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The Covid shutdown and the craziness that ensued and is still going on showed us many things. Some are scary, like how quickly things can go sideways. Some were good, like how the country can come together and help one another.

One of the things it showed us from a psychological point of view was how important it was to decide to keep a positive outlook. I say choose to because we often have to make a choice. We are looking at something scary that could get worse at any minute. We have very little information about it, but what we have is bad, but we must go on.

As the saying goes, we must find the silver lining in this storm cloud. Finding the silver lining gets harder, almost impossible for those of us that lost people, but even then, choosing to have a positive outlook can make all the difference in the world. It is not a switch that you flip on or off.

Everything is terrible too well. Ok, now it is fine. However, this exercise needs to be worked on over and over again. I used to have a very negative outlook on life. However, I learned early on that if I decide to find the positive, however small, things will feel and get better.

It starts by finding small, silly things to be happy about. If you find enough small things that you can decide to be happy about, things suddenly do not look as bad. If you can pile up small wins or positive things to point to soon, they will brighten your day and make you able to see other positive things.

For instance, whenever Covid hit, and shopping became harder, I found Instacart, Zoom, and the laws on telemedicine loosened up. While those are not a big deal, I like them and was not using them before covid.

Now that doesn’t help with the hit the business took, people were hurting, and I didn’t know where the world was going. But it was something to show, hey; things can continue. When you decide to be positive, it starts going to weird places. So, for instance, when people tell me that it’s going to be hard to get to where I want to go in some new venture or business plan, it excites me.

My brain doesn’t hear this is hard. Please don’t do it. I hear this is hard; it will keep the competition away. I have already decided the harder something is, the more valuable it will be.

This is why I said in the book “Pillars of Wellness,” I love it when people say I can’t because something is illegal. Not because I do unlawful things but because things are rarely truly criminal. You have to jump through a bunch of hoops others are unwilling to. How we view the world will often dictate our success or failure.

I encourage you to look for the good in every bad situation. Play them out in your head. Zombie apocalypse? At least people are not arguing about guns anymore, or I finally have a reason to move to the woods, or, hey, fewer cars on the road.

That is a silly example, but you get the point. Taking something bad, finding the good, and leaning into that will always be important. So when things get bad, my advice for the future is to choose to see the good. Actively seek out the small silver that can add up over time. Be the person that always has a positive outlook because that person is a hope and a light for others.

If you think that we are out of the Covid junk and things will be bright and shiny from here on their own, you are mistaken. Bigger items and worse things are always coming. You have to choose to find the positive. So please find the good, seek the silver and be that light to others.

Check out Chalmers Pillarsofwellness.com for Wellness updates! And ask me any questions you have at [email protected]. I answer all of them and look forward to hearing from you.

Dr. Matt Chalmers

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. Before taking any action based on this information you should first consult with your physician or health care provider. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions regarding a medical condition, your health, or wellness.