How to Stay Positive

Have you ever read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?  Did you know that when Dorothy goes to the Emerald City they are all required to wear green glasses?  And then everyone remarks what a lovely green the city is.  I have watched the movie several times, but hadn’t read the book for a long time (that part isn’t in the movie).  The idea that the Emerald City was so beautiful because they were all forced to wear the glasses…. hold that, and your rose colored glasses in your head…

There is just SO much to be down about these days.  Syrian Refugees, terrorism, planes going down, political elections, the national deficit.  Oh, yuck.  I’m a MUCH happier person now that I stopped watching the news.  I just didn’t know how to stay positive while still watching the news (I do still read The Skimm)

Then there is the stuff in my own house.  It’s SO easy to become REALLY down-trodden.  Things like report cards, letters from the teacher, homework, chores that would be so much easier to do on your own, yet you cajole your kids into doing them (and doing them right– that’s the REAL kicker!).  It’s no wonder that so many women are either on Prozac or self-medicate with other things.

It is true that mom’s attitude phrases the attitude for the entire house.  Is it far?  NO, IT TOTALLY ISN’T!  Can’t I sometimes have a completely $^&*-y day without it affecting everyone in my household?  No, you can’t.  You brought a baby in the world who looks to you for its cues to its life.  It’s a total bummer.  But true.

I have been reading the book Remembering Wholeness by Carol Tuttle.  In the book she talks about how your attitude changes your life.  How you BUILD your own life with your own attitude (positive attitude begets positive things).  Here’s 5 tips for staying whole by staying positive:

Thanks so much

Gratitude is the easiest way of putting on your green glasses (referenced above).  Suddenly you realize all the beautiful things in your life.  Have you read my entry about the 5 things before bed?

Frame things in the positive

My manager is a real stickler for not having signs in the negative.  So, instead of “No cell phones allowed” she’ll put a sign that says “cell phones allowed outside the nursery”.  I think it’s a good reminder to allow our kids to DO things, maybe just no in the proximity to our ear drums that they are right now.  Or, not in the living room where things that I like might get broken.

Realize WHY

Why did  you get a child who wants to argue his life away?  Why did you get a little girl who’d rather color than do just about anything (including her chores, play the computer or eat dinner)?  Sometimes by seeing your unique characteristics as a parent, you can help that weakness in your kid.  That child was sent to you for a reason, after all.

Fake It

Yup, it has got to be a REALLY bad day before I’m going to say it.  I’ll say the day is going great.  Mainly in the hopes that it WILL go great at some point.  Fingers crossed.

Remember what YOU need

As I said in an earlier Smart Moms entry I need fun in my life, to the point that I actually need to schedule those fun times in.  Both for myself and for my family.  My family NEEDS me to be fun.  That’s why I’m their mom.  I bring a unique sense of fun to everything that I do.

Because gosh dang-it, my kids are lucky to have me.  Hopefully these 5 things help you to keep your Emerald (or rose-colored) glasses on.  I would hope the majority of the days can be bright and shiny.  At least in your eyes (which is all that matters anyway).  Do you think that your view changes your entire life (and possibly even the outcome of your life).  Tell me in the comments!

Photos by Dollar Photo Club

**{Smart} Moms is a relative term.  I had to give it a name, but I am the first one to say I’m not smart all the time. There’s plenty of times my glasses are off and the world is just ugly, I just find it easier when I my attitude is the bright spot.  This series is just a list of things I’ve found to make life easier — not to say — WOOT WOOT, I’m SOooooOOOO smart! {said like Steve Martin}

Check out all my other {smart} moms posts:[pt_view id=”4256a9870e”]