‘Situations don’t make you unhappy. They may cause you physical pain, but they don’t make you unhappy. Your thoughts make you unhappy. Your interpretations, the stories you tell yourself make you unhappy.’ - Eckhart Tolle
There is never anything to change but our own perspective.
It’s not about what happens to you but how you deal with what happens.
A simple change in how you look at things and events can completely change your life.
Perspective is all about what you decide to focus on.
If you decide to focus on positivity, chances are, your life will be positive as you choose to realise all the good things going on in your life, the quality of your life will necessarily get better.
Take a look at your life and think of the many tough times you have endured and the many blessings that have arisen from them.
Then take each problem or circumstance you currently have and use it as a positive opportunity to change and evolve.
Sometimes a change of perspective is all it takes to see the light.
Gratitude
Happiness is not about getting what you want all the time.
It’s about loving what you have and being grateful for it.
Gratitude broadens our perspective.
Expressing gratitude everyday will boost your positive attitude in so many ways.
Gratitude is one of the most powerful human emotions. Once expressed, it changes attitude, brightens outlook, and broadens our perspective.
Here’s an example of a really easy exercise you can start practicing. This can be done at night or first thing in the morning. When you wake up, ask yourself, “What are 3 things I am grateful for this morning?” or, when you go to bed, “What are 3 things that made me happy today?”
Write them down and refer to them often and keep adding to your ‘Gratitude List’.
Being grateful can be miracle worker.
Find the silver lining
The beautiful thing about setbacks is that they allow us to find our strengths.
No matter what you are experiencing in life right now, trust that all is unfolding in your best interests.
Train your mind to see the good in every situation.
‘There are always flowers for those who want to see them.’ - Henri Matisse
Always think of the brighter side of life and in everything, choose the path to happiness.
Whenever negative thoughts start creeping in your mind, don’t acknowledge them.
Instead replace them with thoughts of happiness.
Visualise the problem from a different perspective
To change your perception of an experience does not mean you deny its occurrence.
When you change your perception, you change your perspective which really means to ‘visualise’ something from a different vantage point, through different eyes.
It doesn't mean the experience didn't happen. It simply means that you attach a different meaning to an otherwise neutral event.
It is you who attaches meaning to all your experiences in any case, so you might as well attach a meaning that serves you.
Have fun with the scenes in your mind as you change your perceptions.
Keep it light.
Allow yourself to sense how differently you would have felt or reacted had your beliefs about yourself and life been different.
For instance, had you had more self-love, self-esteem and self-confidence when an important relationship ended; or had you had no attachment to money and no fear of failure when your business was in trouble. How would your perception of that experience be different?
When you change your perception so does the experience.
Whatever the negative belief you had at the time, see yourself believing its opposite.
Sense how your experience changes from one of disempowerment to one of empowerment as your beliefs change.
Feel how the experience doesn't matter as much anymore or how you even feel stronger for it.
From this place of strength, close your eyes, take a deep breath and as you exhale release the experience, seeing the image gently float away. Enjoy the lightness you feel as you mentally count upwards and slowly open your eyes.
Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
‘Even as a child, I had a sense that I was two people; the one who experienced the trauma, the pain, the happiness, and the other who stood aside and watched with a disinterested ironic eye.’ ― P.D. James
Spirit and Purpose
Our body’s wellbeing is so inextricably connected to our spirit that it's almost impossible to imagine 'us' and 'them' as separate entities - they are not.
The physical world and what we see and feel is not all there is.
There is a world of spirit and purpose underneath it and no matter what it looks like on the outside, there is much more going on beneath the circumstances we perceive as negative.
If you can remember that and tap into the deeper meaning behind what you are experiencing, then you can accept what you are going through with greater ease.
What we’re really here for is to understand the inner game of life.
You have awakened when you realise you create your reality through the energy of your consciousness.
Awaken your mind to the greatness that resides within you.
You have infinite potential.
Self-love and approving of yourself are the keys to a positive perspective and change.
‘Fulfil me, make me happy, make me feel safe, tell me who I am. The world cannot give you those things and when you no longer have such expectations, all self-centred suffering comes to an end.’ - Eckhart Tolle
Distance Yourself from Negativity
The first step to change is awareness.
Awareness of our negative limiting beliefs and a powerful opportunity for growth.
The important thing to bear in mind here is that your emotions determine your perspective. In other words, if you control your emotions better, you will control the way you see things better.
You have the ability to change - your inner strength will help you in changing focus.
The good news is that the greatest teacher you could ever want is always with you - that is your life.
Your life has all the answers.
Nothing lasts forever. Life will always ebb and flow.
‘Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity.’ - Lao Tzu
Believe in yourself and all you are.
Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.
Namaste.
‘To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.’ - Thich Nhat Hanh