the positive thinking project

last Sunday as Jordan and I were getting reading for bed he said, "there is something i want to challenge you with this week. will you do it?" not knowing what the challenge was but trusting my husband i agreed. my challenge was to only think positive thoughts for 7 days. while i think we all need to consider what we ponder,  Jordan's challenge was concerning thoughts about myself. 

Jordan lovingly reminds me each day how much i contribute to this family and without my support and responsibilities he would not know what to do with himself. i accept these adoring words when everything is going as planned, but sometimes i forget them when times are tough. Jordan's hope was that at the end of the 7 days i would see myself and my qualities as he sees them and not be so quick to assume the negative side of everything is a result of my inadequacies. 

that was last week. as a result, i was so productive and accomplished so much on my to-do list. i was thrilled. instead of making excuses for unchecked tasks i reminded myself i am a capable, hard working, intelligent adult. instead of feeling like an idiot for forgetting my ID at the Social Security Office i just smiled and thought i will remember next time. instead of thinking the IRS is out to get me (which they are), and only sends endless mail (only if you ignore them), i told myself i was able to handle important people who use large words and that i would figure it out. with so many important tasks crossed off my list i felt liberated.by being intentional about thought modification my days were filled with lots of check boxes and a sense of accomplishment. 

Jordan told me he wasn't planning on ending the challenge after 7 days. in fact today he asked me, ready for week two of thinking positively? while there were times that i didn't chose the positive thought i did find myself less  anxious, not so quick to assume it was my fault, and overall content with myself.