Daily Gratitude: When things aren’t going well, make up your mind to dig down deep and find that joy. It may take a some time and effort to find that joy but you can do it if you realize how much better it will make you feel. All too often, we sit back and just wait for the doldrums to pass. That usually doesn’t work. It’s an individual responsibility to be happy and find the joy. It’s there so don’t try to give an excuse that it’s not there. Yes, I understand that sometimes things are really bad and you don’t want to or can’t put forth the effort to be joyful. That’s ok. At some point, the rain of crud might lighten up and you might have friends that will help you dig and find some improvement in your feelings. Just remember that the capability to be joyful is there. When things are going well, try practicing to see how much of it you can find. It’s easier to do that when you’re in a good or neutral mood than to try it for the first time while feeling down.

Daily Gratitude: This should be a no brainer in our day and age. Everything happens at the speed of light. What’s news this hour won’t be news in 12 hours. Something else will have taken its place. In the same way we do spring cleaning, we need to do some decluttering of our minds. “That’s the way we’ve always done it” is never a good reason to continuing doing something. Sure it may involve a little more effort to embrace or at least try something new, but what if it works so well, it ultimately makes your life easier? Wouldn’t that be great? If you’ve had resentment for one or more persons in your life, isn’t it time to let go of it? You know the other person probably doesn’t know you’re harboring the resentment. So, it’s usually only hurting you. What if you let go of that? How much pressure and pain would you be releasing from your system? How much healthier could you become with releasing that pent up energy. You know that energy is doing something inside you. Energy doesn’t just stand still. Unfortunately, what it’s doing is wreaking havoc on your body (especially your nervous system). I had a great mentor who believed that most people who have had cancer have some degree of resentment buried deep in their soul. That is not a scientific study but was only based on her experience but it also fits with the anecdotal experience i’ve had as a physician. Anyway, take some time to get the broom out and do some cleaning of your old ways and have an “open house” so to speak during which you can entertain new ideas.

Daily Gratitude: I love this. All too often we feel we have to eliminate our fears in order to do something. That’s hard to do. But if you look at it from the perspective of this quote, it makes it pretty simple. If you had to run into a burning house to retrieve your computer, your fear would probably win out and you wouldn’t do it (i hope anyway). But, if your child or children were in there, the fear you might be feeling is overshadowed by the love and your protective nature as a parent and human being. You’re still afraid if the fire but saving your kids is much more important. I’m taking a certification course and it involves in person classes with break out sessions (my least favorite activity) and also involves lots of other things I’ve never done. Am I afraid of all that? You bet. Is what i will be able to do more important to me than that fear? Definitely. Same applies to starting the 180 seconds to a better life – Talking with Dr. Terrie. I was more scared of doing that than i have been in a very long time. But, my desire to do it and teach again was more important than the fear. it still took me a long time to get it started but it was that the importance overshadowed the fear that helped me get going. Try looking at some of your fears like this and see how much courage you can develop.