Thinking Better In Tough Times

As you struggle forward in the days and weeks ahead, remind yourself, it is far better to be exhausted from lots of effort, learning and growth, than it is to be tired of doing absolutely nothing.

“Tough times don’t last—tough people do.” Repeat that to yourself as often as you need to in the days and weeks ahead, as the world continues to come to grips with the hard reality of COVID-19.

When I was in junior high school, my stepdad would tell me, "Michael, life is kind of like playing a game of cards. We all receive a unique set of unexpected rules and restrictions in this game called life. The question is: How will you respond to the hand you’ve been dealt?"

In the midst of particularly hard days when I feel that I can’t endure, I remind myself that my track record for getting through hard days is 100% so far.

Life (the game) has a lot of ups and downs. I love the ups and well, I really don't like the downs. I remember when my stepdad gave me the analogy about life and how life was kind of like playing a game of cards, I began to think, "Oh, the more I play this card game...life, the better I will get at it. Hey, that was a pretty good thought for a 14 year-old!😎

Today, 45 years later, I'm still playing the card game...life but yes, I've have gotten a lot better at the game. I still have a lot of ups and downs. I cannot control most of those. However, when life hits me with its downs, I remind myself that in the midst of particularly hard days when I feel that I can’t endure, or want to quit the card game, I remind myself that my track record for getting through hard days is 100% so far! Guess what? Your track record for getting through hard days is 100% as well!

The sharpest weapon we have against anxiety, negativity and stress is our ability to choose one POSITIVE thought and then another and another!

Thinking Better In Tough Times

Thinking better is all about learning to respond effectively. When you can’t control what’s happening in the world around you, you must challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what’s happening. Because that’s where your power is! Of course, that’s much easier said than done, for all of us.

So, let’s practice together.

We can do hard things!

We can make better choices!

You are not the same person you were a year ago, a month ago, or even yesterday. You are always growing… stronger!

What positive actions can you choose to take in your life and positive actions you can do for others to move forward and claim victory on this day?