The other day I woke up feeling really grumpy. There was no apparent reason - although perhaps staying up too late the night before (again!), a lingering cold, or an earlier-than-usual morning alarm all didn't help. Anyone in my path was in danger of being snapped at. It didn't help the fact that everything appeared to be going wrong, or that the kids seemed a little more 'rambunctious' than usual (grrr!).
So I thought it quite ironic that this week's (okay, fortnight's!) blog post, from the 10 Keys to Happier Living, is all about EMOTION: Take a positive approach.
When I think about this concept - of how we really should view situations in a 'glass-half-full' way - I'm reminded of a friend of mine. Let's call her Theresa (not her real name, by the way). Theresa's life probably hasn't turned out exactly as she'd originally planned. She's a single mum, plus a foster carer to two small children, and lives in a tiny community 30 minutes' drive from the nearest town. Sounds like reason enough to get down-in-the-dumps pretty regularly...
The inspirational thing about Theresa is that while she does struggle at times - who wouldn't?! - every time I see her she's smiling! I asked her recently how she manages to get by, and she replied with a laugh, "Well, I have to keep on being positive. Sometimes you just have to laugh, or you'd cry!"
Research backs this up. One example is Fredricksen's 'broaden-and-build' theory, which suggests that positive emotions "broaden the scopes of attention and cognition", thereby helping to "initiate upward spirals toward increasing emotional well-being."
Basically, when we feel positive emotions - such as joy, gratitude, and contentment - this enhances a range of resources in our lives, including social, physical, and intellectual, helping us to flourish.
Now, I'm not saying here that we shouldn't be realistic when it comes to the 'rollercoaster of life' - with all its ups and downs - but having a positive outlook certainly helps the 'downs' to be a whole lot more bearable.
So, what are you feeling good about? Reply with a comment below, or share on my Facebook page. :)
So I thought it quite ironic that this week's (okay, fortnight's!) blog post, from the 10 Keys to Happier Living, is all about EMOTION: Take a positive approach.
When I think about this concept - of how we really should view situations in a 'glass-half-full' way - I'm reminded of a friend of mine. Let's call her Theresa (not her real name, by the way). Theresa's life probably hasn't turned out exactly as she'd originally planned. She's a single mum, plus a foster carer to two small children, and lives in a tiny community 30 minutes' drive from the nearest town. Sounds like reason enough to get down-in-the-dumps pretty regularly...
The inspirational thing about Theresa is that while she does struggle at times - who wouldn't?! - every time I see her she's smiling! I asked her recently how she manages to get by, and she replied with a laugh, "Well, I have to keep on being positive. Sometimes you just have to laugh, or you'd cry!"
Research backs this up. One example is Fredricksen's 'broaden-and-build' theory, which suggests that positive emotions "broaden the scopes of attention and cognition", thereby helping to "initiate upward spirals toward increasing emotional well-being."
Basically, when we feel positive emotions - such as joy, gratitude, and contentment - this enhances a range of resources in our lives, including social, physical, and intellectual, helping us to flourish.
Now, I'm not saying here that we shouldn't be realistic when it comes to the 'rollercoaster of life' - with all its ups and downs - but having a positive outlook certainly helps the 'downs' to be a whole lot more bearable.
So, what are you feeling good about? Reply with a comment below, or share on my Facebook page. :)
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