The History of Mandatory Positive


Years ago I was a broke college student and single mother to an infant. At times life seemed overwhelming, impossible and hopeless. I felt like I would never graduate, and I was stuck in an endless cycle of working, writing papers, being a mom, taking care of home, and trying to not to get something shut off. I realized every time someone asked how things were going, I would have to fight hard not to cry, complain or pass out in exhaustion before I squeaked out “fine” 


One day when my daughter was around three she saw me crying. She put her head in my lap and looked sad herself.  I realized if I continued to lean into that feeling of despair, she would grow up without a single moment of joy in her childhood. I made a vow at that moment to try to focus on any possible silver lining to the dark clouds that seemed to be my life-the “Mandatory Positive.”  As she became older, I challenged my daughter to identify the mandatory positive in bad situations. We continue to do so to this day. 


Sometimes it’s like a treasure hunt to find slivers of joy in this cruel world, but when you do, your life is better for it. I challenge you to find the Mandatory Positive in each day. I promise you, it’s there!

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