365 rules to live by 10/30/15

Everyday for the next year I will be posting a new Inspirational Rule to consider living by. I hope you enjoy.
Rule #16 10/30/15

Do not be guided by negativity. 

Negative thought patterns can ruin your life and drain you of any and all hope and faith you once had. We all have voices inside our heads commenting on our moment-to-moment experiences.   Rather than empathize with our suffering or the suffering of someone else, we are quick to criticize, and judge. A negative mind will cloud our decision making and not allow for us to see the good in any experience or person. It is a subtle process, we do not just wake up and become a negative person. It starts with one or two misfortunes or bad experiences we were unable to see the lesson in, then it creeps to more and more of our focus becomes shifted in only seeing the misery and the sadness. We see less and less of any good happening. The more we concentrate on all that is going wrong the greater the suffering becomes. 

Seeing the good in life, no matter what happens is practice, it is a habit that needs to be exercised daily. We choose our thoughts and our actions, none of this is outside of ourselves and when we take responsibility for our life and all that is in it - we take back power to change what we can and grow from every experience. Choose to be guided by love and not fear. ~Will "Story" Rivera 

Ask yourself this:

• Do you complain? All the time or just sometimes?
  
• Do you often discuss what’s wrong in the world more than what’s right? This includes the ‘terrible’ weather, ‘horrible’ traffic, ‘idiotic’ government, ‘lousy’ economy, ‘stupid’ in-laws, etc.
  
• Do you criticize? All the time or just certain people?
  
• Are you attracted to drama and disaster (can you unglue yourself from the TV when there’s a news story of a disaster and can you avoid getting involved in the lives of dysfunctional celebrities?)
  
• Do you blame? All the time or just certain situations?
  
• Do you believe that you have no control over most of your results?
  
• Do you feel like a victim? Do you talk about people doing things to you?
  
• Are you grateful for what is or will you be grateful when things finally start going right for you?
  
• Do you feel like things are happening to you? Or do you feel that they are happening through you?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time to refocus your attention and discipline your thoughts to see only the opportunities and how to grow from each lesson.