Self Love - Seeking Control (Controling your outlook on life) and Jealousy

I am over a third of the way through the 30 days of self love created by Tina at Faith, Fitness, Fun... my days are just not consecutive as they were originally intended.  LOL

Seeking Control (Tina's original post may be found here, and as always, I recommend checking it out!)

Tina asked the question, "What things in life might you try to control?"

I think it is good to control your outlook on life.  I have noticed that when I am upset or annoyed everything else seems to get to me more.  I might get annoyed over silly little things that other people do, simply because I am in a bad mood.  If I was in a good mood, those things would not bother me, and I know that.  So by controlling my outlook on life to make it a positive outlook, my life is just simpler and happier.  Rather than little things annoying me, I actually notice how all the little things in life make me happy.

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As part of this positive outlook on life, you have to learn how not to let the negative people bring you down.  Unfortunately they will always be there, but you can chose to distance yourself from them and focus on the positive.  Negative people and negative thoughts are not worth your time.

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I say this from experience.  Around the time my dad passed away, it seemed like everything snowballed.  You know, when it rains it pours.  Anything that could go wrong did go wrong.  I was so caught up in all of the negativity that I did not focus on all the amazing things that were also happening in my life.  I let my negative outlook on life control me until I finally realized that it didn't have to be that way.  Once I changed my perspective, life started to come together again.  I was happy.  Sure, we all fall into negative thinking from time to time.  I am definitely not immune to it.  I have written blogs where I have vented about negative feelings.  We are only human.  However, if we make a conscious effort to control our outlook on life, then we ultimately will live a happier more fulfilling life.  That is one of my personal goals, to have a more positive outlook.  I don't want my day to be ruled by little annoyances simply because I have a bad attitude.  I choose to to live a happy life.

Quotes:

"People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson  (One of my absolute favorites!)
  
"Think excitement, talk excitement, act out excitement and you are bound to become an excited person. Life will take on a new nest, deeper interest and greater meaning. You can think, talk and act yourself into dullness or into monotony or into unhappiness. By the same process you can build up inspiration, excitement and a surging depth of joy." ~Norman Vincent Peale (from Kind Over Matter)

Jealousy (Tina's original post may be found here.  Definitely check it out.)

Tina asked the questions: "What ways do you encounter jealousy? How can it hold you back? What could you look to in yourself or your life when wishing for what others have?"

Being that I am a graduate student on a budget, I get jealous of people who have the income to do more traveling, have more money for shopping, or wedding planning (LOL), etc.  I can honestly say that I am not lacking in any aspect of my life, including financially.  Like my thoughts above, focusing on these things that I may get jealous over take away from me focusing on all of the amazing things that I do have.  I am so blessed.  I may be a graduate student on a budget, but I am getting paid to go to school.  I know that is not very common, and sometimes I take it for granted.  I have an amazing support system, including my wonderful family and friends.  The next time I feel envious of what someone else has, I will control my outlook and think of all the wonderful things that I do have.

Quotes:

Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own.  ~Harold Coffin

Envy is a symptom of lack of appreciation of our own uniqueness and self worth.  Each of us has somethin to give that no one else has.  ~Elizabeth O'Connor (from Tina's post)

Envy is ignorance.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson