In my soon-to-be-published workbook, Soaring into Greatness: How to Live an Unstoppable, Unforgettable, Unbelievable Life I talk about three principles for living life to the fullest-alignment, attitude, and action. From this perspective, everything, all circumstances, happens for our highest good. Life doesn’t happen to us, rather, life happens for us. 

When we are facing illness, upheavals, or circumstances beyond our control, the good can be hard to find less of us aligning ourselves with God and spirit, having a positive attitude, or taking any steps forward toward action.  

Perhaps in thinking about our good, we can think about having gratitude, optimism, opportunity, and delight. 

Gratitude. I’m not sure about you; however, I find I can get depressed at times without ever knowing I’m in this state. Before long, I’m eating, reading, or sleeping too much. I may spiral into negativity, and blame, and have long-standing anger over situations that have nothing to do with my present life. I can judge or criticize! Does any of this strike a chord with you?  

During these moments, we need to find anything for which to be grateful. We need to switch that negative thinking. There’s always something to give thanks-our home and the furniture in it, heat, clothes in our closet; our health-there are over 2000 body parts to give thanks over; our minds-wisdom, will, zeal, strength, power; and our emotions-happy, sad, angry, all are signposts toward our good! We can be grateful for our families, friends, jobs, and the world in which we live-birds, snowflakes, pets, animals of the wild, fish of the sea, and stars above. There’s so much to love and appreciate.  

Optimism. Oh, so hard to be optimistic when we’re not in that space, right? We may question: 

Who are we? 

Where are we going? 

What’s my purpose? 

Why am I on the planet?  

The answers take time, patience, love, acceptance, forgiveness, and release! And, to be optimistic in the midst of tornadic feelings and events takes a boatload of faith. Faith that all will work out, and everything is going toward our good.  

Opportunity. Every moment of every day is an opportunity for growth. The “good” the “bad” the “happy” and the “sad”. All things are a blessing leading us to a higher consciousness. The longer we stay rooted in despair the longer we’ll take to see that we have a choice in making everything an adventure.  

Unity cofounder Myrtle Filmore wrote while facing severe illness, “I am a child of God, and therefore I do not inherit any sickness.” She went on to live a long healthy fulfilling life. If Myrtle can look at her sickness as an opportunity to change her thinking and deepen her faith, then, we have the opportunity to do the same. 

Delight. Pure joy, children laughing, snowflakes landing on nose and eyelashes. All can bring delight. Let go of what holds you back! Release the worry and the woundedness. Live here and now! The present! Take delight in deeply breathing, your heart beating, in pure being! We’re here, right now for a divine purpose! We’re here at this moment to love and to be loved!   

In focusing on the good, we let our divine light show through us to ripple out to all in which we come into contact. We are the changers! We are the strong! We are bold! We are the believers! We are the manifesters of our good and divine natures! The challenge is to deflect all that isn’t of love! The challenge is to be grateful! The challenge is to be optimistic! The challenge is to see life and the world as an opportunity to grow, and the challenge is to be delightful. In this way, you will change the way you see and change the way you live.