when it's difficult

Some days, coming up with three good things is difficult. We all have down days sometimes and when I do, I have some strategies to help. These are good things for me to do, when I'm feeling blue.

(not me)

2) First, I'm an extrovert. So I really need to be with people. I need to go find a party or have one. If there's a special someone, that can be good too, but mostly I need to go do something nuts. Anyone know where I can find a Karaoke bar around here?

3) Do something productive. I clean, or fix, or make, or build. Those things help me feel like I've got something going on.

1) Recently, my best friend in the whole wide world gave me a jar full of affirmations for my birthday. Best present ever. This is a new one. I dip into the jar and read what they wrote. There are quotes, bible verses, and their own thoughts.

All good!

Warm Fuzzies

Part of my healing process incudes taking an honest inventory of myself, how I can be a better person and how I can fully recover from loss. That includes listing out the things I have going for me, and things that I need to work on. So, since I'm kind of a polar extrovert, I might as well work those out right here.



These are all good things - even though the include areas where I'm struggling

2) Stuff I'm good at: (based on the Strengths Finder 2.0)
WOO (Winning Others Over)
People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.
Communication
People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.
Strategic Thinking
People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
Positivity
People strong in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.
Individualization
People strong in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.

3) Stuff I'm working on:
Trust
After any break in trust, and I've experienced a lulu, you loose the ability to trust people, or more to the point, you can. I have to make sure that I keep extending myself to people, judiciously, carefully, of course.
Self Worth
Major hit against this here and it's something I need to find from God and within myself, not through other people. Though my primary love-language is words of affirmation, I can't place my self worth in the hands of another person. I do still need to hear the warm fuzzies, but as a part of feeling loved, not for my self worth.
Financial Confidence
Even a little bit of debt bugs the snot out of me. I've got some now and I'm working hard to eliminate it. This one is rather easy for me to address. It's just discipline to do the right thing and win back my confidence.

1) Therapy and Support group
The value of a good therapist and a good support group is incalculable. Having a trained professional who listens, provides 3rd party perspective on things and advises - it's so important to my growth. A support group can be people in the similar situation, and I'm in one of those, but at the same time, it can be friends and family. The more personal group can be rather biased though, so it's important to remember that my mom is going to take my side in almost anything. The first-name-only support group can be more constructive and direct.

All good things.