Some people may disagree with this when they look at the world around them.

But we don’t have to absorb the negativity of all that’s out there. Not even the negative thoughts and actions of those close to us.

Our job is to surround ourselves with a bubble of high positive vibrations and continually maintain it. We have to keep working to make it strong enough to resist penetration by those with negative vibrations. That takes constant vigilance and work. But the good news is that it’s productive and usually fun work to raise your vibrations.

And being kind to others is one of the best ways to do that. What does it take to be kind? Nothing. And if you extend kindness, even with just a smile, that will elevate your mood (which is your vibrations) and that elevation will make you want to smile at someone else or perhaps do more.

Do you keep track of your kindnesses? Maybe you could journal about them or just list them. Write down what you did and then write down how you felt! Do this for a week and then review your list. How has it affected you – both the acts of kindness and the fact that you’ve been logging them.

Then share the results of the ideas with other people and get them on board your kindness train. All aboard!

Have you ever been feeling less than enthusiastic, just moseying along apathetically? Nothing excites you?

Then you see someone who has their hands full and they’re headed to a door. You rush up to open the door for them and they smile and thank you profusely. All you did was open a door. Yet you feel like you just won the lottery. Why? Because the act of giving and of helping others releases feel good chemicals in your brain (and body) and those chemicals totally change your mood.

Have you known someone whose life isn’t going really well right now and you’ve sat with them, just listening? They pour their heart out to you. When you leave did you ever think you’re an evil person because you feel better? You’re not evil. You feel better for the same reason we just talked about. You gave someone something. You gave yourself. You gave your time. And you don’t regret it. You know you helped them. You don’t have to give money or gifts to uplift someone. Just showing you care is enough. They will remember that moment and you forever. And your subconscious knows this. That’s why you can feel good in the face of other people’s troubles and not be a bad person.

One caveat that’s not in this quote. You cannot lift others up if you are so drained that there’s no strength left. You have to take care of yourself first before you take on others. Lift yourself up and then lift others. Put your own oxygen mask on before you put it on your kids.

People always say I have a lot of perseverance because I kept applying to medical school. They sometimes say the same when I talk about walking 314 miles at Vol State.

Neither fits IF you use the first part of this quote.

But both fit using the second part.

All I knew was that I was destined to be a doctor. Also I knew how to do absolutely nothing else. So This is how it went.
• I’d apply to medical school
• I’d wait for results
• I’d get rejected
• I’d be extremely upset and depressed
• I’d go find more schools to apply to.
• The cycle would be repeated.

Each cycle was pretty simple. I found schools. Then I applied. Then I waited.

Eventually I found a school that would accept me and I got in.

It took a long time but each cycle (each race per this quote) was short and simple.

Let’s look at vol state.
• I’d decide what my 12 hour goal was (we check in every 12 hours)
• Often, depending on how I felt, I’d change that goal- to something shorter like “to the next guardrail” or “the next Dollar General or gas station”.
• I’d do that distance
• I’d pick another goal and go for that.

Only once in all the times I’ve done this race did I think “oh no, there’s still 300 miles to go”, or “I can’t do this for 9 more days”. That was a big mistake. And I quickly fought those thoughts.

It was just a bunch of short races one after the other.

If you break down any project into bits and pieces, and tackle them separately, anything can be accomplished.

Pick something that’s been bugging you and try this.