The Power of Positive Thinking

The Power of Positive Thinking

You must ask yourself, “is the glass half-empty or half-full?” Asking this question will certainly gage your outlook on life and your attitude towards yourself, and whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist.  What people don’t realize is that optimism and pessimism can affect your overall health and well-being. Positive thinking is a key element of effective stress management and is associated with many health benefits. The power that positive thinking has on the human mind and body is unmatched by any time you spend in the gym.  It has always been said that “It could always be worse” for one reason or another to encourage people to think positively about their situation. You have to be healthy mentally before you can be healthy physically.  Scientists will tell you that the glass is neither half full nor half empty, it is either filled with water or air. Philosophers like Aristotle, Gandhi, and even Helen Keller have also had valid points to say simply, ‘be positive’.

Aristotle says “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light”. This means something because, as a service member, we hear and see about an abundance of violence, but also we see light and hope. We bring hope to those that are oppressed in Afghanistan and Africa and we provide relief efforts for those in Haiti and Japan from Tsunamis and earthquakes and other natural disasters. We see the amount of hope we bring to those that need it and that’s why we do what we do. If you adopt a positive attitude you teach yourself to expect success. The people that accept positive thinking as their way of life see results just by believing in its effectiveness. Gandhi was the leader of the nonviolent civil disobedience movements in India. He had a vision of his country being free by epitomizing peacefulness and truth in all situations. He led by example and moved many by being so profoundly diplomatic. Gandhi said it right when he said “A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes”. Meaning, thinking positively will help you overcome everyday problems and will have you acting positively, making the best of every situation.  

Take Helen Keller as another example. She overcame such odds and still held onto her faith in herself.  “Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties”.  By that she means that positive thinking can overcome even the toughest of obstacles. She was deaf, blind, and mute and still learned how to read Braille, went to school to learn how to speak and later on became a famous public speaker and an advocate for the disabled. She was elected to be in the Women’s Hall of fame and was awarded doctoral degrees in some of the top Universities in the US and Europe. She became an excellent example of how determination, imagination and a positive outlook on life can allow and anyone, especially those faced with obstacles seemingly too great to overcome, to triumph and succeed.

Over the last 5 months this deployment has certainly touched on every single key point made so far. To get up in the morning after having an especially late night Skyping to loved ones in different time zones, is no easy task. But you get to look out your window and gauge just how much time you have and what kind of day it is going to be because the moon is still hanging outside your room. Full and contented the moon shines at you as if saying “The day isn’t going to be that bad, I’ll be back in a few hours then it will be time to sleep again.” And with a sigh, you get up, put your pants on one leg at a time and take a deep breath. Today is going to be a great day, you tell yourself. And because you said it, it will be. The power of believing everything will be ok, even when you’re not one hundred percent sure is half the battle right there. Often, just saying that will help immensely. That’s the power of positive thinking. You’re not sure what kind of day it’s going to be, but you have your coffee, breakfast and a deep breath in your lungs to say “Ok day, let’s get down to it.”

The Rip-Roaring 20s! (written 2012)

This is a detailed version, but still not a full version of the dream i had earlier today. The full version was alot more graphic and i am too modest to put that on the internet lol Its a bit graphic but its good. Did i warn you that its kind of graphic?? lol


It was obviously a slow day when I walked in the door. The room was empty except for me and the bartender. As I sit down at the bar I spot a curl of smoke in the corner, I internally gasp and resist the urge to take a second glance. I open my compact and pretend to be looking at my makeup when I notice his eyes are on me. The handsome stranger lounging behind one of the bar's enormous tables has his legs stretched out in front of him, one hanging off of the arm of one of the ornate upholstered chairs. He waves a hand at the waitress and whispers to her, simultaneously slipping her a seemingly large bill with a charming smile. She blushes and hurries away to the bar and clamors into the kitchen. I turn and he lifts his drink, nodding and smirking, slowly sipping from his drink. "Ma’am, I have your drink, compliments of the gentleman in the corner". The bartender's voice snaps me out of my reverie and I clutch the cold glass and stare down into its contents. Turning, I throw my head back and let the amber liquid burn and claw down my throat, making sure that Mr. Mysterious takes notice. Ah, of course it’s whiskey. Not a personal favorite of mine but with a small smile of my own and a tilt of my head I set the glass down, order two more and walk towards this incredibly handsome, intriguing man in the corner.

