Anatomy of a Good Day
Now as I look back over the last several years of my life I can see a turning in my life that took me down a road I don't like very much. That day was known in my home as “Groundhog Day”. Ever see that movie? It's the story of a self centered perpetual Pessimist who gets stuck in February 2nd day after day. It's a truly great movie. It was the story of my life for years. Except that in the movie the lead character, Phil Conners, starts a progressive move out of his self centered ways. But I was stuck on the first half of the movie.
Now I have come out of this state of self centered, self pity that dominated my life for so long. But the progression was a long road. I read self help books, movies, prayed. But I only got a temporary high, or boost from these. Praying was ultimately the answer. But the key was why I stayed there so lonnng. “Because I wanted too”.
Now I didn't know I wanted to, at least not consciously. But my attitude turned at some point to where I couldn't enjoy, or progress beyond where I was at. I lost the self confidence that had taken me to the place that ultimately turned me in the downward spiral. Confused?? I was.
But one day I just woke up and said, “NO MORE”. I am going to have a good day today. And if I don't, then I'll try harder tomorrow. I will accomplish what I want to accomplish, and I will keep trying until I do. And I WILL NOT accept defeat again.
Now I have read every self help book you can imagine. From Dale Carnegies' How to win friends and Influence People, to Who Stole My Cheese. Really, it's a book. And a GOOD one. And all were good books. And every one spent chapters telling me almost the same thing. It's all about MY attitude. Now I'm not saying reading these books was a waste of time. Far from it. But until I had a change of heart, it WAS just a waste of energy.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is that the anatomy of a good day begins when you awake. Make that conscious decision that today is a good day. And when something goes to pot, stop, and decide that the rest of the day is going to be a good day. It all boils down to conscious decisions on YOUR part. No one else determines how your day is going to go. They can only ruin as much of your day as you allow them to. And now you have just read a summary of every self help book I ever read. But don't take my word for it. Read for yourself.
“Pessimists see difficulty in every opportunity.
Optimists' see opportunity in every difficulty”
Sir Winston Churchill
