Finding the positives...

I've had a few weeks of feeling like life isn't as good as I want it to be...I'm tired from commuting, university isn't super amazing fun, money is tight...all valid feelings and emotions.


However I've been prompted from a few different places (articles, blogs, Pinterest) that moaning about it doesn't actually help. In fact a friend recently offered to have coffee with me to chat it through and I declined because to talk about it more just felt like I was going to stir things up and that probably wasn't helpful.


Ultimately, as humans, we are selfish people and tend to focus on our own problems...and as British people we don't help this problem much since the social convention is to say 'how are you?' which just invites people to share their annoyances and to complain (British people love to complain!).
Don't get me wrong, I love that I have so many lovely friends who ask how I am and genuinely want to know if things are bad so that they can try to help- but sometimes I think this means that we focus too much on the negatives and not on the positives...and I am certainly the most guilty of this!


So I'm going to try and be more positive, to see the good things that are happening in my day and focus on those...because if I count up the positive, little things; then maybe the not-so-good bigger things won't seem so bad.
(I'm so aware that I'm going to fail at this many times because moaning and worrying are buried so deep into my nature! But I'm trying...)


For example it's only 9.15am and I have several good things to share today:
- I got to uni early and got my favourite spot in the library again...perfect view, temperature, good seat, not too close to lots of other people.
- I got a parking space! This is always a mini-victory when I get this because there's certainly no guarantee of getting one and before now I've missed out and been late to lectures because I'm scrambling for a place to park.
- This morning as I left home I got to see the sunrise...I never see the sunrise. It's too early for me! But today I was up because I had to be, and God blessed that obedience by painting the sky the most beautiful oranges, reds and yellows. It was truly beautiful.
- Tonight I have the evening off...no plans, I can stay in and wear my pyjamas, and just chill out.
- I currently have over 2 hours until my lecture which means I can get some work done and feel more confident going into the weekend.


There may be some annoyances in my life, some things that are less than ideal, but my life is definitely good. There's a beautiful song from the tv show Nashville called 'Life that's good' and the lyrics say:

Two arms around me, heaven to ground me,
and a family that always calls me home,

Four wheels to get there, enough love to share
and a sweet sweet sweet song

At the end of the day,
Lord I pray ,
I have a life that's good.

This is so true...I have God, and a family, and a home, and a car, and friends, and my health...my life is so good. Today I'm very thankful for that.

Much love xxx