            The glasses clink on the table as I set them down as gently as my shaking hands will allow. He looks amused and his eyebrows rise before his eyes hold mine. He says “Are you alright miss?” I glower at him. “I’m just fine, thank you.” I spit out before I can stop myself. But no matter, because his smile reaches his eyes he tries to hide his amusement behind his napkin as he dabs a bit of imaginary whiskey from his beard. “You just seem lost, my dear. I’ve never seen you in here before. Surely your husband didn’t leave you all alone for the wolves to get did he?” He smiles a very wolf-ish grin behind his glass as he takes another small sip of the drink I brought him.

Now it’s my turn for the eyebrow raise. Nearly spitting my drink over the table, I quickly recover. Smiling sweetly behind my napkin, I don’t attempt to hide my sarcasm “Oh, I am not afraid of any wolves, darling, I am one.” Smiling mockingly at him and batting my eyelashes I am pleasantly rewarded with a wonderful full belly chuckle and he takes a nice puff off of his cigar. “Would you like a cigar? Miss…I never caught your name.” Good one, “I never gave it to you as you never gave me yours. Besides, I’m not here to smoke I’m looking to get on the road soon. I’m headed to the Carolinas.” Recovering quickly, “I see.” The look of disappointment is almost enough to change my mind, “You’ll need a navigator then.” He smiles all the brighter. Taken aback, my eyebrows come together as I frown, “I didn’t say anything about needing a navigator, Sir. I will find my own way just fine, thank you.” He looks hurt, “Come on now love, you need me.” His hand slides over the table and he places his hand atop mine and strokes his thumb absently over my wrist. I feel like a bird suddenly caught in a too-small cage and I’m sure my heartbeat is loud enough for him to hear. I stare down impassively at his hand and then back to his face. Studying his high cheekbones and long eyelashes, his eyes are the deepest green I’ve ever seen and his mouth, full and slightly downturned he smiles when he thinks he has me trapped in his spell. I remove his hand with my other hand and unceremoniously drop it back onto his side of the table. Smiling curtly I start to let him have it when he interrupts me, “Miss, I really don’t mean to be forward, I just haven’t met such a lovely woman such as yourself to be so brash and bold. I find this quite intriguing and can’t seem to stop smiling since you walked into that door fifteen minutes ago. Pardon my rudeness; I apologize if I have offended you. My name is Donovan." Bowing his head slightly and raising his glass in a very contrite gesture. I laugh as I lift my glass and the two collide with a clink. “I must say, Sir, you are quite the opposite from what I am attracted to, yet I feel the same. I can’t seem to find it in myself to be offended. Apology accepted. My name is Megan.”

He clutches his breast pocket in an attempt to appear hurt “Oh, you wound me my dear. Why would you say such things when you know the love you have for me is real?” He says all too loudly obviously he knows now the affect he has on me or else he would have the right to look truly hurt instead of amused. Blushing, I quickly duck my head and glower at him from under my eyelashes, “Don’t fool yourself  Donovan, love is a wasted emotion for those who are foolish enough to believe in it. Don’t mistake me for one of those fools.” This time I have wounded him and he swirls his drink with a small frown. He looks lovely with a frown though, his eyes grow slightly darker and his eyebrows wrinkle together. I can tell he's deep in thought as he rearranges the napkin under his glass and wipes the condensation off of the outside with his fingertips. Strong hands delicately trace patterns in the dew drops as he is silent for a moment. The silence stretches to an almost uncomfortable level when he finally sighs. Sitting back he smiles and says “Well I was going to give you this map of mine, but I think I’ll just keep it. I’m of use to you now, seeing as you don’t have one.” Grasping my clutch from my lap I realize he’s right, it’s been opened and the map I had is no longer inside. “How did you swipe my things from my lap without me noticing?!” I stammer angrily. Suddenly I feel a tickle along my inner thigh as I realize also he has leaned forward and has a not-so-innocent-bad-boy look on his face. “Why there are many things that I do under the table that no one ever sees. Or rather gets paid not to see.”

