Positive Attitude
Title: Lessons In Nature By Linda Salazar



Recently I was sitting on my living room couch reading, when the howling of the wind and the pelting rain caught my attention. It was quite apparent that the wind and rain were doing their best to make their mark on this day. Although weather like this could have brought on a feeling of gloominess, I found myself filled with a great sense of peace, warmth and oneness with everything around me.

I was in awe of the power and perfection of what was taking place outside as I was sheltered by the comfort of my home. In that moment, it occurred to me that there are times when the storm I was observing outside often exists inside all of us. The difference though, is the elements of nature’s storm seemed to work in harmony, compared to the elements of the storm that can live inside of us, creating a sense of turmoil, upheaval and confusion.

As the wind blew ferociously, the trees seemed willing to bend when necessary, allowing the wind to move through easily, doing what it naturally does causing little, if any, real damage. As the trees swayed with the wind, they still maintained their strength, as if to say, “This too shall pass, and with little resistance to the outside circumstances I will feel a sense of ease and calm once again.”

As the old leaves and branches were being blown off, I imagined the trees and wind agreeing to create this void, knowing it was only temporary with the intention to make room for new growth, so the trees could become stronger and more beautiful over time.

While the rain was drenching the ground I noticed the ground absorbing it easily and effortlessly instead of getting overwhelmed which can cause flooding simply because it can’t take in anymore. On this day, the rain delivered and the ground gratefully soaked up every drop. The rain became a life force that assisted in bringing out the vibrancy of the grass and flowers, which is always there, but can sometimes be hidden when a necessary element is missing for the inner beauty to come forth.

One thing I know for sure, there will always be storms, inside and out. And it’s up to you to decide how you want to manage the energy of the storms that move through you from time to time. You know how easy it is to maintain a state of calm and centeredness when the sun is shining, but it’s during the stormy times, when your greatest opportunity for emotional growth can take place.

Why not make the choice to be less resistant to the storms. Allow yourself to bend in a way that can guide you to opportunities that assist you in soaking up all of the elements you need to find your truth and joy. And when you do, start living your life from that place one day at a time.

 

The Power of Now   Like most people, you probably want things. Think of three things you want (before you read on). 1, 2, 3 things.  Did you do it? Whether or not you want a spiffy car, to lose weight, a new relationship, fame, fortune or whatever, you want what you want because you believe it will make you happy. Feeling good is the bottom line behind every single goal. Even if your goal is to help other people feel good, you want to do it because it makes YOU feel good. It makes you happy.

Choose to Forgive   I want you to realize something very important. Are you listening, because if you can grasp this concept, you will learn to soar. If you are angry or upset at someone, if you feel that they did something to you that was wrong, you’re being angry, hurt and upset is not going to change them. You are only going to hurt yourself. What would you rather be, right in the conviction that everyone should feel sorry for you for that hard time you have had at the hands of others, or free from the pain. Wouldn’t it be better to forgive, rise above the pain and be happy? What does it prove to the world, to that person, to you by holding on to the hurt?

Building Self-Confidence   It's no secret that self-confidence is very important to achieving success in any area of life. The thing about self-confidence is that it is very sensitive to our personal experience and is inherently instable. In other words, your self-confidence has a “snowball affect.” And it can snowball in a positive direction or it can snowball in a negative direction. Here’s how it works:

How Do You Talk to Yourself?  How do you treat yourself? Do you regularly appreciate and celebrate your accomplishments? Or do you just step over them to get on with the next job? I’ll bet you could use a tune-up when it comes to patting yourself on the back. My new clients often discover they have a habit of saying to themselves, “Faster! Now do this! Faster! Now do this!” What do you say to yourself?

Do You Have a Good Sense of Humor   Plato once said that “Life was meant to be lived as play.” When I ask audience members if they have a sense of humor, I usually get 25 per cent of the group raising their hands. Yet, when I tell a joke, most of the audience laughs. I’d like to expand your understanding of yourself and humor. Underneath the word PLAYFULNESS are more specific terms such as humor and fun. Humor is the ability to give laughter or be the instigator of playfulness. This is the more yang, or masculine principle. Fun, on the other hand, is the ability to receive laughter.