How To Get It All Back #R2BC

Is Your Glass Half-Empty?  Then Why Not See It As Half-Full Instead? 

I've spoken a lot recently about things that have affected me quite negatively, knocking my confidence and undoing some of the good that I have achieved over the last couple of years.  It seems that sometimes life has been conspiring against me, testing me and chipping away at the happy veneer I had developed.  I hate things that are out of my control.  I hate the fact that I allow things to eat away at me.  I feel myself being eroded and I fear totally losing myself to my inner, ever lurking darkness.  But it doesn't have to be this way.

I am refusing to let all this destroy what I have worked hard to achieve. I am empowering myself again.  I am reminding myself of all the positive things in my life instead of focusing and obsessing about the negatives.  Until you concentrate of the positives, the spiral of doom will just continue. You can't always change the situation you are in, but you can change the way you perceive  it.

•  I have some amazing people in my life.  My husband is simply wonderful and we are about to celebrate fifteen years of marriage.  My children are a constant source of joy, love and pride.  My relationship with my parents is better than it's ever been and the relationship that my kids have with their grandparents is so enriching.  I don't have many friends, but the ones that I do have (both in the real and virtual worlds) are absolutely brilliant, supportive and very positive influences in my life. I have been overwhelmed by some of the support I have received recently. I am so thankful to have all these wonderful folk in my life.
• Ian's health scare a few months ago was a real shock to me.  I never like to think of him as anything less than in perfect health and talk of kidney failure and dialysis was really scary.  Ian's last hospital check up was not 100% perfect, but the doctors were happy enough to discharge him under the proviso that he self-monitors.  At first I was upset by this, but looking at it realistically he is now fully aware of what the problem is.  It will never creep up on us again and if symptoms do return we will act immediately.  We are in a much better place with it all and he is fine. I am so grateful.
• I have a lovely home.  OK, I'd love to move to a better place with more opportunities, but if that never happens, my house is still pretty cool.  We are happy when we're at home together and there are things that I'd miss if I moved away.  So until we move (or in case we never do manage to find a buyer) I intend to enjoy my favourite Indian takeaway, my awesome dentist, Fordhall Farm and the other few things that I really like about my hometown.  Focusing on the negative will not help anyone. 
• I really have low regard for Ella's school but she will be moving to a new college in September.  Kizzy has two more years at Primary School so I don't have to have any involvement for a while.  I am excited about the next stage of Ella's education with the prospect of better facilities, teaching and opportunities.  Her close knit network of friends from her current school will still be here for her, giving her the best of both worlds.  
• We are thinking about our future.  Things are changing for our family and although this is potentially quite scary, it also opens doors.  Rather than being fearful of change, I'm intending to embrace it.  Our financial future is looking rocky for the first time in years, but I am focusing on belt-tightening and budgeting and am actually getting quite a kick out of saving money!
• Too often I've been grabbing something from the freezer for dinner rather than making meals from scratch.  You can get in such a rut and just lose sight of your inner Domestic Goddess.  So I'm going to enjoy cooking again and will be planning healthy meals for my family.  I'm stocking up on lentils and pulses. I'm in control again!
• I've got things to look forward to.  Some really good things.  I want to be in the right state of mind to completely enjoy them...I will be in the right state of mind!!

I can really do this, and if you are feeling like you have lost your self belief, give it a go.  It is a good way to start rebuilding yourself.  Look at what you have got and be grateful, rather than pining for what you can't have or focusing on what is wrong in your life.  See the beauty in your life and remove the negative thoughts and feelings that are so damaging.  

Thanks to the positivity of S.A.M. for giving me the courage and support to adopt the 'Glass Half Full' approach!

I'm linking up to Michelle's Reason to be Cheerful.  Click on the badge to read more stories of gratitude and cheer.