 My mouth drops to the floor as I realize I’ve been had. He slowly slips his hand closer and closer, running his fingertips to close to where none have ever been. I blush deeply and leap from the table as if I’ve been burned. “I’m leaving. Give me my map at once!” He stands, not much taller than I am and grasps my wrists and leads me to the hallway leading to the bathrooms. Pinning my hands behind me with one hand and holding me still with his hips, he takes his other hand and brushes the lock of hair that has fallen from my face and tucks it neatly behind my ear. Leaning in simultaneously he takes my earlobe in his teeth and nibbles. I gasp when I can feel the pull to my toes and make no move to struggle. My heartbeat is beyond what it should be and his mouth connects softly to my lips. I breathe out as he breathes me in, my body melts into his and I feel at home. I deepen the kiss as I kiss back and we are lost for a few precious moments. He pulls away, to breathe, eyes blazing and face soft and reverent. He is as captivated as I am, and is helpless to hide it. My body feels alive, I feel him coming to life too as his hips are pinning me to the wall. He doesn’t break all contact at once. It’s as if he can’t bear his body to be separated. His hand slides from my wrist to my hand and I instinctively lace my fingers into his and stare at our joined appendages. A perfect fit. My hands, smaller with thinner fingers; artists hands and his, strong, calloused and well groomed, working hands coming together to fit like two pieces to a puzzle. My body feels relaxed, like something has clicked into place. Suddenly I am in no hurry to leave this bar, or this man for that matter. He pulls me magnetically it seems to sit back down at his table, this time in the seat with him. The heavy upholstered suede leather is soft under my backside. The rich copper tones make me look pale, regardless of my never dulling, deeply tanned, olive toned skin. I sit between his knees, like a small child. My hands passively lay in my lap and I am reclined back with my head beneath his chin. His cigar has been neglected in the ash tray, it’s heavy, thick smoke curling around us much like our desire. His drink is in his one hand, his other stroking my arm from my shoulder to my wrist, stopping at my elbow to dip in the little depression there. We sit in silence, I can still feel him strong and demanding at my lower back, yet we are in no hurry.

            What has happened so quickly? “He is a stranger!” my conscience screams at me. I am not listening to her it seems as I smile up at him and take his drink from his hand. I sip the whiskey and let it run through me, heating my blood and sending courage through my veins. I don’t know where this night is going to lead me, but I have an idea and I’m ready.

Where it All Began

It was a stain on the phone records. I saw that number and my heart sank. Its as if all of my faith in him had been ripped from me by some ugly powerful hand that left a void of air where my heart used to be. I couldn't breathe. I was seeing spots and it was fuzzy around the edges. I hear faint music from the nickjr televison show in the backround and a squeal from an over excited toddler brings me back into my own skin. Fills my lungs and the spots dissapate as I blink the darkness away. Slamming the computer shut, I go to the living room and see the destruction that my two year old left in her wake all over the living room. Standing on the cusp of the kitchen and the main room I watch her dance and sing as the television plays those really annoying children's sing-a-long songs that stay in your head all day long no matter what you try to drown it out with on the radio. She has no coordination and certainly no dance skills but her face is lit up and focused as she moves back and forth infront of the TV wiggling undignifyingly and not caring in the least. I decide tonight is not the night to think about her, especially when Rebecca looks so happy doing what shes doing....whatever it is that shes actually doing..

I take her small but strong hands into mine and we wiggle. Thats atleast what Kameron, my brother calls it. Actually he called it once 'unprecedented, undignified wiggling' if I recall correctly as I, as a teenager had once learned what my erratic and ungraceful movements were associated with. I know Jim won't be home from work until well after Rebecca goes down for bed, this gives me enough time to work out to my workout discs in the living room in my underwear where I know takes the least amount of effort, but creates the results I need just as well.

Scooping Rebecca up suddenly I throw her over my shoulder and smile at the startled squeal/giggle that sounds from behind me as she realizes she's trapped. Depositing her on the carpet of the bathroom she shoots her long arms into the air and says "Arms up". I smile as I swoop her dirty shirt off of her and leftover cheerios from her dinner drop and roll onto the floor.  Shes the sharpest shes ever been lately, mimicking everything Jim and I do nowadays. Including the quick but obviously warranted swear word she muttered after dropping her sippy cup this morning. As the lid popped off I hear "Oh shi" escape from between those rosy little lips and I stifle a laugh as her father turns bright red, and ignoring it, of course, helps her clean up her mess without and explanation as to who might have let that one slip.

