When life begins to spiral in a negative directions, it's time to take stock and reroute life's path. Without that analysis and reflection, life may keep spiraling down. So how do you reroute a negative path? What do you do?
First, as I've noted many times recently, you have to take stock of your primary values--what do you believe in and what kind of life do you want?
For me, these values take priority:
- kindness, love, respect, and care for others. I want to be a positive force that helps people to live their best possible lives
- personal responsibility - I don't want to be a burden on others if possible. I want to be responsible for my bills, health care, and self care as much as possible.
- contribution - I love to help; and I love to help especially when I have what people need. (I get very frustrated when I don't have what people need and I cannot be of much help.)
- humility and acceptance - I realize that there are areas of life where I do not have the knowledge, capacity, or understanding to make a difference. I have to accept that I am not superhuman and I don't have all the answers or capacity to make a difference in every situation.
- joy - I believe in the power of joy and I want to contribute to creating and supporting joy in people's lives.
- reflection, prayer, listening, compassion, empathy, and love - I want to contribute to and engage in the spiritual aspects of life that bring light, meaning, and goodness to life.
- patience - my nature is to try to solve problems asap, but the more I live, the more I realize that patience is a virtue and that some solutions do take thoughtful time. Good problem solving is an art that requires time, collaboration, care, knowledge, and strategy.
So when life begins to spiral down, it's time to infuse as much love, care, and good work as possible into the mix. An infusion of loving words, actions, and care will help to reroute the direction away from the negativity.
Once love and values take place, then it's likely that a better direction will take route. Onward.
