Diane Hughes | @DianeWordsmith
  • Home
  • My Blogs
    • Musings on Life
    • The Write Stuff Blog
    • Ireland Travel Blog
    • Tread Light Adventure Travel
  • Resume
  • My Work
    • Writing Portfolio
    • Photo Gallery
  • Writing/Editing services
  • Contact

MUSINGS ON LIFE
I think; therefore, I muse
 
DIANE HUGHES • NASHVILLE, TN
WRITER, EDITOR, CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL

You are what you think (Are you a Tigger ... or an Eeyore?)

7/30/2011

12 Comments

 
power of positive thinkingTigger or Eeyore? Which are you?
Tigger, the energetic Winnie the Pooh character who is always bouncing around, tends to view life with childlike wonder and boundless enthusiasm. Eeyore, on the other hand, mopes around depressed and sad, always seeing the glass of life as half empty. I'll admit that some days I'm a Tigger and others I'm an Eeyore. It was an Eeyore kind of day that inspired this post.

Perhaps you've heard of the movie "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." Well, this is the story of "Diane and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."

It's not that anything had gone particularly wrong on this beautiful summer Saturday; it just didn't seem like anything was going particularly right. I was worried about my newspaper colleagues who had just lost their jobs in a layoff. I was also suffering the effects of post-graduation letdown. Having spent the previous year focused on homework, writing a research paper and making it to graduation, I was feeling out of sorts and unsure of where to put my energy.

After surveying my empty flower pots and baskets, I decided to direct my energy toward my neglected gardening efforts in hopes of bringing some life and color to my gloomy existence. Gardening is one of my loves in life, and my gardening season typically begins around April 15 — easily remembered because it's Tax Day, but it also happens to be the time by which Middle Tennessee has usually experienced its final frost of the season. It was now mid-June. So, I made a list and headed out to my neighborhood Home Depot.

While I left home with good intentions, determined to get something done and not let the day go to waste, by the time I pulled my car (laden with ferns, flowers and potting soil) into my neighborhood, I just wasn't feeling it. If you recall the Staples back-to-school commercial — the one where the parents are happily gliding through the store with a shopping cart, followed by their two children who look like they're on a death march — that's pretty much how I felt. And that's when I saw it. A scarlet-red cardinal suddenly lit on a bush on my neighbor's lawn as I was driving past. The brilliant color of his red feathers broke through the barrier and crashed my pity party. He was beautiful.

There's an old cliche that states "You are what you eat." At that moment, I was reminded that "We are what we THINK." When we focus on the bad, we tend to see more bad in the world. When we focus on what's good, the more of it we find. The beauty of this small but magnificent creature brought me back to reality and impressed upon me that even when we are surrounded by ugliness, there is still beauty in the world — if only we will take the time to notice it. During a recent Harry Potter movie marathon (in anticipation of viewing the epic film that ends the series), I took note of a comment by Albus Dumbledore's character.

"Happiness can be found in the darkest of places, if only one remembers to turn on the light."

I believe there truly is power in positive thinking. Just as good acts beget good acts in return, good thoughts beget more good thoughts. The concept goes back to the commonsense notion that if you do something long enough or often enough, it becomes a habit. It's the same principal that serves as the basis for drug and alcohol rehab treatment. There was even a movie about it: 28 Days. While the number varies, there's a common belief that if you perform the exercise for 21 to 28 days, that action will become a habit.

Does developing a positive attitude mean that bad days will be vanquished? Of course not. But I believe that it will result in fewer of them. Don't get me wrong. There are situations where it's almost impossible to find anything positive. Cancer is bad. Losing a loved one to a long-term illness is painful. Facing serious financial hardship is difficult. But there are people who face these hardships and do so with an inspiring attitude that makes the rest of us look like sissies. Take college professor Randy Pausch for example. In 2006 Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; about a year later, he was told he had three to six months to live. Just after doctors delivered that dire prognosis, Pausch delivered a lecture at Carnegie Mellon University. In what is now famously known as "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch uses humor and a positive attitude to inspire others. Following is one of the insights he shared in the lecture.

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."

It's a sentiment that's been uttered by many writers, poets and speakers throughout the ages. Put another way: It's not what happens to us in life but how we react to it that determines our destiny. Pausch died of complications from pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008. In re-reading the text of his last lecture, I can't help feeling that if Randy Pausch could find the good in a bad situation, then maybe, just maybe, there's hope for the rest of us.

