JFF, What Helps You Keep Your Good Attitude?

My friend passed away a couple years ago from cancer. She had a one year old little girl and was 5 months pregnant with her son when she found out she had cancer. She went through chemo while being pregnant and taking care of her little girl. She passed away at 25 years old with a one year old daughter and a 3 month old son. I think about her everyday and she is my inspiration to be better.

It is so much easier to be positive and happy!! Negativity takes way too much energy. I find it makes me to feel good about treating people well throughout the day....Starbucks, grocery store, IT tech service, anyplace. Even though I had a pretty bad childhood, divorced and have had tons of medical issues, I am extremely fortunate to live my life.

Aww that's so great! Thanks for sharing :)

Sure fire way to get me out of a funk... MUSIC. Happy go lucky music that you can't help but sing along to, and makes you shake your butt!!

This works for me 100% of the time :)

I choose not to be negative.... and if I catch myself with a crappy attitude, I put myself in check. Life's way to short to be cranky!!

I always try to be the person my Grandmother expects me to be. Since she can look down on me at any time I always try to keep her pleased. As far as a quick smile goofy pictures of my kids always help.

You sound like a giving person :)

I always say "You gotta do what you gotta do to have fun".

When my son is down or starts complaining, I always make him list 3-5 good things on the spot. For example, if he comes home and says some boy didn't play w/him today, I make him name 5 friends who did play w/him or who he likes. I've started making myself do the same when I start complaining.

I have lots (because I need lots of help in this). But the first that comes to mind comes from a close friend whose FIL passed away last week. On his desk he had a sign that said, "Choose your attitude." That's it in a nutshell. I decide whether I am positive or negative. I can't always control what happens to me, but I'm definitely in control of how I choose to respond to it.

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

I have this taped on my computer at work and on my bathroom mirror at home. I read it daily.

Before I became a sahm I worked in a hospice program. It's really difficult to complain about anything in my life when I know there are people out there fighting much bigger battles with such grace. It really makes me appreciate the little things!

ETA, one of my favorite sayings is "be kind to unkind people, they need it the most" It helps me remember everyone has their own battle and we deal with them in different ways.

I, too, am a Christian so I have great peace in knowing that my God is in control and all will eventually work out. I also can't right all the wrongs in the world but my God is taking care of everything in His best timing.

When people hurt me or someone I love, I remember a saying that one of my pastors says, "Hurt people hurt people." It reminds me that the person is in a lot of pain and I shouldn't take it personally. Also, knowing that I have been forgiven daily helps me to forgive and just let things go.

Also, having an attitude of gratitude helps me to be content in all things. We have had many trials in life, as have most people, but having that inner peace that I have much to be thankful for helps me to focus on the positives. It's a happy place to be!

I love your heart of generosity! Whenever a person is feeling down or needing pity, all they need to do is find someone to help out. It works instantaneously.

I agree with some of the statements that others have posted. I give everything to God. He is my equalizer and He makes things right in my life. I smile all the time because I love life and I have no control over anything except the way I react to things. I truly believe that if you go about life with a smile, the world truly does smile with you. When I start to feel myself get 'low' I pray and ask God to give me what He needs me to have to make my life bright again. It works.

I try to remember to just act like a kid.

I try and do my best, even when no one is watching to give me credit for it.

If those aren't working that day, then it's a glass of wine. ;)

Thank you for all your great answers. I was having a bad day today and read the question and all the answers and loved them all. I am not a person whom gets into a funk but I was today, and prayed to God and he answered my prayers through ya'll.

An attitude of gratitude makes you appreciate all you have and are. Focusing on God keeps my perspective right where it should be - off of me and onto Him that deserves my worship and praise. He owns/created all, so everything is just His anyway - on loan for the short time I'm walking on earth. Everything you feel, do, and say is all a matter of choice. If you're making the right choices, it's not about YOU, it's all about HIM!!! My mom always said, "when you complain about not having shoes, remember there's someone out there without feet!!"

giving is so much better than receiving! There were so many questions today from disgruntled moms....that it can be disheartening.

Mothers Day for me is ALL about giving......I truly believe that is where happiness lies. This should apply to every day!

Sleep.

I get pseudo-depressed when I'm tired (everything is cancer, nothing will every change), so it shouldn't be surprising how much BETTER everything looks after a good night's sleep... but it does.

As far as mantras go: Everything is temporary.

When I'm in a bad mood or feeling negative I fake being happy. It's not too long before I really am happy. And I'd rather fake it than ruin a moment or day for someone else just because I'm grumpy.

''Giving up on today, means you dont care about tomorrow''- myself

Everytime I feel like I am seriously beaten for the day emotionally,mentally and spiritually...this is what I repeat to myself. I cant give up on a day that god has not granted me. I have to keep going. Giving up in the moment is what cowards do. I am no coward:)

I also remind myself when I am feeling lousy about stuff, there is some one out there that is more miserable then me. I should be happy I have a roof over my head. Heat and every other daily thing I take for granted.

What do you have to do? Experience ALL emotions. Yes. You do get aggravated when someone cuts you off in traffic, Yes. You cry at the end of a sad movie. Yes. You walk down a trail and think about what your life is about.
In my opinion, being HAPPY is being all things about life. Its kind of like a diet. You could lose weight if you ate nothing but grapefruit. But would you want to? You have to have a mixture of sugar, calories, fat, carbs...its the same for happiness...when you have the right mixture...life is good.....hence, happiness.

I dont trust people that never claim to cry or be aggravated...its not normal.

As far as a motto....as long as you always know who you are...the rest is just.......well.....is.....

I let the "Pollyanna" come out in me and I play the Glad Game.
If you've never seen the 1960 movie starring Hayley Mills, I recommend
it. Her attitude of seeing the good in everything and everybody was contagious for me. Also, when I feel I am being tested, I sing (in my head)
"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine". Keeps me light-hearted.
My favortie motto: "You don't know what you don't know". We don't
need to understand why bad things happen, but having Hope for better
things to come from it gives me relief. Hope has recently been defined
to me as having a confident expectation.
Good question, by the way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dge1E8OeQRc a clip from Pollyanna movie