A Positive Outlook

     You often hear the advice, 'keep a positive attitude,' but what does that mean?  Should you look at the world through rose colored glasses, not acknowledging the truth of a situation?  I think a positive outlook or attitude has a deeper meaning. None of us are immune to the slings and arrows of life, but how we weather the storm can be greatly influenced by our attitude. There are many stories of people surviving horrific life threatening situations or illnesses and there are stories of people sadly giving up in similar situations. Attitude probably played a major role in these situations. You do not have to look at the world through rose colored glasses, but you do have to look beyond your present situation. Usually the way you look at a problem is, at least to some degree, how it comes out.  Thankfully, we can often say something wasn't as bad as we thought it would be, but we still put ourselves through a lot of pain and anguish in anticipation of the event.  None of us want to go through a root canal procedure, but we can choose to concentrate on the expertise and skill of the dentist and how improved your dental health will be when it is done.  Often root canals are preceded by repeated pain in the area and other procedures to save the tooth.  Now the issue has been effectively dealt with and there will be no more pain. If you try to correct a  problem by focusing on the positive outcome that you wish to achieve, it gives you a way to effectively take care of the problem while keeping your stress levels down.  You're not saying that a tooth that obviously needs repair is fine, but you are focusing on your desired good; that will bring happiness rather than stress. That is the difference.  No long distance runner focuses on how long the race is, but upon completing the race and making it to the finish line.
     There is a saying that attitude is everything and it is a medical fact that constant stress can have harmful effects on you. So a positive outlook does make life worth living because it allows you to strive for the good in all situations and reduce the stress that can make life hell.  A good that we all deserve and are capable of manifesting.  There are metaphysical studies that say what you focus on is what you get.  Well, you have two choices.  You can set up a self-fulfilling prophesy of all the bad outcomes in your life that could happen, or you can choose the other side of the coin of the good in your life with positive outcomes.
     In my book Pompeii Days, Mary, the main character, admits she is a bit of a worrier.  In traveling to Pompeii, she has to admit she is unnerved by the potentially active volcano, Vesuvius.  However, her love for ancient history overrides this and she goes there to do excavations and field work.  Due to rumblings under the volcano she experiences an earthquake and meets a man, with very a very positive view of life, who will challenge her worrier attitude.  She will have to remember the lessons he spoke of, because they may be the one thing that will saves her in a dangerous situation.

   

Traveling to New Places

          Traveling to new places makes life worth living.  Travel can mean a day trip to a destination an hour away or a twenty hour flight across the ocean. What is important, in either excursion, is the new sights, sounds, and experiences that a trip to a place you have never been before can bring you. There is more to be gained than getting away from the day-to-day grind of driving to work and the stress of our jobs.  We often stress about recurring problems in our lives.  Travel allows us to step away from these problems for bit, allowing our now relaxed subconscious brain to come up with some creative solutions.  I don't know how much scientific study has been done on this issue, but I know even after a short weekend away, I feel more optimistic and capable to handle concerns in my life. When you are dealing with a new environment, you have to give it more attention.  You can't spend all your time worrying about your problems.
     The beauty of the White Mountains of New Hampshire reminds me of the majesty of nature in our world.  The mountains also remind me of the higher power that created them, a power that can certainly help with a positive solution to my problems. I felt that same feeling in Hawaii.  There are dark mountains that formed when the volcanic islands were born.  When we were driving through the valleys, the mountains would rise dramatically on either side of roadway; an imposing sight.  Here I know I am part of a dynamic world that is ever changing and always full of possibilities and creativity.
     I have met people from different states and countries in my travels.  These people often have some of the same hopes and concerns I have about life, and most especially about our children, but some have problems I can't imagine, and I remember to appreciate all I have.  If nothing else, when I come home after staying at a nice hotel, I am more determined to remove the clutter from my home in exchange for a more organized and peaceful environment, which means less cleaning and more time for myself and my family.
     Mary Conti, the main character in my book, Pompeii Days, is afraid she is running away from her problems by going to Pompeii, but it is her hope that the  trip will give her a new perspective on a relationship that she fears is going nowhere.  The trip will also help solidify her love for ancient history in all its aspects, including dirty, dusty, and sometimes dangerous excavations.  It will force her to challenge herself to deal with situations that are perilous, and to realize what a strong and courageous person she really is.  Being in Pompeii will also help her to decide whether to let go of her romantic relationship at home, and explore one that could turn out to be much better.  So take a trip, near or far, and see what it could bring into your life.