Hope is important

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

Sadly as a nation of human beings, we have been faced with an immense amount of dismay, uncertainty, and turmoil. It is true some of these challenges began early this year, but others have been going on for far too long. Many changes with the mentality of some need to take place sooner than later and these people need to learn how to accept others regardless of any differences.

In order to manage the stresses relating to the COVID-19, the safety of health and jobs, innocent people being killed by police, riots, and protests occurring across the country, and an increase in hatred, we must find a way to pull together. I feel very passionately that the only way to get through times as difficult as they have been recently, we need to have hope.

Let’s start with this question, what does hope mean to you? Hope is an optimistic state of mind based on one’s expectation of positive outcomes regarding the events and or circumstances in the individual’s life. Hope can help us to handle problems we are faced with a strategic and peaceful mindset that will lead to successful outcomes.

There are numerous reasons holding onto hope is important during normal times, so these reasons could be even more critical during grueling times like we have been dealing with lately.

1. Hope acts as a healer-

Unfortunately, it is unavoidable we will all go through difficult times and get hurt at some point in life. The astounding thing hope offers us is it helps us see there are positive possibilities in our future. Hope can help lift our heads up when we are feeling low because of temporary circumstances.

2. Hope helps behavior and reactions-

When we are able to embrace hope it can offer guidance to help us move forward. Hope can direct us to a better path for our life. Hope can also encourage a peaceful and joyous life for us.

3. Hope motivates-

Hope is a source of energy we need to get up and move forward daily. We are more likely to embrace each day when there is hope for better days ahead of us.

4. Hope promotes self-belief-

Hope helps us to believe better times are near, but it also gives us the belief that we can do something to make those better days happen. We are able to understand the power we hold within us to alter the course we travel in order to get to our destination.

5. Hope can resist negative thoughts-

It isn’t easy to be hopeful when there is a constant flood of negative thoughts in our minds. Of course, as I said in a previous post negative thoughts act as a warning for us. Hope is not able to eliminate negative thoughts immediately, but it can give us the ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel, which challenges those unwanted and unpleasant thoughts. Hope can also remind us things will improve in their own time.

6. Hope welcomes inner peace-

Despair is a feeling that is the direct opposite of hope. Despair breeds nothing but unpleasant feelings, where hope breeds happiness, excitement, joy, and contentment to continue moving forward.

7. Hope is very contagious-

We all want to believe good times will come back around. We all want to trust life will become happy and comfortable again. We all want to be hopeful. We know how quickly fear and negativity can spread; well hope can spread just as quickly.

Life hasn’t been easy for the past few months, but I do believe things will improve if everyone could become more accepting and have empathy for what others are going through. Yes, things with the virus have been difficult and stressful, but we will hopefully be close to change with that issue. The other thing that has been troubling me tremendously is, the innocent man that was killed by a Minneapolis Police Officer. It just isn’t right that some police officers think because they have a gun and a badge they can do whatever they please. Justice and kindness needs to take place immediately.

Thank y’all for visiting my site today. I hope the information I have provided was interesting and even offered y’all some hope for the future. I hope you had a lovely and safe weekend! Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

The Bright Side of Negative Feelings

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

We have all heard that there is power in positive thinking, which I have always believed to be true. Even though we need to try finding the positive aspects of most situations we encounter in life, sometimes is still can be nearly impossible to not recognize and acknowledge our negative feelings. Do you think it is possible to maintain a positive mindset most of the time, but that it also isn’t healthy to ignore our negative feelings?

In this post I am going to share with you some critical reasons why we should not ignore our negative feelings when they appear, but instead embrace them.

1. Negative feelings can be viewed as a powerful warning method-

What does our fear do for us? Fear warns us of imminent danger and urges us to take action. Our negative feelings basically do the same and are acting as an alarm that signals possible harm in some form. This hard could be physical, emotional, or mental depending on what is going on in life.

We all pay attention when we feel fear, so why shouldn’t we embrace negative feelings? We should ask ourselves the question, why we are experiencing these negative emotions? Is there something we should be avoiding? Does this mean we should be taking another path in life?

2. Negative feelings are trying to tell us that something is NOT right-

I have just explained how our negative feelings notify us of possible danger, but they also can be warning that something in our life isn’t right. Maybe it is something in our relationship, our career, or something with our health, or even something we continue to put off has issues that we need to address. Often we should not view our negative feelings as merely a nuisance, but more as a good friend that has our best interests in mind.

