When you are struggling to stay positive

Do you struggle to stay positive? Normally I am a fairly positive person but like everyone, I have days that I just don’t feel very positive.

Today was one of those days. I somehow got a piece of glass in my eye, at least I think it was a piece of glass. I woke up with whatever it was and it irritated the eye so much that as I was trying to finish my only client session today, I had my hand over my eye and it kept watering.

After the session, I washed the eye, used the eye cup, and consulted my husband for ideas. I gave thought to figuring out if my eye doctor was open but then I’d have to line up a ride and all the obstacles just overwhelmed me.

My eyes are critical to my work so I think that added to my frustrations. I need my eyes to see my screens so I can write. My frustration bubbled over into tears and I think in the end that’s how my eye finally cleared up.

What should you do when you are struggling to stay positive?

1. Figure out the cause. Are you sick or hurt? Short on sleep? Need to eat? Frightened about something?
2. See if there are solutions. Do you need an expert? Some problems are just too big to solve by themselves.
3. Talk to someone you trust. Venting helps as long as that person understands that you just need to get it out of you.
4. Let yourself feel it. Some people block their feelings and then their attitude comes out through everything else that they do.
5. If you need to do something to solve the problem, find a way to do it and someone to turn to for help. Many times when we are alone, we make the problem bigger because we are scared. Just coming up with a solution and following through often can make you feel better.

Photo Credit: Sebastien Wiertz