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PMA: Positive Mental Attitude Posted on February 05, 2014

You’re Alive, Isn’t That Reason Enough?

We all have our New Year’s Resolutions, right? Eat better, work harder in school, read more, spend time with family, those are all great, but would you care to hear mine? Too bad, I’m just going to tell you. I resolved this year to be happier. And so far, it has worked wonders.

I have a bit of a short temper. If you weren’t very good friends with me and only really knew me on the surface, you wouldn’t know that I get angry pretty easily, but in fact, I do. I’m not sure exactly what it stems from, but I think it has something to do with my early childhood and, as I’ve been studying developmental psychology, probably just something to do with my amygdala’s hormonal response to negative stimuli. Whatever it is, I didn’t think I could control it, but I’m beginning to think that that assumption was wrong.

Examples of things at which I used to get angry: weather, my car, my computer, my phone, crappy drivers, rude people, Republican nonsense, video games, annoying people, getting questions wrong on assignments, my forgetfulness, getting ignored…there’s probably many more things that would anger me on a daily basis, but now, I am controlling my attitude and since the beginning of this year, none of that tends to bother me anymore.

It’s all about your perception. Getting angry over the trivial things in life does nothing more than to elevate your stress levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and really just puts you in a bad mood. Now why would you want to put yourself in a bad mood? It’s not worth it. So I challenge you: next time you feel your blood starting to boil, inhale the bad and exhale. Get it out of your system. It’s just bad energy, that’s all it is. Next time someone cuts you off on the highway, make a joke out of it. Smile! Laugh! You’re still alive, aren’t you? Isn’t that good enough?

“You’re alive, isn’t that good enough?” Isn’t life great? Think about it for a second: you are alive and able to do whatever you want with your life (within the boundaries of the law, of course). You can take a road trip and meet new people. You can go on a hike and explore the beauty and majesty of the outside world. The possibilities for what you can do with this great gift of life you have been given are endless. So smile, enjoy it, because life really is sweet!

Now, we all struggle with our demons. No matter what you do and no matter how hard you try, it’s very possible that the depression with which you are afflicted will never go away. That is understandable. Even the happiest guy I know has said made it public that he struggles with his own bouts of depression. But he was also my inspiration – the guy who told me to have a Positive Mental Attitude in everything I do. Of course I still get sad. And I have experienced a couple spurts of anger, but it’s a learning process. I can feel myself smiling more, hear myself laughing more, and see my life improving with each passing day. It all starts with making a change and it’s something of which you are very much capable.

If you ever need someone to talk to, I am always willing to talk. Do not even hesitate to contact me even if we are complete strangers. And I’m sure that the More Miles More Smiles owner Mark Spewak feels the same way.

I hope this post inspires you to make a change. How sweet it is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJkhfRfI500&app=desktop

*Kyle is a freelance blogger for the More Miles More Smiles team*