3. Negative emotions can encourage us to take beneficial actions-

Unfortunately, we have all received bad news that caused us sadness. When this happens, what is the first thing we do? It is human nature to feel down and even feel sorry for ourselves. Instead of ignoring these negative feelings, it might be better to embrace them. Acknowledge the feelings we are experiencing and allow them to help us find a logical solution.

We should not deny or apologize for our negative emotions. Nor should we allow these negative emotions to paralyze us or overwhelm us. We are allowed to feel what we feel, whenever we feel what we feel and never dismiss those emotions. We are feeling how we feel for a reason and maybe we should explore them.

4. Negative feelings allow us to welcome and appreciate the good life has to offer-

How would you feel if everything in life went the same and was predictable? If every moment of our life was always happy and content, there would not be any negative feelings that would make the positive feelings more appreciated when they occur. All of us need to understand that no matter how much pain and distress we may deal with, life will also provide us with happiness and comfort.

5. Negative feelings provide us confirmation of what is important-

A well-founded signal you have come into your core values is when you have negative feelings. Maybe you violated one of your values or you failed to follow through with a promise and you are feeling guilty for this. Negative feelings are commonly a crucial assertion that we are honoring our beliefs, values, and views.

6. Negative feelings invite us to contemplate-

Allowing ourselves to have negative feelings allows us the opportunity to think deeply about things we did not give adequate time to previously. It is possible, we need to consider our health practices or spending habits or maybe something we have continued putting off for a long period, but are all things that need to be dealt with. Embracing and acknowledging our negative feelings may not be easy, but they are needed for our mental, physical, and emotional health.

7. Negative feelings can help protect us when we feel overburden-

Many of us tend to overdo things and push ourselves beyond the limits we are aware of. When we do over extend ourselves, we will hopefully begin feeling negative feelings such as frustration and irritability. These feelings are our body’s way to telling us to start facing ourselves and start limiting the amount of additional commitments we take on. We must listen to our inner voice and pay attention to the warnings our negative feelings are trying to notify us of.

8. Negative feelings offer healing-

We do not need to have thick skin or be referred to as overly sensitive; we just need to take time to heal when someone else causes us pain. If another person does or says something hurtful, it is very common to have negative feelings regarding the situation. Denying our feelings, no matter how negative they maybe will not speed up our healing process. This means it might be beneficial to use those negative feelings to promote our healing and take the time needed to do so without rushing ourselves.

9. Negative feelings will not allow a denial of reality-

It is important we know and understand that denying our feelings will not be a successful way to get over our negative feelings. Pretending something doesn’t bother us will never make that lie be the truth and could end up causing more issues and pain for the future. When something or someone causes us pain, it is perfectly fine to grieve the loss and disappointment. The only true way to get over disappointment and or hurt is the face the problem, mend the wounds, and move on with the life you deserve.

I hope the information in this post was beneficial for you, especially if you are going through a difficult time. It is never easy to face what has caused us pain, but we will be better off in the long run if we do so. I am sure there are several other ways that would be helpful and would love to read any comments you may have. The entire world is dealing with hard times right now and we all need to help and support one another. Until times get a little easier being kind, compassionate, and empathetic to what others are dealing is extremely important. I also wanted to say, please do not take this post as a negative, but to just say it is okay to have negative feelings because we are only human!

Thank you so much for visiting my site today. I hope you had a lovely week and you will enjoy a safe and happy weekend! Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Let It Go Friday!

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

Happy Friday y’all! I hope you had a lovely week and you are looking forward to a relaxing and safe weekend! We all deserve to enjoy our weekends, but just please continue practicing social distancing, hand washing, and masks to protect yourself! Unfortunately, I have not seen numbers of COVID-19 declining at all where I live, but maybe things are better where you are living at.

I have always believed that once we have made through the week that Friday is a perfect day to let go of any and all negative emotions. There just isn’t any reason to have the negative emotions from the week to carry on into our time to enjoy the weekend! My hopes are that the quote I am sharing with y’all today will serve you with positive emotions and a way of letting go of any negative emotions the week caused you!

Thank you so much for visiting my site today. I do always appreciate your continued support and patients when I fail to respond quickly. Honestly, things have been a bit of a struggle lately which has caused me to fall a little behind. I do promise to work on getting much better with this and not allowing unnecessary distractions to cause issues with my response time. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Pick-Me-Up-Thursday!

Posted on May 28, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

Happy Friday eve y’all! I hope you had a good week and you are feeling the best you possibly can! Now that we have made it through another week are you ready for a fantastic weekend? No matter what you have planned for the weekend, please remember to stay safe.