I lather the washcloth as she sits in the tub and counts her bath toys. My mind wanders to the night Jim and I first had sex. I was drunk and he wasnt trying to take advantage of me, but I was always persistent. As lavender scented water abruptly interrupts my reverie, clearly thinking she's clever, Rebecca erupts into a fit of giggles and slaps the palms of her hands down throwing water up into her own face and onto my jeans. Sighing I wash her hair as she chews on the rubber duckie's bill. Dousing her with water to rinse, I release the drain plug and scoop her up and grab her favorite towel, the monkey one with the tail and the monkeys face on the hood. Wrapping up her little shivering body I set her down on the sink and we commence our nightly routine of brushing her teeth and donning her footie pajamas. I love that Jim works the afternoons as it gives Rebecca and I one on one time that I had been missing due to a 7 month long deployment to Afghanistan. She has grown so much and I mentally note her subtle feature changes as I'm rocking her in the rocking chair, the last leg in our nightly routine before I place her in her crib for the night.


Sitting on the couch I begin to think of the instances where Jim could have been texting her.

Sighing and getting up to turn the TV off, I go to the bedroom and into the bathroom to start the shower. I'll be damned if Im standing infront of Jim naked tonight. He knows exactly how to distract me and I'm 'Oh so powerless' to resist. Showering quickly, I am clothed and towel drying my hair as he comes through the door, a suprised look on his face to see that I've gone and showered without him. This is one of the things we've always done together. He calls it a 'trust building exersize' to be able to stand vulnerable infront of eachother and allowing them to see you with all your imperfections.

Well trust is not something hes got going for him tonight.

 

Start with the Soul

         When we are born, its the first time our souls meet our bodies. As the first breath enters our lungs our soul is tethered to us until the last one is documented. Our soul already knows its purpose. It already has the features that our physical body is going to possess (i.e. Hair color, eye color, body stature, mannerisms, etc. ). So, in a sense, we grow into our souls not our bodies.

             The mind is a maze we use with pathways, bridges, twists and turns. Each one is different and each one is utilized differently. The two halves work in tandem yet they each work different when tasked individually. Being such creatures that use both sides of our brains, one would think that we would use the halves as whole to improve productivity, yet we find ourselves mentally exhausted from using one side more dominantly. Our souls are tasked from the beginning to lead our bodies in the right direction. We're born with instincts that tell us how to survive. We imprint on our parents, we eat when we are hungry, our soul tells our brain that oxygen is essential for us to live. Growing up is awkward. Our bodies stretch, our hormones change, our interests and views change as well as our goals in life as we slowly mature into an adult.  

       In the very moment we are born into this world we have the knowledge of the universe at our fingertips. Yet we don't have the means to communicate that information. Coincidence? It's as if the universe trusts in the purity we inherit as newborns and allows us to know how to survive. It's no longer a matter of Darwin's theories or whether God so loved the world. When you're pure in heart and true in character the universe will respond to you. If you're less than ready to handle the weight the world hands you, it's then you change. Stress and turmoil affect the soul and it's ability to shine bright when you need guidance. This is where we name Karma and blame Murphy's law for the times the universe doesn't like our decision. When we start to place blame in the situation it's where we lose ourself. Taking accountability for the way you respond is the first step in righting your universe. Take action and make the universe take note of who you are.

          When we hold anger and resentment in our bodies, the organs start to shut down. Animals register those breakdowns first. Dogs have such a keen sense of smell and sense of positive energy, they know exactly when it happens. Anger and jealousy and all the other heavily negative emotions breed like cancers and often mutate into such diseases. Tumors of the soul are not as prominent as tumors of the brain. Not to say children born with leukemia or women who come up positive for breast cancer are the reason they harbor such malice, it is those who are angry at life from the beginning. Those who are a cancer to society and themselves contract sicknesses easier, progress faster and die sooner. Forgiving people in your past and living simply and wholesome is the only way to combat soul-related sicknesses.

