I am a passionate poster on social media. Like clockwork, you can expect several updates a week about my family, local events, new finds, and books. Recently, I had a friend reach out to me who talked about how my life sounds amazing. She went on to say she wished her life was as amazing as mine. She even called it perfect. Sometimes it may seem like it on social media, but it’s not all rainbows and roses.
After all, who wants to post about the poop-filled, overflowing toilet that took an hour to clean or the sixth day in a row when my 2nd grader didn’t want to get on yet another virtual Zoom class. Trust me I know the struggles.
For a long time, I have been working toward being able to focus on the cuddles, the laughs, the smiles at the end of the day. My mental reflection on the good often takes place after bedtime… after the toys are tidied up, the table is cleaned off, and everyone is done with their million trips up and down for water, potty, or more hugs.
The world is filled with enough negativity and if I can be that one glimpse of hope and sunshine, then I’ve done my part. This is what I want my children to do as they grow up. But how? COVID-19 put many things on pause in 2020. A true test. I had to choose to see the light and a few things have helped me do so through the darkness. They are habits that help me focus on the positive and would help during any tough phase of life, pandemic or not.
Reading
This truly helps provide an escape. Lately, I have been trying to make it a habit. I read for fun, but I also mix in some with a self-improvement focus. My goal is two self-development books a month.
Here are a few I have enjoyed:
- Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
- Girl Wash Your Face & Girl Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
- Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys by Stephen James & David Thomas
- The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
- Way to Be! & Standing for Something by Gordon B. Hinckley
- The Kindness Challenge by Shaunti Feldhahn
Journaling
I admit, I still have a journal from when I was like nine! I’ve always enjoyed writing down my thoughts. There are so many methods of journaling these days, that it should be easy to find one that fits your own lifestyle and interests.
I like to keep it simple by using the following:
- Traditional lined paper
- Planner
- Devotional/Scripture Journal
- Journaling in my scriptures
Some other popular styles of journaling are:
- Bullet Journals
- Photo Journals
- Goal Journals
- Mom and Me Journals
- 5-Year Journals
- Daily Dashboards
- Calendars
- Blogs
- Question a Day Journals
Of course, there have been days where potty training ended in several loads of laundry, homework questions went unanswered, and I didn’t reply back to my overflowing inbox or text message thread. But what really matters to me at the end of every day is: Are my kids safe and alive? Did we learn one thing? Did everyone get fed, hugged, and kissed? If I can answer yes, then I have something to be positive about.
