WELLNESS & WELL-BEING
Keep a
Positive
Mind
By Sharee Silerio
S
ome days, when you put one fire out, you discover 10 more
burning around you. Then there are the days that make
you want to scream in order to find relief from stress. If it’s
any comfort at all, know that you are not alone.
Several moments over the past six years have left
me heartbroken, afraid, confused, angry and feeling helpless - even
hopeless. From the deaths of multiple loved ones to unexpected, life-
changing events and seemingly impossible circumstances, my trials
have been great and not too far in-between. I had to fight for my sanity
with the bits and pieces of energy, courage and joy that I still managed
to hold on to.
These seasons in life are some of the most difficult to get through. It’s
easy to focus on the problem or problems at hand and not see a way out.
Immediate relief often feels like it is impossible, or too far away from
where you are now to spark any faith. So, what do you do when life is
like this?
September is the perfect month to seek answers to this question,
especially since the 13th is Positive Thinking Day. If you want or need a
mental, spiritual or emotional pick-me-up, I might have what you need.
Getting through the unknown, the craziness of life, and to the other
side of pain can be tough, but here are several ways that can help you
make it to not only survive, but thrive.
1. Recite daily affirmations, such as “I can,” “I will,” “I have,” and “I
am,” etc.
2. Write a list of similar situations you’ve dealt with, including how
you dealt with them.
3. Remember that the limits you can handle, endure and overcome
are determined by you. You can do anything and everything that you
put your mind to.
4. If you need help, seek it.
5. Remind yourself that storms don’t last forever; they always pass us
by. No matter how dark or cloudy things get, the blue sky is there, and it
will be there. It’s up to us to never forget it.
The next time you deal with difficult moments, don’t let what you
can’t see get in the way of what you can do. Focus on the possibilities,
not the roadblocks, and you will be on your way to victory.
Silerio is a St. Louis-based freelance writer, a blogger, and a film and TV
writer and producer. Her work has appeared in The Root, Curly Nikki and
The St. Louis American. For more information, visit shareesilerio.com or
sincerelysharee.com.
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