Staying Positive. Sometimes it's not that easy.

It's easy to stay positive when things go well.  But when things don't go well it can be a dismally hard grind. Of course, we're supposed to say, "Oh, good.  Here's an opportunity to deepen my awareness and stay positive". Those words don't always work, though. I can't always get there in one bound. I'm supposed to be able to access that feeling right away, yes?

So, what are we to do to stay positive?

I find only one thing works: slow down. Breathe, look around, and notice that the world is still there, still that wonderful mix of ordinary, tawdry, visionary beauty it always was. Slow way, way down. Even the worst day on Earth is still better than no day at all — and believe me, most of what we go through is not even close to being the worst day on Earth.

Inevitably this makes me feel grateful.  And that's when my mind and my heart change and become positive again. Slow down. I can get there. Then the rest follows.