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You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. Now.
-- Joan Baez
 

 

Saturday, April 11, 1998

Staying positive

It’s easy to be positive and upbeat when things are going well. The real challenge of living with a positive focus, is when life starts handing you problem after problem. It is much more of a struggle to remain positive when there are difficulties swirling around you. Yet that is the time when a positive outlook can make the biggest difference.

Staying positive in the midst of troubles does not mean that you should live in a state of denial, refusing to even acknowledge your problems. Rather, you must clearly see the problems and all their implications, and refuse to let them get you down. Then go beyond that, and look for how you can turn the negative into a positive.

In every difficulty, there is opportunity. In order to see that opportunity, you must look for it. That means looking clearly and objectively at the problem, free of self pity or wishful thinking.

You can be positive, no matter what. Don’t deny your problems, and don’t let them deny you.

— Ralph Marston

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Copyright ©1998 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All Rights Reserved. The Daily Motivator is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only. Other than personal sharing, please do not re-distribute without permission.