I Keep My Glass Half Full At All Times!

Is your glass half empty or half full?

What I really mean to say is, “Are you an optimist (half full) or a pessimist (half empty)?” As for me, I’m a walking, talking ball of very positive energy (color me optimist). The people in my life know this the best, and they often ask me how I have this kick a@# balance of both calmness and joy (I’m not making this s@#t up … really!). To this, I usually respond, “I eat appreciation, gratitude and joy for breakfast, lunch and dinner (oh, it tastes so good!)”. Then, when I fall out of sync (as we all do from time to time) I simply bring myself back down to Earth with the realization that I’m just a “tiny ant” on this “giant rock” (read: the world’s weight doesn’t sit on my shoulders … get it?)! This usually calms me back down in a hurry … pretty sweet, huh?

Seriously, life has taken me on a pretty personal journey so far, which has included tremendous challenges, and also incredible satisfaction. I’ve achieved what I believe to be some awesome success and material wealth in my life (note: I’ve also been stripped of the material stuff from time to time … I’m back to the good parts now though, thank you). I’ve also been all around this world, lived in many different places and somehow I’ve always found a way to live comfortably through each circumstance along the way (I’m a “survivor-type” dude). Now, while my personal journey has been one of extreme success, as well as extreme peril, I fully recognize that as I’ve crawled through the valleys they’re not so bad … plus the peaks definitely make them worth all the effort (trust me on this one)!

We ALL have different journeys, challenges and lessons in life (this is the way it goes). Some parts will bring crisis and hardship, and others will be calm and relaxing. Our strength and hope lie not only in our ability to move forward after the tough patches, but also in the ability to move forward with our mind, heart and soul intact, and in a positive place. What is the secret to living a “glass half full” life, you ask? Well, it starts with recognizing that everything in life is a choice (A.K.A. a personal decision). Ok, we cannot always control what happens to us, but we sure have the ultimate control over what we do with our experiences.

Only we can control our thoughts … we are the masters of what is most important in our life: our consciousness! On our path to discovering a life filled with joy and happiness we’ll always come head to head with this greatest of opponents. Forget about that a@#hole at work, or someone who just did you dirty/rotten … they’re nothing! The truth is: the real opponent we face is within ourselves, and it’s the only one we have to worry about. That voice, which only speaks of fear and desperation must be conquered. When it tells you that you cannot do something, show it that you can. It’s super easy to fall victim to this voice, so we must fight tooth and nail to drown it out, or else that negativity will kill your passion, purpose and talents!

So, how can you beat this internal opponent and get more joy, energy, and enthusiasm out of life? Well, first you must realize that wishing for, yearning for, or hoping for happiness or joy will never get you positive results … in fact, they’ll only speak louder of what you lack instead. Seriously, when our thoughts come from a place of need, they also come from a place of fear (are you following this? I sure as hell hope so, for your sake). The reason: the energy we transmit attracts even more of the same, which is never a good thing. So, go out and decide to hold your glass half full in life from this day forth (that’s what winners do, by the way)!

Go on … experience what life has to offer, without fear, uncertainty, worry, or negativity. Kick that damn “garbage talk” out of your mind (you know, those thoughts that are sapping you of all your positive energy). Then answer this: What would your life be like if you decided to stop yearning, wishing, or hoping for happiness and just wake up one day with the cojones to turn it all into a reality for yourself? Go ahead … try it on for size (feels good, right?)!

My final thoughts (just like Jerry Springer): no matter what has happened to you in life so far, just know that you alone have the power to fight all of your “opponents”, to move past a place of need … a place of yearning for, wanting, asking, and hoping to a place of personal strength and positive certainty. Now, don’t you ever forget what I just told you … as it’s seriously going to change your life for the better — you’re welcome, in advance, pal!