Find Your Silver Lining…No Matter Your Circumstance

The quote “every cloud has a silver lining” can be read two ways. You’re either consumed by the cloud struggling to find the good, or your internal happiness keeps you grounded even though you know some bad things may come your way.

I choose to focus on the good. The beauty around me. All the gifts and miracles in this world – they have my focus. In order for me to share what I have with the world, I need to be in a positively focused position. Otherwise, I can’t be effective. We should influence others for good – not weight them down with our troubles.

It’s easy to say that we can find the positive in any situation – no matter the challenge. When you choose to see even the hardest trials in your life as good – our thinking shifts. You find yourself consumed with joy and giving thanks – even when things don’t go your way. The best is yet to come…right?

Looking on the bright side even when things are difficult is a key ingredient to finding true joy in your life. Choosing the see the good will help you cope with stress when things come your way, and you’ll start to live the life you deserve.

90% of the news fed to us over the last 20 years is negative, since the media figured out that captures our attention & thus sells more. So when we open the newspaper or read a post on social media, it’s easy to see negative things. But if we look further, we find inspiration in others sharing their stories. Tragedy and sadness become gratitude and joy. It’s because of their internal thinking that they’re able to shift their focus from negative to good. They find their silver lining. It’s important we find ours too.

If you are someone who has struggled to see the positive in life, I want to share a few things I do to help me find my focus and in turn, find my silver lining in almost any situation.

• • Start the day off with quiet time. (Whatever you want to call it – meditation, prayer, self-reflection, etc.) This will allow you to calm your mind, set your focus for the day, and give yourself the opportunity to examine your thoughts. During your quiet time, are you thinking about what you’ve accomplished thus far or things yet to be done? Do you focus on your strengths or your weaknesses? Pay close attention to your thoughts. It will surprise you how easy it is to shift your focus and watch your day be filled with happiness. You’ll find it easier to see the good and you’ll discover the silver lining.

  • Do not give into negativity. It’s normal for things to creep into your mind, but it’s important that you not allow negative thoughts to consume you. Acknowledge them and quickly shift your focus to the good. Don’t avoid them because they will continue to creep back in. When you acknowledge the negative thoughts and choose to see the good – you take away their power.

  • Focus on gratitude. It’s important to give thanks in everything. When you find yourself struggling to see the positive, give thanks. A good practice is to list five things in your life that are enjoyable or that make your day worthwhile. Be as general or specific as you want, just make sure you do it. It will help you shift your mind into positive gears and you’ll have a positive outlook about your life overall.

  • LOOK for the good. This quote says it all: “When you choose to see the good in others, you end up finding the good in yourself.” This also works for your current surroundings. There truly is good in everything – you just have to LOOK for it. The silver linings aren’t always obvious, but if you take time to take in your surroundings and current situation, it will be revealed.

  • Don’t be afraid to LOOK BACK. Everything that has ever happened (good or bad) in your life is preparing you for what is yet to come. Try this: look back on your past and find the good in what felt like an impossible situation. Maybe there was a time where you lost your job only to find a career that you truly love. Or a relationship that you didn’t want to let go of only to find the love you truly deserve. Pondering on past hurts can help you gain perspective – not only to help you find your true purpose, but to help you realize you deserve so much more in this life. You are truly worth it!

  • Look WITHIN. Happiness is not determined by what’s happening around you, but rather what’s happening inside you.  Most people depend on others to gain happiness, but the truth is, it always comes from within. It’s up to us to control our thoughts and not allow our circumstances to dictate our attitude. How we react is challenging situations will have an impact on our positive thinking. The more we choose to react positively, it will become second nature to evolve with any challenge that comes at you.

  • BE THE GOOD. – Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the good you wish to see in the world.” If you want to see good, focus on doing good and being the good in your environment. Positivity is infectious, so throw good vibes out and you’ll reap them back ten-fold!

Make an effort to do these practices daily. They will help you see the good in almost anything that comes at you. You will discover your happier self. Your sense of self-worth will return, and you’ll be ready to set and achieve your life goals. You’ll love life again! The more you focus on these daily practices, the easier it will be to look on the bright side of life, and you’ll find your silver lining in any challenge that comes your way.

Martin Luther King, Jr. puts it best: “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” There is a silver lining in every situation! You just need to uncover the good to find it!