What are you moving away from and what are you moving towards?

In a world of constant change, we’re always leaving some things behind and bringing in some new. Even a positive change can mean leaving something behind that you’ll miss, and a change you’re less happy to be making can have some benefits too.

You get to choose which to focus on. You can either dwell in the past and regret all those things you’ll miss, and only notice the downsides of the change.

Alternatively, you can embrace the change and notice its benefits. What are you glad to be leaving behind and what are you looking forward to?

It’s human to have regrets, but perhaps you can reframe them into gratitude that those things left behind have been part of your life.

Being open to what lies ahead creates greater optimism and positivity, so which will you choose?

When did you last pay someone a compliment? How did it make you feel?

Compliments are wonderful things because they usually make both parties feel better. When you give someone a genuine compliment it usually lights them up, which in turn lights you up as the cause of that.

Who can you compliment today?

Who do you know who’s really struggling emotionally right now? How might paying them a compliment help you both feel a bit better? Even just saying how well they’re doing or on something they’ve achieved can help.

Or who is sticking to a routine, exercising more than usual, decluttering or spring cleaning their house? They don’t have to be doing anything amazing but it’s still good to have whatever small things they’re doing acknowledged.

What can you find to compliment someone on to help raise their spirits and in turn make you feel good too? 

Are you managing to stay sunny side up even though the chips are down?

While we didn’t choose our current situation, we can choose what we focus on.

Is that sunny side up or chips being down for you?

What about the people around you? How are their choices affecting you?

If you’re spending time with someone like that, what can you do to avoid them bringing you down too?

Of course, give them whatever support you can and don’t belittle their feelings, but you don’t have to see things the way they do.

Who else can you spend time around, albeit remotely? Where can you turn for positive inspiration? What books can you read, what activities can you engage in?

In situations like this which are not within our individual power to change, we can always change the way we see things.

How will you stay sunny side up?