In looking at my last interview to pull out a theme to hone in on, I realize there are a few common themes running throughout many of my interviews with these inspirational people. They have truly been able to rise above their adversities and create good lives despite…whatever circumstances have befallen them, by developing and exercising a positive attitude, choosing not to live their life as a victim and living with purpose.
Attitude
Choice
Purpose
These are concepts and ways of thinking that we can actively work on within ourselves.
We can work on our attitude. As Ms. Garrison says, “your attitude is the only control you have left in your life….”
We can begin to see we have choices in how we respond. We don’t have to be locked into one way of reacting. We can choose what we focus on – do we hone in on the negatives or do we bring more of the positives to the forefront of our attention. It’s in our control to make conscious choices.
Living with a sense of purpose can help us carry on through our difficulties. So the mother who’s grief-stricken over the (early) death of her husband has a purpose of raising her son. The woman who’s been raped has taken on a cause of changing the system so other victims don’t wait years and years before rape kits are examined.
On a smaller scale of purpose, here’s an example that I focused in on last week. It was a pretty icky and nasty day last Saturday here in New York, weather-wise. We had an early, out of the season, snow fall. My daughter, Nava, who just had her gallbladder surgery 4 days prior, was up for going to synagogue. And so we walked, not too far, about 6 blocks, to Sabbath services. While we’re stepping in puddles and getting pretty wet despite our raingear, I’m almost at the point of complaining how we’re one of the few nuts out walking in this, when I thought of our specific purpose in going out. And that was to express my gratitude, in prayers, for a successful surgery and a healthy outcome.
The point being when we have a cause, a purpose, a reason, it propels us forward and helps us get beyond the hardship. There is something greater, bigger and more important ahead to work towards which make the immediate smaller obstacles easier to deal with.
Purpose is a biggie for me. It’s helped me go through lots of tough times. Being aware of that bigger picture helped move me along despite the {daily} difficulties. That’s not to say I didn’t get exhausted, upset, angry, frustrated and anything else you might think to add to the list, but it was and is a key factor that I can consciously pinpoint that has kept me afloat and intact.
What has done it for you? Is it your attitude, your choices, your purpose that has helped you through your difficulties? If these are too big to think about on a Friday afternoon, then think along smaller lines – something concrete that’s helped you.
Tune in next week when I post a list of bloggers’ responses to a question on getting through tough times.
