You know that person who is sticky sweet, always super positive, and that you find to be - well - just too much? Believe it or not, I've been accused of being just that person - "too happy", and it has also been said of me that I see life through "rose colored glasses". I find that very interesting because I see myself as a realist and I find it offensive to be thought of as "fake". I am not always "happy"and I certainly do see faults, weaknesses, brokenness, and injustice - almost every day. However, I do have JOY, and I do tend to dwell on what I can control. I just think that's smart - and very REAL. And deep down I take those accusations as compliments.
I love The Serenity Prayer - "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.". I believe that I can do anything I truly set my mind to do and that a positive attitude will take us further than a negative one. I have continued to learn this lesson in stages throughout life. I can remember at a very early age hearing my mom say "Let's look on the positive side." And then as a young adult when I was at IBM I had a manager who put me on the spot in a department meeting one morning to lead the meeting as he whispered to me "Just wing it." and after I bombed, leaving the meeting so upset and embarrassed as he told me "You can do everything wrong with the right attitude and succeed, and you can do everything right with the wrong attitude and most certainly fail." And then many years later during my long standing career with a global cosmetic company as an executive leader and trainer, I was fed the philosophy of "Fake it "til you make it.". Now, that last one I struggled with a little because there is nothing in me that wants to be fake. However, I learned what that meant... To look at the bright side... To keep your eye on the prize and keep pressing on... And with discernment I realized that's biblical and therefore based in truth.
I share this because I find that mindset and our attitude is what holds us back from succeeding, or progresses us forward toward success, in anything we set out to do.
Unfortunately many have not been taught, nurtured, or I will even go so far as to say "programmed", to have a healthy mindset realizing a positive attitude is essential in finding success. If you are one of those who was, then count it all joy and be grateful - even if that lesson was learned through difficult circumstances. I can remember going through some of the most difficult years of my life and saying "It surely can't get worse." and then watching is surely get worse! So I learned from that to say "It may get worse, but I'll be ok because God has a plan for my life and His will is perfect."
We can spend our days looking at the glass half empty or seeing the glass half full. We can think and use the phrase "I get to" rather than "I have to". We can say "I can't" rather than admit "I'm not willing to". My prayer for you today is that you will be willing to. And that you will begin to realize that every situation has many perspectives, and it's your choice on how you see it. And that being positive most certainly does not mean you're being fake. It only means you are choosing to believe, have faith, and put a little stock in the truth that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
I believe in you and sometimes we just need to allow someone else's belief for us to propel us forward as we learn to believe for ourself. Don't ever worry about if others see you as fake. Be full of joy. Be confident, Be positive.