help me be a glass half full person!

[Lulu]

Girl, you are halfway there by realising it isn't working for you .

There are heaps of things you can do - you have heaps of ideas here already, so you can pick and choose what you think might suit.

I really like the journal idea and it works brilliantly for some but I have trouble keeping up with it due to my life shenanigans, so I do things like cut out images from magazines etc that make me smile and stick them places like near my bed or the back of the toilet door

When you feel those negative thoughts sneak in - bop them on the head immediately. I literally say "STOP IT" to myself. If I'm brooding on a problem, I refuse to address it until I feel less shirty - I always get it sorted when I'm positive.

I also do things I hate (like cleaning out my wardrobe) when I'm really shirty - I fly through it because I'm distracted by my own grumbling, then suddenly I'm distracted from the grumbling by the fact I just got something done

Can you tell your friend you are trying to stop being so negative and can she help you out by pulling you up if you slide back there?

I always go to bed thinking of wonderful things, no matter how bad the day has been. I sleep far better, and wake up happier.

I definitely second the exercise. You can jump ahead miles in the positivity stakes if you can fit some in!

xoxo

[AngelPunks]

My point 1 is called a "surrender journal"

My journal writing is now something I do every morning. I lay in bed and connect to the universe, then I meditate (mp3 on my player) and then I write in my journal - all before I get out of bed, yes I have to wake up 30 mins earlier but it is when I have the time. At night I also try to write in my journal before meditating and then sleep.

Also something that a group of friends and I did for a while was "the best thing that happened to me today" we used to email each other last thing at night and the girls with partners used to do it as part of their wind-down at night - each would tell the best thing - friends have also done it with their kids.

Start off small with the exercise, maybe just a walk around the block, then build on it over time - don't throw yourself into something that you will find it hard to keep up.

[fionas]

Lots of good ideas already and they're reminders for me too. I always go to bed thinking how lucky I am to have DD and try to think of some good things I've done that day.

I've been reading a book called Buddhism for Mothers lately and it's really good and simple too. For me it kind of short-circuits the whole "why am I like this, was it my childhood" business about our personalities and kind of says, yes, suffering is normal but you just have to do your best and be kind to yourself and other people. Apols to the Dalai Lama for that half-arsed explanation!