I do believe we all continue to need a little pick-me-up because things are still a little unsettling with respect to COVID-19. . I hope the quote that I found to share with y’all will serve as a nice Pick Me Up! Of course, one reason I loved this quote was because of the butterfly, but the words are also very meaningful! I look forward to reading your comments and promise to respond as quickly as I can!

I hope you have a fabulous day and it is as stress-free as possible! Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Motivational Monday!

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

Happy Monday y’all! I hope you had a lovely and safe weekend! Are you ready to start another week? At least this week comes with a holiday, so hopefully if you are back to work, you at least have one less day of work.

Unfortunately, we are all aware that no matter what they say on the TV, we still need to follow safety precautions.However, even with that said, I hope you are able to enjoy the holiday! Even practicing social distancing, you can still enjoy the day!

Y’all know that even with what our new normal is, I think we still need a little motivation to start the week off right! Of course, I always love the quotes that I find, but I hope you will find some motivation from this quote. I would love the opportunity to read your thoughts because I do always value what you have to say!

I would like to thank you for visiting my site today! I hope you have a wonderful day and your week only continues to get better. This was my first post using the new WordPress block format. I only hope I will get more comfortable and my post will look good again. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, and many positive vibes!

How to be Free of Bad Habits

Posted on May 23, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

What is meant by bad habits? Bad habits are defined as a patterned behavior that is considered to be detrimental to one’s physical and or mental health. This is typically linked to a high level of discipline and self-control. No matter who you are unfortunately we all have bad habits that we want to be free from.

Many people will end up dealing with stress and boredom with bad habits. If you can think back to a time you were faced with a stressful situation, how did you deal with those negative feelings? While many things are viewed as bad habits, I normally end up biting my nails or pick at the skin around my fingers. What would you say your bad habits are?

We all know it is not easy to break bad habits, but it is important to at least try and not give up. I do have several bad habits I would like to be free from to proceed with a healthier and fulfilling life. I have discovered several ways to eliminate bad habits and would love to get your feedback on them.

The first step is determining the core of your bad habit. Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer-prize winning American journalist and non-fiction author, has determined three basic parts to our habits. Our habits primarily work in a cycle of these parts.

The Cue– This is the feeling, time, or location which triggers your habits, good or bad.
The Routine- This is whatever the habit itself is.
The Reward- This is the craving that the habit satisfies.

Taking the time to understand each of the components is the first step to seizing our habits. It may be beneficial to write down the cue, routine, and reward for whichever habit you decide you want to break, ask yourself:

What triggered the routine?

What is the craving the body is trying to satisfy?

Change your surroundings-

At this point we have already determined the cue or cues that are responsible for triggering our bad habits. Logically, we can understand once we manage to eliminate what cues our habits initiate, there will no longer be anything prompting the habit cycle to begin. Changing our surroundings can remove the cues causing our bad habits. One study that was done in a university, researchers found that students who transferred to a new university were far more likely to change their bad habits, than the students that did not change universities. This occurred because the students that changed universities did not have certain cues that were the cause of their bad habits.

Focus on one bad habit at a time-

Many of us have more than one bad habit we would like to eliminate. Trying to tackle too many habits at a time will on decrease our abilities for successful outcomes. To successfully eliminate our bad habits, it is crucial to focus all of our attention on just one habit before we try handling another one.

View your goal as a positive-

Another key element of habits is the routine, which is the behavior that is triggered by the cue. In other words, it is the habit you want to eliminate. Typically, when we set goals for ourselves we are not putting them in a positive frame of mind, but instead they are in a negative mindset. Our brain’s habit system responds better to positive goals. For instance, instead of your goal being “I will stop eating junk food” try “I am going to eat healthier”.

Psychologists have suggested that pursuing negative goals is linked with feelings of inadequacy and decreased self-esteem, which can discourage us from taking action. People tend to find it easier to become motivated by positive goals, which increase the opportunity for successfully achieving our goals.

Replace the bad with the good you love-

Quitting a habit altogether seldom work out the way we intended. Once a habit is formed, it becomes an instinct for us to follow through with the routine because our brains are wired to see the cue and desired reward. Instead of completely eliminating habits, keep the old cue and reward, but start a new routine.

***In a future post I will go through a few bad habits and how to eliminate them***

Forgive yourself if you relapse-

It is not easy to break bad habits and there is always a possibility you will go back to your old ways several times before achieving your ultimate goal. You have probably heard old habit die hard, well that couldn’t be any truer! It is important to allow yourself the chance to try again and not be angry about any setbacks. You will have a far better chance at achieving your goals if you do not deter yourself with negative and disappointing thoughts.

