Silver Lining
Originally uploaded by Phillip Munafo

Accepting good & bad as inevitabilities.
Everyday we will inevitably encounter both good & bad circumstances. No doubt these circumstances will have varying degrees of importance but whether it be that we are given a decaf instead of a regular coffee or that we have been the latest victim of company downsizing and have just been given our marching orders with only a weeks notice, it is important to search for the positive repercussions in all that we are faced with - the first step towards this is accepting that something positive comes out of EVERY situation, no matter how dreadful it may first seem to be.

How we react to the circumstances thrust upon us is character defining.
In our quest to become the best we can be and live a life that makes us smile at every step along the way, it is essential to realise that while it may feel as though these situations are happening to us, without our input or control - we are key players in the resolution or eventuation and we can choose how we respond to our circumstances. This response will shape what type of person we are. And while the circumstance itself may not be something we would choose for ourselves, our reactions to it are a choice that only we can make. We need to remove blame when contemplating how to move forward after negative situation has occurred and start thinking about how we can beat the odds & come out on top despite the misfortune.

Becoming your own enabler of optimism.
Facilitate and enable your own happiness by seeking the good in each situation you encounter. Really own the idea that you are entirely responsible for your own contentment and while you may feel that others attribute to your feelings, ultimately it is you that decides how to feel.

Often the positive to come out of an upsetting circumstance can be difficult to see at first, amidst a mind clouded with negative thoughts of the current situation you have found yourself faced with, it is difficult to look past the present and towards the possibilities brought on by what is happening right now. It helps to have faith not only in your ability to take charge of your emotions and reality but to also have faith in something greater than yourself, be it a God or the Universe.


Gain momentum and strength from misfortune, if nothing else, this alone is your positive gain. Learn optimism in the face of adversity.


How do you overcome the tough stuff?