of classic films that stick with me. I’m not immune to having compassion for and understanding, probably on a different level from my children, the struggles of these characters. For example, from Disney’s Finding Nemo, when things seem like there isn’t an end, I will start to chant the theme song from Dory, “Keep on swimming, keep on swimming, just keep on swimming.” My kids also think this is funny, so if they’re in a bad mood, this is something that can easily snap them back into perspective and start to look at a situation with more perspective.

The bottom line is this, we all have control over maintaining a positive attitude and looking for good things in life, even when times are difficult.

When I first was going through my divorce, I was so worried, consumed with feelings I’d never had before, and someone gave me the advice to take life in small segments, and as small as they needed to be from hours, to quarters, etc. This helped me understand that I still was learning new things, I was still gaining information about how to deal with my struggles and still believe that a contribution to my life was made through this challenging day. Now, this thought process wasn’t easy. I still had to choose it, but it can be done. And, using some Disney magic to get there didn’t hurt.

How do you maintain a positive attitude? What advice can you offer to friends and family to keep them mentally healthy?