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“When life gives you lemons, you make fruit punch and have them wonder how you did it!” Even though this saying is different from the typical saying of “making lemonade”, I’ll explain why I rephrased it to this. Today, I am going to share 3 ways to stay positive when feeling discouraged. I’m sure when you look online, you may see everyone happy, living life, traveling the world, having babies, getting married and other happy-go-lucky things. Then here you are down in the dumps, with piles of debt and bills, going through a hard time, just lost a loved one and feeling like your whole world is sinking before your eyes.
Well, I want to encourage you today to stay positive. I know that you probably hear this all of the time and you’re wondering how in the midst of all of these trials and tribulations that you’re encountering.
Remember, life is 10% of what happens to you, 90% of HOW YOU REACT! Life is going to happen to us regardless, whether you’re expecting the best or not. You can be the happiest, most optimistic and Jesus worshiper in the world, but life, good and bad is still going to happen to us. But what is important is how you react to what is coming at you at any given time! Either you can sit around in self-pity, saying woe is me, why me and question why things are happening the way they are.
Or, you can change your perspective and how you look at your situation, see the positives in the mishaps and make the necessary changes to making it better. As I stated, it’s HOW YOU REACT to it.
Speaking from experience, I am one of the most optimistic, happy-go-lucky, and positive people you’ll ever meet. I see the good in everything and everyone, even at times when I shouldn’t. I speak life into myself, my family, my surroundings and even negative people. Sometimes, it bothers me how positive and optimistic I am. Over time, life started to happen to me. It was one negative situation after the next. After the next. It seemed like I couldn’t catch a break. It got so bad, that I lost my sense of optimism and positivity. I was in a deep, dark place and didn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
There was no way or reason for me to be positive when I was in a toxic place in my life. I didn’t know how to handle all of that negativity because I was so used to good things happening to me. After weeks of crying myself to sleep, wanting to end it all and having pity parties daily, I made a life-changing decision that would change the trajectory of my life. I decided to change my perspective on what was happening to me, look at the positives in it and KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
Obviously, these things had to happen to teach me some things about myself, about people and most importantly, about LIFE. Looking back had I not experience some of the things that I encountered, I wouldn’t be where I am and who I am today. I am not exactly where I want to be or who I am destined to be just yet. However, I am subconsciously more aware of how to take the lemons I’m given and turn it into fruit punch. The reason I say that is because when someone is given lemons, you automatically assume that they’re going to make lemonade. That seems like the only option that you can make right?
Although I don’t share much of my past and present struggles, if you knew half of what I’ve been dealt, then you would wonder how I made it out without looking like I’ve been at the bottom. But through those tough lessons, I’ve learned that giving up wasn’t and isn’t an option. With the guidance of prayer, visualization, positive affirmations and now extensive therapy treatment, I was able to push through the pain, look at my losses and mishaps as a lesson learned and keep it moving shawty!
Even in the midst of the trials and tribulations, I KNEW I was destined for a better life. I asked for it. Heck, I felt it. I believed in it. Then, I WORKED for it. Now, I can say that my fruit punch is good and WILL only get better. So here are three ways to stay positive if you’re feeling discouraged, weary and wanting to give up:
Pray. Send your troubles up to God and leave it with Him. I know you probably hear that all of the time. Then, when your prayers don’t get answered on your time, you feel like He didn’t hear you. Remember, He may not be there when you want Him, BUT HE’S ALWAYS ON TIME! His timing is perfect y’all. Seriously, it is. I know it may be hard to see that when your world is falling apart before your eyes. But know that His grace is sufficient, He KNOWS the plans that He has for you, to PROSPER you and NOT to harm you, and HE WILL NEVER GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN BEAR.
If you’re going through a hard time right now, it’s because He knows you can handle it and HE WILL get you through it. There are certain things that others can handle but I couldn’t if I was in their shoes and vice versa. That’s why I’m a firm believer in that because He wouldn’t give any of us more than we can handle. So cast your cares to him because He truly cares. If all else, remember you have not because you ASK NOT!! The bible said all of this, not me!
Try to find the positives in every negative situation. It is hard to find the good in a bad situation. But I believe that there is a lesson in everything that we encounter. Maybe you had to be in that bad relationship to show you what kind of person to not settle for in the future. Hmm, Maybe you had to lose your job so that you could find a better one. Or, maybe you or a loved one had to encounter a health issue to bring you close to God. Even in the midst of trials, there is a lesson in it. Unfortunately, certain things happen to bring our attention to the source. But know that He will never take something away from you without giving you something better in return!
In my situation, I didn’t understand why bad things were happening all of the time. Even to this day, things happen to me. I wasn’t a bad person but the lessons I learned from them help me to avoid certain people, certain situations, certain lifestyles and so much more. It was simply because I found the lesson in the situation and looked at it as a blessing in disguise. Moreso as protection from a destructive road ahead. Take a moment to look at the situations in your life and you’ll probably see that it is a lesson that you need to be taught before things can change in your life! Don’t ignore those red flags!
Stop speaking negatively about your situation. Change the way you speak about it and watch how it changes! When I tell you that life and death are in our tongue, it is real!! That’s why I am very intentional about what I speak upon myself, my life and those around me. Our words have the power to shape our realities and change the trajectory of it. Yes, you may be in a rut right now. But if you keep speaking life upon your rut, you’re going to stay in your rut. You are speaking life into a toxic situation and that is why you’re going to remain stuck. I know this first hand because I’ve done this. See, I would allow my situations to define who I was. I would speak negatively about my life, say I was worthless, I was damaged goods, I would be in debt for life and so many negative things. Nothing changed…until I changed.
Not only did I change what I speaking upon myself and others, but MY THOUGHTS AS WELL! Our thoughts are just as powerful y’all! They have the same power as our talk, if not greater! If your thoughts and what you speak aren’t aligned with each other, then you’re going to shape your life into something that you don’t deserve. So start speaking life to your situation, no matter how crappy it is. You may feel or sound foolish for doing it but it WORKS!! Once I started saying to myself things like “I may not have money in the bank right now, but God said he’ll supply all of my needs and give me double for my trouble. I was not meant to lack anything and all of that good stuff!” I started speaking life into my dead situations and man oh man, did things change for my good!
I say all of this to say, life is going to happen, whether good or bad. But it’s how we react to it that makes all of the difference. I know how it is to be down in the dumps, depressed and to hate life. Been there. Done that. But I refuse to let negative situations, people or whatever to keep me from living the life that God has for me. We only get one life. I don’t know about you but I want my life to be a fulfilled and prosperous one no matter what! And I honestly want that for everyone! That is why I’m sharing this in hopes that it will help you look at the bright side of your situation. That you change the way you see and speak upon your situation and watch your life change before your eyes. What are some ways that help you to stay positive when feeling discouraged?