Keep your goals to yourself-

We might think that sharing our goals with others would be encouraging, but this actually lowers our chances of success. Once we tell people about the goals we have set for ourselves, they will view us a little different and this could falsely assure the mind that the identity goal is partially complete and you might not put the effort in that is needed reach your goal.

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope your weekend has started off great and you are feeling the best you can. I am excited to read your feedback on this post and anything you have tried to free yourself of bad habits, I promise to respond as quickly as I can. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Open letter to the president, vice president & other leaders

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

This post is my open letter to the current president, vice president, and other leaders. I am sorry in advance if what I have stated creates any ill feelings, but this is the way I feel about things.

To the president, vice president, and others in power,

While the world has been under attack from a deadly virus, shouldn’t you be protecting and defending the country and people you represent? Are you unable to see the damage you are doing daily? You were made aware of the virus that has caused extensive turmoil long before you bothered to act on it. We have all been terrified of this virus and those, like myself with a compromised immune system have lived in fear for months.

How long did you say COVID-19 was a democratic hoax or not all that serious? You tried blaming everyone but the person you have to see in the mirror every day. Do you think if you acted like a president, a real leader sooner, lives could have been saved? Instead of thinking of your presidential duties as a TV show, you should be thinking of the lives you have endangered. Instead of leaning on Twitter and calling journalist fake news, you should be behaving in a much more mature manner instead of the childish ways you are.

Three and a half years into you being the president of the United States, you still feel threatened by our previous president. You are even trying to blame your failures on him and why? Obama was not perfect, but he did care more about American lives that you ever have.

I am not saying things would have been drastically different if only you acted on the information you were provided because we will never know now. It is obvious you somehow have supporters and those people listen and believe your lies. Too many followed your idea about ingesting disinfectants, which cause chaos. The people that believe what comes out of your mouth isn’t necessarily your fault, they are just ignorant and unable to think for themselves.

What I would like to ask of you is to please start thinking about the millions of people you represent. Start putting our needs above your egotistical mindset. You are currently the president of the most powerful country in the world, so start acting like it. Yes, COVID-19 did begin in China and yet the numbers of cases and deaths in the United States are higher than any other country in the world because of you. We are not able to go back in time to repair the numerous disturbances and lives destroyed because of your inability to act as you care about anyone besides yourself. You can start today treating people like they matter. You can start to have respect for journalists that are just doing their job. You can start being a president!

Thank you for visiting my site today and reading my extremely frustrated letter to those in power. Again, I am sorry if anything I wrote offended you. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and if you do feel the president is doing well for the people and country that is your choice and I can respect that. I only hope you can respect my feelings and thoughts on how much damage has happened to the country and how many lives were impacted by things not be handled immediately. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Let It Go Friday!

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

Happy Friday y’all! I hope your week went well and you are looking forward to another weekend. There have been many changes to how we spend our weekends, but I do hope your weekend will be full of happiness and relaxation. I know it is a long weekend and many things have reopened, but I still do not have any plans. Maybe I am taking it too far, but I do not feel at all safe out in the public yet. I find it very disrespectful when at a grocery store or gas station and people still do not understand social distancing.

Our weeks are not always spent doing what we want or even have a passion for. The weeks can also cause many negative emotions and frustrations, but I do believe letting go of that negative energy before entering the weekend is very beneficial for our physical and mental health. I mean why allow those negative feelings to follow us into a weekend that is supposed to be about us, what we love and enjoy, and our families? I found the quote I am sharing with y’all today encouraging and motivating with letting go of things that do not really matter and I hope it will provide you with something similar. No pressure at all of course, but I would love to read what your thoughts about this quote and if it offered some help with letting go of negativity,

Thank you so much for visiting my site today! I do always appreciate your continued support and enjoy the chats we can have. I hope your week was pleasant, you have a stress-free day and a lovely weekend. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Breakthrough the Barriers of Social Distancing

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

It was not that long ago when simply going to the grocery store did not involve the fear of a new and potentially deadly virus. For the past several months we have been faced with a world-wide pandemic, stay at home orders, businesses closing their doors (hopefully temporarily), job losses, widespread fear for our health, mask, and gloves for protection, social distancing, and many other issues that have caused panic. Truthfully, I can’t even remember the last day I wasn’t terrified to leave the house or when social distancing was not practiced by most people and then getting frustrated when some do not respect the social distancing.

