Keeping Up My Positive Outlook Despite Our Global Pandemic

Photos by Hazel Lining Photography

I wanted to get a little personal today and talk to you a little about positivity in your outlook and your attitude. We need it more now, then ever before. During this COVID-19 pandemic and our new normal of quarantine life, it can be so easy to find ourselves sad, depressed, feeling low and feeling negative. Trust me, I have had my days feeling super low. Not gonna lie, there have been some tears and some sadness here too. However, most days have been more positive then negative for me. Why? Well, because I am purposefully looking for blessings and joy in my every day life. Little things. Things I may have otherwise taken for granted. Things like really enjoying the days when the sun is shining or it’s nice and warm outside. Sipping a cup of my favorite coffee. Snuggling with my warm little kitty while I catch up on my current Netflix binge session with my husband. Thinking about bigger things too like that I get to work in the comfort of my home right now on my business in my comfy pants with my husband next to me. Or that I still get to be a Wedding Planner and I get to be there for my couples every day. I get to plan out my own day, my own way. Something I have been striving for for years.

This kind of mindset was not something I always had. I had actually always been more of a negative person. Growing up, I struggled to find positives in life. I struggled with depression. I struggled with constantly deep diving into every situation focused on the negatives and all the possible negative outcomes of things. Being a positive person did not seem like something that was possible for me. But, I was wrong. A few years ago, not long after starting my business, I started seeking out positivity. I started surrounding myself with positive people, positive small business owners and some really wonderful positive friends. With some recommendations from friends as well, I started following some positive influencers online like Rachel Hollis and Jenna Kutcher. I’ve listened to their podcasts, read Rachel Hollis’s books, and follow them on social media. The continuous positivity and encouragement that I saw these women and the friends I was now surrounding myself with, putting forth in the world made me want to do the same. I wanted to be a person who was positive and encouraging to others. Not negative, bitter and angry. The people and things you choose to surround yourself with and consume truly make a different in your attitude and your outlook. So I make sure that the people I surround myself with are the people who help me stay positive every day.

I now have been starting my days with a gratitude practice that I learned from Rachel Hollis. Every morning, I write down 5 things that I am grateful for. Those little things I mentioned early like my coffee, my comfy pants, the sunshine, etc. Writing down these things that I am grateful for every day reminds me to seek out blessings and joy in my life, all around me. I look for things to be grateful for. I look for things that I can feel positive about. Especially when I have no control over what is happening in the world right now and what our lives will look like tomorrow, a week from now, months or even years from now. As a self proclaimed control freak, I hate that I can’t control or fix any of this. So instead, I am looking for the things that I can control like my attitude and my outlook. That helps me keep going and helps me keep showing up here for you. I want to show up in my life. I want to show up for you.

I know this can all be easier said then done. Honestly, life is not all butterflies and roses and I have had my share of struggles in life too. I have struggled my whole life with my self worth. I have struggled with my fear of what others think of me. I’ve experienced a house fire and losing everything as a child. I have struggled with fertility and suffered a miscarriage after years of trying to get pregnant. I have lost my cat who was the love of my life and held him in my arms as he left me. I have lost loved ones. I’ve had my heartbroken a few times. I have cried my eyes out on many occasions and have felt completely hopeless so many times. I have been kicked down time and time again, just like anyone else. We all go through our own trials and tribulations. But, I did get back up. I am still standing and you are too. You are strong enough to move forward. You are strong enough to get up again. And you are strong enough to get through this. That is where I choose to put my thoughts and energy. In the fact that I can choose to get back up again even when life gives us the hardest beatings.

So although it might be hard some days and I might struggle now and then, I will keep choosing joy. I will keep looking for blessings. I will keep striving to be positive for myself and for you. I will keep striving to show up in my life and I will keep trying to share positivity and encouragement wherever possible. Because if this helps even just one person, than that means that it was worth trying for. I am sending you a virtual hug and some positive vibes and thoughts to help get you through this difficult time. Stay safe and healthy my friends and look toward the sun and find the joy in your own lives!

Love,

Naticia