Sometimes there are those people that are supposed to be in your life. You meet them, get to know them, and they benefit your life in some way that you know that you two were supposed to meet. This person you'll know for the rest of your life. Whether it be just friends on social media or a friend you ask to move down the street from. Your souls match in a way that entangles them at the edges, like the fraying on a blanket, they get tangled beyond hope of being released. They benefit you in a way that brings you solace, they bring you peace and sometimes they teach you a thing or two about life and about yourself.

Waking up in the morning requires a routine. It's hard to just roll right out of bed in an instant and get ready for the day. Sometimes what moves you isn't moving you the way it should.

When you look into the mirror and see yourself, it's often in the same fluorescent light day in and day out. You see your hair is sticking up in weird and awkward ways because you slept with it wet, you see the blemishes on your skin from that chocolate bar you ate two days ago. You're more likely to look in the mirror and see the flaws that you went to bed with. How did you expect to want to wake up when you see all the things that make you say 'I wish I had a metabolism' or 'I shouldn't have eaten that whole Hershey's when I was at movie night with the girls'. If you were to get up in the morning and  say 'Man. Look at this babe right here! She's so beautiful and smart and she has the most compassionate soul of anyone I want to meet.' You would be giving yourself one big mental hug for the morning. Skip reaching for the coffee cup and saying 'I'm a mess, I haven't even had my coffee yet'. Instead, get up, roll over and try doing ten push ups. Or 10 sit-ups, or even go get your shoes On and go for a light jog. Wake your mind up. Get your head in the game and take on the day looking in the mirror saying 'hey girl! Lets do this you sexy bitch!' And then give yourself a hug! You got up this morning, that's more than some can say about themselves.

Loving Me

Waking up knowing its another day I have to work til i drop
When at home all I know is the pain never stops
Away from it all it seems crystal clear
The reality sinking in brings back the fear.
I want to be loved,
I want to be needed,
I want you to want me,
How's that so conceited?
It's the same day in and day out,
It's embracing the pain and the sadness I'd rather do without.
I'm tired of you pointing out my imperfections
Tired of this endless fear of rejection
I am who I am that's all I know
Without me where would you go
You wouldn't have your life
I wouldn't have this strife
You could have kept on believing you were the only one who's perfect
I would have kept pushing on not just pretending on the surface.
I'm out here working day after day
No rest for the weary as I say.
It's not hard to remedy
Talking isnt your enemy
And if I had it left in me
Id show you a thing or two about loving me.

The Last Days of Summer

Laying face up on the lawn. Arms behind my head, I gaze at the clouds above. Memorizing the way the ground beneath me is cool, the way the freshly cut grass feels smashed underneath the weight of my body. The way the breeze made the slight beating of the sun bearable enough to leave you sunning in perfect contentedness. Closing my eyes I remember a song and I let it play softly and soothingly in my head. Sighing I open my eyes and play shapes with the clouds, dozens of shapes drift by me. The birds chirp merrily as they go about and do whatever it is that birds like to do. The mixture of the cool breeze and the warm sun makes my lids feel heavy and I let the drift down and close. These are all the signs that the summer is finally over. No more warm summer drives to the beach with the top down, without a care in the world. No more Emerald Isle trips in the dead of night for the hell of it. No longer can I open my bedroom window to listen to the raindrops to fall asleep to. Its now back to the cold weather, falling leaves, Halloween around the corner followed by Thanksgiving with Christmas following closely behind. The wind blows softly and the first leaf of fall detaches itself from its branch and floats softly down to the ground. I watch it sway back and forth, spinning, and spiraling slowly down to rest on the ground. With a sigh, I pick myself up, brush the dirt off of my pants and slowly make my way to the porch. I reach for the doorknob and turn to look over my shoulder one more time, just to memorize the way the sun was playing softly through the trees, the way the wind moved softly through the number of lawns and dragging the scent of the approaching dusk closely behind it. With one more sigh I turn and open the door and go inside. ::door closes:: ::music plays softly::

Help!!

Ok Bloggers!!

Help me out here! I need to sell my handmade jewelry :) Please visit my Etsy shop at:
http://www.etsy.com/people/meganbeale?ref=si_pr

in other news, Im moving to Mississippi.
:/

Not too excited about it really, but what can I do?? Duty calls. ::sigh:: time passes wayyy too quickly sometimes. Im really going to miss home, but Im looking foward to deploying (weird huh?) minus the whole leaving my family for 8 months lol