Positive FocusChugga, chugga, choo-choooo…..

Life is not always easy.

I’m not prone to anxiety, but the last couple weeks my chi has been askew. Listening to news and current events makes it worse. Our world is a train wreck.

  •  Terrorist wars raging in the middle east
  • Run-away ebola outbreak in Africa that could spread to other continents
  • Government corruption
  • Cyber attacks from Russian mobs
  • A “super volcano” in Yellow Stone National Park
  • Drought in California with no end in sight
  • And, in my own neighborhood, a young man abducts an 8-year-old child from her bed and releases her an hour later, unharmed, but he’s still on the loose.

Are YOU freaked out yet? Sorry to drag you into my misery. Truly, I am.

I have to stop the chatter. Crawling into bed and pulling the covers over my head will not help. [Tweet “Like a little sister, the chatter follows me wherever I go. “]

Usually, I’m quite optimistic and can counter these horrifying visions by appreciating the good in the world – think puppehs , kittehs, and funny goat videos. That isn’t working right now. I just learned that over the last 2 decades in the US, antidepressant use is up 400%  with over 25% of women and 10% of the general population popping a pill to cure their ills, according to the New York Times blog.  I recently read this piece about how a shaman looks at mental illness.  Maybe we’re putting our eggs in the wrong basket. If the world were run by those currently considered mentally ill, we might see a vast improvement. (click to Tweet)

No wonder we’re all feeling trapped. We bombard ourselves with news of “possible” scenarios we have no control over and then dumb down with the Kardashians. We have access to more information than ever before, though it isn’t all necessarily true, and media outlets are competing for our attention. Why not sensationalize? When you’re peddling lies, telling them in big, bold colours – that’s the way of the world. Then, we the people turn on one another…forming camps. What has become of us?

Our world is a train wreck and I can’t peel my eyes away. I know, what we give our intention to grows stronger (click to Tweet). Actually, that was a fateful typo. I meant “attention,” but intention works, too. So how do I center myself to be a more Positive Focusaccomplished artist, a widely read writer, a champion of the people?

Know your purpose.

We all feel best when we are aligned with what seems to be our natural purpose. There are stacks of books read, prayers written and recited, self-help gurus – all with designs on helping us know our purpose. My coming out blog While I was Busy Being Someone Else , was written 2 years ago and told of such an elusive feat.

For me, the answer is simple. What makes you happy? What makes your heart sing? It may have been something from your childhood, as our younger souls have a divine memory of purpose. Do that. It’s different for everyone. Just do what makes you happy, and know, we usually feel happiest when we share our passion, especially in acts of service to others.

As I was searching for a graphic to illustrate this point, I was perusing my Pinterest – The Art of Words – board. Reading the quotes made me happy. I began to refocus my attention on more positive endeavors.  Art makes me happy. Writing makes me happy. Quiet time, with my dogs, watching the squirrels in the trees, music – those things make me happy. Being mindful makes me happy. We are supposed to be happy, fulfilled souls – that’s what we are when we are living our purpose! So, goodbye news; I can’t help you. But, I can help myself…by doing what makes me happiest and passing it on. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. What makes you happy?

Choo-choo….Getting Back on Track!

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Michelle Andres is a writer, artist and coach who nudges, nay, shoves, her clients in the directionWriter, Artist, Coach of their dreams, helping them to overcome non-productive behaviours and enjoy more success in their lives.

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