How do you maintain a positive attitude? Do you have your own successful method of fighting negativity? Whether you have a tip to share or a comment on your own struggle, your thoughts are welcome. While you are required to give a name in order to leave a comment, feel free to leave your first name only or moniker of choice. To leave a response, click Comment(s) and enter information in the Leave A Reply form.

Subscribe to Musings on Life
12 Comments
Naomi
8/1/2011 10:22:13 am

I love your blog. I just had an eeore month, but am pulling out. No one can keep me down unless I allow them to!

Love you,

Mimi/Naomi

Reply
Diane Hughes link
8/1/2011 10:27:04 am

Naomi,

That's right! When we feel knocked down, we just have to get back up and keep on fighting.Hang in there!

Diane

Reply
Crystal Stinson
8/3/2011 04:31:56 am

Well said as usual Diane! I love the way you put things! I too have my days - my negative days and my postive days! Tigger and Eeyore days!! Often i do try to stop and "smell the roses" and look at my life. Ya know what i'm healthy, i have a job, i have a home, i have a wonderful family and boyfriend (about to be even better "husband" that i love so much! And a great soon-to-be stepson.) Sometimes it just hits me and i do stop and think - "ya know what im pretty happy!" There are always things that happen to bring me down or make me have a bad day. But in the grand scheme of things... i am truly happy and blessed in my life. And ya know what? - thats not too bad cause not everyone can say the same thing!
thanks for sharing Diane!!! : )

Reply
Diane Hughes link
8/3/2011 01:21:46 pm

Crystal,

I always appreciate your comments, and I'm glad to know that my words strike a chord with you. Thanks for reading!

Diane

Reply
Laura Wilkins
8/5/2011 04:06:11 am

This made me cry, Di. You are wise beyond your years...

Reply
Diane Hughes link
8/5/2011 05:57:26 am

Ahhh….Laura. Nice to know my words resonated with you. Now, dry those tears and think happy thoughts!

Reply
Carrie Lundy
8/13/2011 12:09:53 pm

You are what you think... SO TRUE! "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Prov. 23:7) Good stuff Diane - you're such a good writer! Keep it coming!
Carrie

Reply
Diane Hughes link
8/13/2011 03:00:28 pm

Carrie,

Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I thought of the verse you mentioned while I was writing this, along with another one:

Whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report ... think on these things. Philippians 4:8

We all know it; we just need an occasional reminder. :-)

Reply
Sheree
9/8/2012 08:35:59 am

Music sets my mood. A little Henedrix to get the blood pumping, a little Springsteen to set my soul singing and Leonard Cohen singing Anthem to bring it all home to my heart. There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in. I have learned to live in the moment for they will never pass this way again. So I guess today. Right now. In this precious moment, you can just call me The Tig:)

Reply
Diane Hughes link
9/8/2012 08:40:41 am

"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." I LOVE this. Yes, embrace life with all its flaws and imperfections. That's what gives it (and us) depth and character.

Reply
Astrology consultation in Chennai link
12/23/2022 10:36:59 am

Sree KPJ gems experts know the exact positions of your planets and will then suggest you the suitable remedies - precious gemstone or performing regular poojas. We are no.1 Astrology online consultancy services in Chennai

Reply
John Stanley link
1/27/2023 03:51:46 am

Thank you for your information about home. This is very important for me and I'm very interested in your information.

<a href= "https://thenewsshed.com/photography-post-production-a-process-that-helps-you-improve-your-photos/ ">Keyword<a/>

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    DIANE HUGHES

    I write, edit, photograph and muse about life.

    Picture
          
           

    Subscribe by email.

    Powered by FeedPress


    Picture
    Need help to improve your writing? Visit my writing & grammar blog:
     The Write Stuff       


    ARCHIVES

    April 2019
    January 2019
    March 2015
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    November 2013
    May 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    CATEGORIES

    All
    Books
    Christmas
    College
    Copywriting
    Gardening
    Holiday
    Inspiration
    Learning
    Life Lessons
    Media
    Monday Minute
    Most Popular Posts
    Mother
    Nature
    Simple Pleasures
    Travel
    Versatile Blogger Award
    Write For The Fight
    Writing

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from matrianklw, Phil Hawksworth, miss machine♥, stephenshellard, heyFilbert, The Feedman, asenat29, alex_ford, kphotographer, http://www.samcatchesides.com/, dcarlbom, g23armstrong, Mourner, dorena-wm, ComputerHotline, Denkrahm, Sigma.DP2.Kiss.X3, trawin, comedy_nose, katerha, OiMax, kathryn_rotondo