A Problem Shared

"Always look on the bright side of life..." Monty Python - there you go not only are you smiling, but you are whistling too!!!!

I used to look at problems in a negative way. "Why me?" I would ask over and over again. I would sit and dwell, sometimes for hours about my dilemmas - what could I do to solve them, how would I ever carry on, was my life over etc. Then I had a health problem, just a few months ago, which has changed my life and changed the way I look at problems.

When this problem arrived, I could not believe it was happening to me. The nature of the problem, was an every day occurrence and therefore I knew that I was not alone in my suffering. I assumed, therefore that it would be easy to find information about dealing with the implications of this problem. Unfortunately I discovered that this was not the case, and I found my writing (or rather typing) fingers. I found the information so difficult to find, that I decided to write it down in an article and publish it on the internet, so that everyone could find one page that told them everything they needed to know. On top of this, I found that writing about this matter was very therapeutic, allowing the anger I had inside to dissipate.

I have written elsewhere about the power of writing for therapy, but now I wish to share my view on the power of positivity - positive thinking and a positive attitude. Despite all of my recent troubles, I have found my attitude has become much more positive. I have had many comments from my social media status updates, regarding the positivity I portray and therefore inspire in others. This just makes my positivity grow. OK I do have my down moments, but nowhere near as many, and when I do I look for the positive in it and harvest it.

From writing and publishing these articles I have found an answer to that two word question "Why me?" and in addition found an ability to be positive about almost anything at all!!! The answer to the question by the way is: "It's not JUST me, its other people TOO!!" I have come to find that no matter what your problem is, there is somebody somewhere who is sharing your suffering and going through or has been through your dilemma - and come out the other side. All we have to do is find them - and with the internet, that is SO easy. There are web sites, blogs, forums - all dedicated to sharing experiences and ideas and helpful tips. Use them, I can guarantee they will help - the old adage "A problem shared is a problem halved" is so perfectly true.

By sharing your problems, you take the weight off your shoulders. Other peoples experiences can help - they show you what works, what doesn't work, what can be done slightly differently for better effect. You never know, you may even be able to help others! And what a great feeling that is. I recently wrote an article about bankruptcy - an embarrassing situation that people don't like to talk about. I was contacted by a reader, who was so delighted that the taboo had been broken, and she no longer felt alone - she went on to ask me for advice about it from my own experiences, which I gave freely and happily. At the end of the conversation she was more upbeat and positive about her problem, no longer feeling at the end of her tether but smiling and knowing what she needed to do.

You discover you are not alone in all of your suffering, no matter what it may be. By realising this and accepting it as fact, you begin to smile and laugh more, you begin to enjoy life a little more, and therefore you begin to live again! Once you find your positive side, stay there - positivity is infectious and you are infected, infect as many people as possible, "Two positives do not make a negative", therefore a world full of positives is a great place to be!!