Positive Takes Practice

I am fortunate enough to be able to stop everything and go off and re-focus my mind when I feel myself entering "the danger zone"

My danger zone is when I allow worries to multiply and if I don't consciously attempt to put an end to the negativity it will grow at a rapid rate until I explode.

I had one of those "moments" this morning. Perhaps I slept too little or maybe a bit too much but sleep is often a trigger for my stress.

Taking care of your bodies needs is the biggest defense against those stresses in life that we cannot always avoid.

It is the rare person who walks through life never feeling a moment of fear, worry or self-doubt. Many of us need to practice positive habits that help us to cope when life's struggles begin to build.

Worrying about one thing often turns into a domino effect. When this happens, I remove myself from it all by going into a place where I feel safe.

For me if I am not able to leave my home (which is often the case- no car) I retreat to my bedroom. I lite an incense cone in a scent that I find relaxing and I look at a affirmation board that I created. I choose one of the many positive thoughts and I lay on my bed repeating it over and over in my head.

The negative thoughts may come, but I don't give them the power to build.

It takes practice to fight these negative thoughts and if I need to cry and get through them I will. Crying is not a bad thing; it actually can help to free you of the doubting voices.

I then focus on my breathing and with each exhale I imagine black vapor escaping that takes away all the negative vibes. With every inhale I imagine purple, pink and other colors of the rainbow entering me and warming me with love and confidence.

I remind myself that I lived through far worse situations than I am currently in. I came through them wiser and stronger.

Although it seems hopeless at times, there is still a glimmer of light left. I practice on keeping this light burning. It will grow stronger.

I think of the love I have in my life and how that love's strength keeps me going.

I remind myself that although I am not perfect, I am not evil either. I deserve good things and challenges, although daunting, are just lessons to be learned. I can do this. I don't have to allow the fears to multiply and cloud my mind.

Practice makes perfect and even if I slip; all is not lost. I just keep on moving forward, practicing, believing and being grateful for the good.