Choose a positive

Insight from Thriving Women.

Writing Contribution by Dedra Davis

I learned something about myself while going through a difficult period a few years ago; I learned I am a happy person. I also learned I am a grateful person.

These two qualities can help you make it through difficult times.

Being happy, smiling through the bad days, helps you turn those days from bad to good. It isn’t being fake or putting on airs, it is more like survival. The act of smiling can trick you into thinking you are happy, and that changes your perspective.

The smile must be your idea. No one can force that smile if you aren’t feeling it.

I remember being a child and my parents telling me to change my attitude. I remember them saying, “Put a smile on your face or I’ll put one on there for you.” Well, this never worked. (And sounds a little harsh but my parents never really spanked me.) This was their way of trying to control the situation.

I am sure I tried this on my own children, with failure.

Waking up and choosing happy, choosing to change your frown into a smile, choosing a positive, grateful attitude for yourself will result in a change in your happiness level.

If you look around, see the joy, no matter how hard it is to see, you will feel the joy creep back in your life. And it won’t be forced.

If you simply exist in life, your life will cease to exist.

You will be a person, a zombie, who walks around not feeling the happy. You will simply go through the motions of your day.

Being grateful is another way you can change your attitude. It is easy to feel sorry for yourself. A better way, a healthier way of life, is to always be thankful, no matter what troubles you have. There’s always someone going through far worse than you. Acknowledging this and praying for others around you changes your perspective and your attitude because you are putting others first. This results in you realizing your life isn’t all that bad. Be grateful for what you have and for who you have in your life.

Choosing happy, seeing the joy in your daily life, no matter how small, being grateful for your blessings, will turn your world around—and your frown.


About Dedra.

Dedra Davis graduated with a degree in Journalism, from the University of Texas at Arlington, in 1988, but because of raising children and life, she didn’t start writing professionally until 2014. Based in Waco, Texas, she lives with her two dachshunds, black Lab and husband. They have three lovely twenty-somethings successfully thriving on their own. Dedra began her writing career freelancing for a newspaper and magazine, based in Waco. She is now a Contributing Writer for Taylor Magazine and freelances for other magazines. She writes her personal blog, dedra davis writes, and contributes regularly to two other blogs, as well as guest blogging as much as possible. Dedra loves to travel to new places and is blessed to do so many times a year.

Visit Dedra online: Blog, Instagram

 

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  1. Dedra
    March 22, 2017, 8:30 EST

    Thank you, again, D, for allowing me to be part of your blog. I hope it brings a smile to your readers!

    • MightyD
      March 23, 2017, 7:02 EST

      My honor Dedra!!! Thanks for sharing! xoxo

  2. Patti
    March 23, 2017, 1:19 EST

    This is so true! You need to “let your life shine”, or “let your smile shine”. Amazing how a smile to a total stranger can get you a smile back. It is so easy feeling sorry for yourself (especially when you’re 78 and you would like your health back totally restored). However, then you realize it could be so much worse…just need to be thankful. Appreciate your blogs….❤️

  3. Mums
    March 23, 2017, 6:39 EST

    There is so much truth in this!! If I wake up grumpy and begin dwelling on it, I’m grumpy all day and in a feel sorry for me attitude, but when I wake up if I get a happy song in my head the sun appears brighter and my day goes SO much better! Thank you for the reminder!