It's all right here....

I SO don’t want to be here.

Ever stopped to think how that one little thought can influence your health?

This week I’ve seen this more than once. In my kids, in my friends, in myself. Over and over I’ve seen the pattern play out.

“I don’t want to go to school” translates into a stomachache and a couple times now since we’ve moved into an instance of becoming sick in the bathroom at school and needing to come home…and then feeling fine again when the stress (i.e. school) was past.

I have friends right now incredibly stressed…some with the economy and recent layoffs…some with work…some with personal issues. But how did the conversations start with almost each of these people? “I just don’t feel well today….”

Even in myself. I find myself worrying about money, about the amount of work I have to do, about how I’m going to get that work done when my youngest is hanging off my arm (home with an ear infection). How has that translated out in terms of health? Fibro flares, vertigo and massive ringing of ears from Meniere’s.

So it seems to me that to strike at the heart of this problem…to treat more than just the symptoms…the heart needs to change. Negative thinking hurts…then positive thinking can only help. Turn not wanting to be where you are into finding reasons to stay.

I’m not saying to turn into Pollyanna. But frequently what is perceived is a negative can actually BE a positive. What did Edison say when his light bulb failed over and over again? “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”

So the fact that my husband is without work still can become an opportunity to explore a new career field. That lack of money can trigger creativity in making things stretch. And that place you didn’t want to be can be thought of as that place where God wants you most to be right now.

Hokey? Maybe…but for the sake of my health I’m willing to give positive thinking a try. How about you?