On a particular trying day, noticing the smallest positive news in your life might be enough to shift your thinking and mood. Here’s an example of my day so far:

1. Coffee came out right this morning. Sometimes I make it a little too weak (I never measure - I just wing it!)

2. Jazz was a perfect accompaniment to the beginning of my work day. College radio is really a wonderful platform of new and unusual music.

3. Stepping outside to grab the mail, I took a deep breath of clean, fresh air. I stood there for a moment, being present in my day instead of darting onward.

4. I bought a fantastic baguette at the bakery. Later today, I will toast it lightly and put fresh butter on it.

5. My friend will call me at some point of the day and tell me of the great date she had this weekend. She’s had a rough year (several deaths and a serious illness herself), so I particularly look forward to her good news.

6. My hair looks nice today.

Nothing groundbreaking there, obviously. But all of these little things remind us of a bigger picture, where good things happen to us every moment of the day, in one form or the other. The only thing missing? Our recognition of our own blessings.

Forced positivity has always made me deeply uncomfortable. “Smile!” “Just look on the bright side!” “It’s not that bad.”

Unfortunately, when you are feeling badly, those apparently well-meaning phrases can feel like a jab in your side. Not only do you feel down, but now you feel guilty for feeling down!

For me, I appreciate practical approaches to feeling positive. One lesson I’ve learned over the years is finding bright spots, literally and figuratively.

Literally speaking, finding a bright spot means getting outdoors and being in the sunlight. Being outside is a natural mood lifter. A friend of mine swears by this simple technique: look up. Look up into the sky for a moment or two. He believes it “opens up your mind and frees your spirit. It reminds you that your problems are small in relation to the vastness of the sky.”

Figuratively, finding a bright spot means noticing the smallest of things that lifts your spirits. Today, I saw a mimosa tree in bloom. The pink was so vibrant and eye-catching. Staring at it for a moment was like looking at a work of art.

Or perhaps its a positive interaction, albeit brief, with a person throughout your day; like a cashier or a passerby who smiles. If you take that moment in, for all it’s worth, you’ll be surprised at how much power a simple and seemingly meaningless interaction holds.

So find some bright spots today. They aren’t hard to find - they’re everywhere. But more importantly, take one moment to recognize that it lifted your spirits, even slightly.

by Beth Mann

Tekapo, NZ - a village among the stars