positive thinking

Reconnect with Your Authentic Self

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Heart with keyIf you’ve read any of my other posts categorized under “Constructive Wallowing,” you’ll know how happy and excited I was to read the following post by Tim McAuley.

(It was reblogged by Mary Rogers on her blog, Bipolar Lessons, which is how I came across it.)

In this post, Tim takes on two pieces of common self-help wisdom, “You just have to be positive” and “Just fake it till you make it.”

Tim writes, “Before you can cultivate a positive mindset you must first honor where you are and the journey that brought you here.” Read More

Are You On Emotional Autopilot?

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Passengers in motionMany years ago when I lived in New York City, I helped a friend execute a brilliant gift idea for her mother’s birthday.

Because her mom lived far away, they couldn’t be together to celebrate, so my friend decided to send her something very special.

First, she made a giant sign that said HAPPY BIRTHDAY with her mom’s name on it.

Phase One complete.

Then she carried that enormous sign with her (on the subway, no less) to a series of recognizable New York City landmarks, and asked strangers to hold it up and wave while she took their picture. Read More

How to Deal With Negativity

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One person patiently listens to another who's upsetLittle Kidbit comes home from school and declares, “School sucks.”

Carl Coworker looks over the agenda for the upcoming meeting and sighs, “This is going to be a total waste of time.”

Spouse comes home from the grocery store and growls, “That grocery store has the worst parking in town.”

How do you respond?

It’s tempting to debate the facts of the case. You might even see it as an opportunity to do some “positivity training.” Read More

Are You Keeping Secrets From Yourself?

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This is a continuation of How to Feel Whole (September 2012).

One way to stay whole is to refuse to keep secrets from yourself.

You know what it feels like to keep secrets.

It’s trying not think about something that’s uncomfortable to think about, or taking a different perspective on something in order NOT to feel the way you feel.

The problem with keeping secrets like this is that you actually need to know the things you’re trying not to know. Read More