Growing up, my mother always told me that the world is not all that it seems. She warned me that it is a scary place where lots of people hate each other, sometimes for no reason. After all the tragic events happening around the world this week, I think my mother's words rang true.
Turning on the world news this week, I saw protestors from the #blacklivesmatter and from the #alllivesmatter movements, battling their viewpoints on the streets. I saw another tragic terrorist attack in France. I saw a shooting Dallas, Texas that took the lives of five police officers, and I saw police officers take the lives of two young men in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In addition, many posts and tweets I see on social media carry a negative connotation. I feel like some days I'm just surrounded in negativity. Between the news and my news feed, I feel like I can't escape the negativity. In a world full of negativity and violence, it is hard to keep a positive outlook and a smile on your face.
So, how can you stay happy in a world full of hate? How can you brighten up your day and maybe brighten someone else's day too? How can you escape the negativity for even just a few minutes? Surprisingly, it is easier than you may think.
All you have to do is remember these seven things:
1. Remember who are, what you stand for, what you have accomplished, and what you will achieve.
2. Remember who your friends are and why they choose to spend time with you.
3. Remember your family and why they love you.
4. Remember all the special people in your life who have built you up to be the person you are today.
5. Remember what you have achieved: all your medals, trophies, rewards, and acknowledgements.
6. Remember your failures and how you improved from them.
7. Remember all the things you are grateful for, and all the experiences you have had.
It is very easy to let go of reality for a minute if you stop to look inside yourself. You too are a person on this Earth, just like the many people who commit violent crimes and hate for reasons unknown. Thinking about yourself and smiling for even a second can make all the difference to you and potentially to someone else.
