Positive is Powerful!

POSITIVE IS POWERFUL I DO DECLARE!  😃

I'd like to explain, in a bit more detail, what I mean when I use this mantra!  

I do not see the world through rose colored glasses; I do not believe everything is perfect, nor will it be, even if I smile and pretend it is, I know it's not. The only way I can learn to view my daily life in a positive way, is by learning to look for positive in every situation.  I view everything as an opportunity! Each opportunity is a means to becoming better.  I believe that everything happens for a reason,  during difficult times I look for a lesson, a purpose.       

It's not like turning a switch and deciding that because you say so, you are going to behave in a positive way, you are going to think in a positive way, or act in a positive manner.  Learning to change your thoughts, learning to become more positive takes hard work everyday...EVERYDAY! 

                                                It's been a constant battle which I fight daily.    


I know that just as talking, thinking, and believing the negative thoughts I come up with in my mind, 
it can and will tear me down, 
I also now know that speaking positively, finding purpose in every situation, 
I can be happy using positive thoughts and actions!   

What the heck am I talking about?

Positive is being kind! Recognizing that we are all different and it's a good thing.  It takes a team of all different kinds of people to accomplish great things, which is why DF is such a fantastic community! We recognize that we are all different, we all have strengths and weaknesses and support one another as we become better versions of who we are born to be, through various modes of training.  

Positive is having Respect. 
Respecting everyone, and treating one another with kindness doesn't mean we all have to be friends.  It means smiling, holding your head up with confidence, holding the door, saying please and thank you; having manners.  
I seriously can't stand when someone walks directly past me and acts as if I am invisible and not there.  We are all walking this planet together, can you at least just acknowledge that we are here, smile and perhaps say hello?! 

Positive is Helping Other People!
When you help others without expecting anything in return, you actually are helping yourself too.   
   
Positive is having courage!
Having courage to stand alone, stand up for what you believe, for what you like, for what you want. Having courage is stepping outside your comfort zone and trying something new.  

Positive is enjoying the journey; living in the moment, but knowing there are goals and dreams that are ahead! 

Positive is reflecting, taking time to give yourself credit daily! 
At night, I take a moment to think about everything/everyone I've encountered that day, including what I am grateful for and what makes me happy! 

Positive is choosing my attitude!
I have the power to choose how my day will unfold by choosing my attitude.  I choose to see the positive. I choose to be happy.

Positive is seeing from another perspective!

 Positive is choosing to become the best version of myself regardless of anyone else's opinion! It's their opinion, they are free to have it, I don't have to like it, nor do they have to accept me! I need to accept me and be willing to stand up for myself, and stand up for what I want or need!

FINDING POSITIVE...

Here is a brief summary of how I found positive.  
If I asked you to take a look back into your past, how would you see yourself?  
When I think about my past, I often see myself as very sad.  Although on the outside I was smiling, on the inside I was crying. So when I look back at my past, I see myself standing on the outside of the memory looking in, looking at myself, remembering how sad I was.  It saddens me to know that I went so many years never truly being present in my world, always worrying about how I was "performing" in life, worrying what other people thought of me, worrying why I felt like I never truly fit in.  Although I was very talented, I never allowed myself to accept awards or grades as achievement, rather I never felt they were truly earned, instead just given.  I actually have a huge box filled with medals, trophies, plaques, awards, and pictures all turned upside down, in my parents attic.  I didn't want them, I didn't believe they were real, or hard to obtain.  I didn't realize I made great accomplishments instead I brushed them off as if anyone could get them.  It literally made me physically sick thinking about being different, never fitting in, and telling myself that over and over again.
Overtime, my mind learned to focus only on negative things, never allowing myself to be proud of who I was.
The mind is so powerful, and by focusing all of my thoughts on negative and worry, that is what consumed me.  I found myself in a deep dark place, walking amongst the world, feeling like a body on the outside, while everyone else walked on the inside.  I developed a social anxiety, eating/exercise disorder, and manic depression.  
SO HOW DID I FIND POSITIVE?
The story is long, both in the prior elements to how I found negative and how I climbed out of my dark hole, so I will sum it up.  We all have stories! I am thankful for the support of my family helping me out of my hole, but in doing so, i had to be an active participant.  I finally realized that if my mind was powerful enough to understand negative so well, it also could find positive, by doing the opposite of everything I did prior! I have learned that we are all blessed with our own unique talents, and i am gifted to have something that differs from others.  I have learned to celebrate who I am, and work to becoming the best version of me, no one else! I have learned to be proud of the little things I do along the way to develop my story! 
I am proud to say, that completing the BlackBear Triathlon at Beltzville was a milestone for me.  I was able to finish with a smile, which wasn't a regular thing of my past, and I was also able to say I am proud of myself.  Proud of what i did though-out the journey of training, proud of overcoming the race day hurdles, proud of myself for giving my best effort.  

I wanted you to know why we celebrate Positive is Powerful!

Sometimes I wonder if people make assumptions about what the meaning is behind Positive is Powerful.  I drive around with a Positive is Powerful sticker on my car and I wonder if people think I am nuts, if they laugh and think I view the world through "rose colored glasses?"  It doesn't bother me to know people are making assumptions and perhaps judge me, but in the past it may have! By learning to find Positive, I have been able to take myself from the darkest of places to being an active, productive member of society.  


I believe in being honest.  I am genuine and caring.  I am finding that by being me, and being confident, I am helping others to do so as well! Find what moves you, be proud of who you are! We are all born different!

They say if you don't like something, change it! Here is one of the quotes I live by, "be the change you wish to see in the world!"

Postive is Spreading Through the DF Community One Person at a Time! Has Positive Impacted YOU?!?!?!?!?!?