What's your SHOE today?

No, it’s not the typical shoe you wear to work or play. It’s your Seven Heaven On Earth (SHOE) some of you may already be familiar with it because I just wrote about it a couple post away. Its listing down seven things or events in your day that didn’t make it as bad as you think it was. Some things that made you smile, giggle, laugh, and made you feel good. It’s something or anything good that doesn’t need to be grand like; “sipping the perfectly brewed coffee from Starbucks on the way to work”.

I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can't make it through one door, I'll go through another door - or I'll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.

Rabindranath Tagore

Were we trained to look for negativity or was it a personal choice that we become such. Ever notice yourself grumpy in the morning? Sometimes I do, especially when I wake before the time I wish to wake up. When we wake up in a bad mood, we say we woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but have you actually heard of waking up on the right side of bed? No.

So, after waking up, we either turn on the radio or TV for the morning news or read the morning paper and it will strike you with the events the other day “59 killed in a bomb attack in Iraq”, “US in recession”, “Performer’s house burned after robbing and raping her”, “Britney Spears drugged” (my headlines are fictional I’m just trying to give you the idea). Don’t you just hate the world for all these violence and bad news going around?

And so you go to work either by public transport or drive in your own car. Traffic! So your day already is ruined. You go to work wishing time goes by fast so you can go home. Annoying office mates and some boring work you have or you have too much work to do. Today will be a horribly long day! Finally, going home, traffic, etc. etc. Got the idea?

What I mean is that finding annoying things in your life is very easy, it’s like an unconscious choice. However, finding joys in the simple things in your life can be tough and takes a lot of practice and patience.

Let’s look at the same example in a different way. Waking up earlier than expected instead of being grumpy think of it as having more time to go shower, eat a big breakfast, surf the internet or write yesterdays S.H.O.E. because you forgot to write it last night.Noticing life little wonders, will make wonders in your life. Honestly, the first few days I tried writing my SHOE it was hard, I have to think real hard, but when I get the hang of it, finding and noticing wonderful things, good stuffs around me is as simple as blinking.

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.

Willie Nelson

I encourage and challenge everyone to write down their S.H.O.E. everyday and please feel free to tell me the experience of doing it the first time. After a couple of days come back and tell about your progress, how does it feel? Was it easier to find good things now that you are used to it than the first time? Good luck! :)

What's your SHOE today?

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