How I Grew My Positivity: Learn to multiply the positive in your life, including gratitude, glimmers and all the good stuff
Take Pen to Paper: Edition 51
Hi Pen to Paper readers!
I’m so glad you are back after last week’s long expose about my struggle with my current cross-stitch project. I’ll keep it a little shorter this week.
If you are new to Pen to Paper, welcome!
I’ve told you several times that keeping a gratitude journal brought more good into my life. While that was the beginning, there is more action you can take to increase the benefits.
Your ability to have a positive outlook on life is a muscle that needs to be exercised.
This morning, I didn’t get far on my daily walk before I saw something that made me stop and think about the process I use to multiply positivity. This process helps me practice building gratitude and the ability to see the glimmers and good in my life. I use it daily.
I’ve learned to actively look. I expect to find the good stuff.
I ask what looks unusual? What catches my eye?
I take the time to think of the possibilities.
I look closer.
I question with intent.
I use this process over and over.
I used it this morning and snapped this picture. It wasn’t an obvious glimmer. It was a possible glimmer.
Do you see it?
I’ve cropped this picture for you to see what made me think, “Is that a large leaf in the road?” That seemed to make the most sense to me.
I also know that I see many animals in this section of my walk, like squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks. Lately, I’ve snapped a few pictures of the smallest baby rabbit I’ve ever seen in the neighborhood. I posted them on Instagram.
I walked slowly while approaching my possible glimmer. I used a maximum setting on my camera zoom.
If it’s not a glimmer, that’s OK. When you are looking for the good in life, part of the adventure is the hunt. It’s fun and fun is good. “What good can I find today?” is a refreshing mindset to carry with you on your journey (even if it is just a neighborhood walk).
Thanks to the daily exercise of my positivity muscle, active looking has become easier. The result is experiencing more gratitude, seeing more glimmers, and identifying more good in my life.
You have all that, too. All it takes is developing a process of active looking.
As I got closer, I was rewarded with a rare sight.
If I hadn’t wondered about the leaf from afar, I would not have captured a picture of this glimmer.
Exercise your positivity muscle. Expect the good and be intentional when you are actively looking.
7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good
There is a reason why Alvin and The Chipmunks sound like they talk fast. Chipmunks are fast and timid. I have never seen one sit in the middle of the road as long as this one. This article tells about Alvin’s and his friend’s voices. 🐿
I’m grateful for one of my readers sharing that my newsletter has inspired the addition of my gratitude journaling format to his affirmations. And each night, he and his 8-year-old name three best things of the day. This made my heart grow.💚
I loved this short article on Mind Wandering vs. Mind Wondering. Read it to find out how wondering can make you happier.
A quote: “Record your wins, however small, in a "Jar of Awesome".
It can be a real jar, or an electronic note. Whenever you feel stuck or filled with doubt, read what's in the jar to remind yourself of those wins or moments of gratitude.” - Andy McAleese
If you have read James Clear’s Atomic Habits* you know, "If you can get 1% better each day for one year, you'll end up 37 times better by the time you're done." Practice gratitude and grow your positivity. 📈
It’s good to make small changes. We might learn from the smallest change. I wanted a red heart at the end of number 2. When I chose red, it turned out black like in my previous newsletter closings. I always thought it was a closing quirk. It turns out it’s a red quirk. So green is my new heart color to symbolize growth. 🌳
I am grateful my journey leads me to look for small changes. They are as important as big ones.
Thank you for reading! I hope you are seeing a lot of good in your life.
Until next week,
💚
Susan
Have you developed more positivity in your life? I would love to read about it. I answer all comments.
Do you know a friend who needs some positivity in their life? Share this newsletter with them.
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*No affiliate links here! Just sharing the good.
I never thought of gratitude as a compounding habit (until I met you!). I feel like reading your pieces are like a reminder from the universe to always be grateful. In fact, I can probably say that this is my weekly reminder to practice my gratitude!
Side note: This past week we had a huge rainstorm. When I woke up the next morning I spent nearly an hour walking my dog because I kept spotting so many mushrooms popping up! Something about observing nature makes me feel like a kid again :)
Glad you're doing well Susan!
This is something I have been actively working on, and I am trying to apply it to journaling. If the habit sticks, I will write it up. By the way, there are no chipmunks here in West Nowhere, Japan, but I did spot two crabs sneaking into their little crabby holes by my house today. Sorry, no photos this time.