The Secret to Staying Positive

I sent this blog out on Jan 24th of 2020, before COVID, quarantine, remote learning, the publicizing of the many racial injustices, and the Presidential Election. Even though our world has changed, the concept hasn't. What we say to ourselves and what/who we surround ourselves with can keep us positive, or drive us to the negative. You have a major impact in managing you. I've changed one word in the blog below.  

Parenting Life can be very hard! The stakes are high, we don't want to mess it up. It's really important to us, and many of us are also juggling a job, caring for our parents, staying healthy, contributing to our community, keeping socially connected, and managing a marriage or other significant relationship, among other priorities. Many people have done some self-reflection work and made an effort only to surround themselves with people that are encouraging, supportive and aligned with their values. The fact is that it's not someone else's job to be responsible for our encouragement. As the quote states above, YOU are the most critical person in managing your balance, attitude, and perception of yourself. 

Below are some typical things parents say to themselves that don't serve them. After that are some replacement affirmations to encourage and help you keep perspective.

Negative thoughts on parenting life - Are you saying some of these? What might your feelings and actions be if you are?

• Why is this so hard?

• I know better than to say that.

• Again?!?!

• I have too many things to do.

• I don’t know what I’m doing.

• My kids are so selfish.

• What a brat.

• They never think about anyone else.

• Oh my God I'm creating monsters!

Try saying some of these affirmations to yourself and see how differently you feel. 

• I’m doing the best I can given the resources I have.

• I’m learning and growing as a parent everyday, just as they are learning and growing as children.

• The things that need to get done will get done.

• This too shall pass.

• My kids don’t need me to be perfect, just to be me.

• Taking care of myself is not selfish, it’s self-full.

• Tomorrow is a new day. 

• Things always look better in the morning.

• There's always a belief behind the behavior and it may not be what I'm assuming.

What are some positive things you say to encourage yourself?