“Forget yesterday – it has already forgotten you. Don’t sweat tomorrow – you haven’t even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift – today.”
Steve Maraboli,
I have been in situations where I thought things were bad, and sometimes I was very unhappy, and other times I was happy. The difference wasn’t in the external circumstances, but in my mindset. I have learned to appreciate what I have, instead of focusing on the things I didn’t have or didn’t like. I am grateful for my health, for the people in my life, for were I live and being alive.
If we can learn to develop the right mindset, we can be happy now, without changing anything else. We don’t need to wait until we have changed everything and made our life perfect before we are happy — we have everything we need to be happy right now.
Take a moment to be grateful for something. What in your life is good? Even if everything seems bad, there must be one good thing. It might simply be that you have beauty somewhere nearby, or that you are alive, or that your children are healthy. Find something, and give thanks for that.
Find the little things that can give you simple joys. What do you need to be happy? I love simple things, like taking a walk, spending time with a loved one, reading a book, eating some berries, drinking tea. These cost very little, and require very little, and make me very happy. Find the simple things that give you similar happiness, and focus on those rather than what you don’t have.
Find the things about yourself that you are happy with. We tend to criticize ourselves easily, but what if we turned it around and asked, “What do I do right? What am I good at? What is lovable about me?” Make a mental list. Start to focus on these things rather than what you’re unhappy with.
Do the same with others in your life. Instead of criticizing them, ask yourself, “What is good about this person? What do I love about them?” List them and focus on these things above all else.
“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”
Steve Maraboli,
appliedalliance 
I tend to be the type of person who always believes that things happen for a reason and, therefore, instinctively look for the positive in things. Not always easy. Right now, for example, things have been challenging (to say the least) for a very long time. However, I do know that, somewhere in the future, I will look back and go “Ah, that’s why”.
I love your great attitude…In time, when you look back, you will marvel at how you made it through! Stay strong. Julia
We can develop right mindset only in certain situations. There are circumstances that leave us with no reason to stay normal. We can fight disappointment , we can fight depression to some extent but its almost impossible to get rid of grief.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. In believe that we must never underestimate the power we have to take our life in a new direction. It takes courage and a large dose of self belief. Julia
Hi Julia, yes I agree it takes a lot of courage indeed. You can visit my blog and my recent posts will show the level of grief / negativity I am dealing with at the moment. And this is one reason for which I feel powerless and helpless. Please read my posts and leave your views. They may help.