Make it a Great Day!

Make it a great day …or not…the choice is yours!

We often hear the frequently insincere phrase: “Have a Nice Day.” The truth is, it is up to us to determine what sort of day we are going to have. Notice the emphasis on us. While we do not have control over everything that happens to us on a daily basis, we have a choice to control how we react to things. Some days are greater than others—that’s just a fact of life—but every day can be a great day if we choose to make it that way.

Having a positive outlook goes a long way towards creating happiness for ourselves. Don’t wait for someone to make you happy—reach out and grab the happiness for yourself. Alter your state of mind and find the joy in life—even if it is in the little things that seem insignificant.

Attitude is a choice and I want to strive to choose to have a positive one. With this in mind, I want to share with you my plan of action to make this a part of my every day life:

1. Let go of selfish notions. “It’s not all about me.” Make a plan to help others—go the extra mile and share your gifts and talents. Everyone could use a helping hand—extend yours.
2. Acknowledge your blessings. Be thankful for what you have, and while you’re being thankful, remember to thank those around you. Thank the bank teller for assisting you, the stranger who held the door, the co-worker who helped you meet that deadline, etc.
3. Lighten up. Plant a smile on your face, even when the world seems to crumble around your feet. Just the simple act of smiling can improve your mood and those around you. Go the extra mile and throw some laughter into the mix. Don’t take yourself so seriously and look for the humor in every situation.
4. Let it go. Grudges suck the joy out of life. Everyone hurts someone—we are not perfect. Be the first to apologize and be quick to forgive. We feel better about ourselves the more we learn to accept and give forgiveness.
5. Live with passion. Envelope your uniqueness and believe in yourself. Don’t let you be the roadblock in your own success. Believe in yourself—the world needs you to do your part.
6. Look for the good in all things. You are going to face difficult and unpleasant circumstances in life. The key is to use those experiences to learn and grow. Turn negative experiences into positive life lessons. Learn those lessons well or you are doomed to repeat your errors.

I’m putting this plan in action moving forward, starting today. My first step is to create a line of positive, upbeat, and uplifting greeting cards. I plan to donate 50% of the proceeds to the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Fund. I will post pictures soon and get these uploaded to both our website and Etsy page. Remember to check back soon, and while you are here, don’t forget to sign up as a follower of my blog and leave a comment about what methods you use to stay positive.