I feel confident saying that while I do understand the reasons behind social distancing, it has been very challenging and isolating. Granted, I do have my husband and two cats home with me (24/7), but let’s face it being home all the time with no changes can make anyone get irritable. I do love my husband and cats dearly, but sometimes I need a break.

I have found some ideas for activities that could help heighten our moods and encourage motivation.

Express and stay in touch-

Acts of kindness should always be something we try doing. With all everyone around the world is dealing with today a simple email or handwritten note to someone you know could offer a positive boost to their day. Think about memorable previous bosses or co-workers and send them a note. I know some previous bosses we were glad to be rid of, but I know I have at least one that I still miss and really enjoyed working with her. This person’s name is Mary Close Hall and she really was amazing! Offer to go to the grocery store or pharmacy for an elderly neighbor that struggles with getting out of the house during normal times. While in a store, either for yourself or a neighbor, thank those on the frontline and essential workers for what they are doing for the community.

Stay connected digitally-

Today’s technology has had extensive changes over the years. Millions of people around the world already rely heavily on social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The social media platforms offer positive ways to stay connected virtually, while we continue to practice social distancing. People from various locations can interact with one another face-to-face, well a better way to say it is screen-to-screen. The possibilities are endless to stay connected safely with family and friends.

Discover your creativeness-

Tasks that are repetitious such as knitting or crocheting can create a meditative state of mind and relaxation in the body and brain. These meditative and relaxed feelings have also been known to decrease worry and negative thoughts. You do not need to have or run out and buy needles, crochet hooks, and of yarn there are many other forms or art that can reduce anxiety and even be uplifting for our moods.

Learn a new language-

While we are stuck at home with very limited interaction with others, we can be getting prepared for future travels. There are numerous apps and YouTube videos to help teach us a foreign language. We can make the most of the times of isolation and be thankful for the time we had to learn something new!

Become Cultured-

Now is a great time to explore art institutions and cultural events virtually. Back when things were not so complicated, did you ever think of or find the time to visit a museum virtually? I know that it never crossed my mind to expand my worldly knowledge from my living room, but now we all can try this. Google is a fantastic tool that can act as our tour guide to these exciting new experiences.

Passion Projects-

Is there anything you have wanted to try, but never found the time to do so? Maybe you want to write a short story, or a book, or learn more about your ancestry. Now is a good time to pursue these projects you have thought about for so long. While we are stuck at home and feeling beginning to feel anxious, diving into a long-term project can offer us a sense of purpose.

Attend a virtual class or event-

Many local attractions and studios are becoming creative and offering options for enjoyable free and digital experiences. I am listing a few free options for you and your family to check out and hope you enjoy them!

https://www.facebook.com/philadelphiazoo/

https://www.amrevmuseum.org/education-museum/students-and-teachers/virtual-field-trip

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner?hl=en&tab=pop

https://www.instagram.com/artwellphilly/

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/travel/a31784720/best-virtual-tours/

These are just a few examples of fun things we are able to do from the safety of our homes. Do you have any other suggestions of things we are able to do from home? I would love to read your thoughts and any advice you might have!

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope your day is going well and you are feeling the best you can. Please continue to stay safe and take care of your health! Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Pick-Me-Up-Thursday!

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

Happy Friday eve y’all! I hope your week is going well, you are staying safe, and feeling the best you can! Are you looking forward to the weekend ahead? I am still planning to stay home because where I live continues to have new cases of COVID-19 and I prefer to stay safe and keep my family safe. More than likely, I will clean the house and do laundry because these are the things that keep the weekends going! Of course, it is a holiday weekend as well, which is an even better reason to stay home and away from people that are possibly being careless.

I am trying to keep things on a schedule as normal as I can. Of course, I am still not working because work-from-home jobs are pretty scarce. I definitely think a “Pick-Me-Up” quote will be beneficial to everyone and hope the quote I am sharing will offer this to you! I do think many people prefer to blame their life on whatever circumstances they are dealing with, instead of the decisions made. I believe in taking responsibility for the decisions we make in life. They might not have been the best decisions, but we most certainly learn from everything we go through in life. What is your initial thoughts on this quote and do you agree with what I just said? It is totally fine if you do not agree, but I would love to read what your thoughts were!

Thank you so much for visiting my site today! I do always appreciate all your support and encouragement. I think y’all know the past few weeks or so have been a little challenging for me due to things going on in life, but I think y’all know that I am pretty strong and do not let anything keep me down long! Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa