Focus on the Good | THE VIRAL Journal, Part 20
By Josh Jennrich
It’s a very interesting time to be alive! We’re in the midst of a pandemic where small business’s are being shut down, schools are being closed, and people you probably know and love have been released from their jobs. It’s really a time like no other. As I write this, I want to always encourage everyone everywhere to remember that there is always light within the darkness. Another way of saying this, we are all going to hear negative things and deal with negative issues, but it’s crucial that we continue to dwell on all of the positive things that we have in our lives. Positive things can be your health, a roof over your head, a stomach filled with food, and the unconditional love from your family and friends. Dwelling on these things may feel more difficult today, but I want to encourage each of you to stay aware, stay educated and continue what you can to keep you and your loved ones safe!
ShirtBOARDS was started as a way of providing those who need them positive messages of hope, love, and goodness within isolation, confusion, and uncertainty. ShirtBOARDS is doing what we can to provide people with positive messages of kindness to promote exactly that. Simply telling yourself to BE POSITIVE can have an incredible impact on your brain. This in turn can turn a bad situation into a better situation. There is a large amount of data to back this up! Negative thoughts can play the same game. It’s important to remember that a thought is just a thought until it is something we begin to believe.
A very well known philosopher by the name of Rene Descartes once spoke, “I think, therefor I am.” Our minds are very powerful! Thoughts can very well take control of our mood, our perception, and our ability to find hope within situations. As I’ve become older, more educated, and open to trying new things, I have found that positive reinforcement and awareness of my thoughts has become a game changer. This has led me to believe day after day that I get to control how I feel. Further, I decide if today will be a good day, or if it will be a bad day. No one else, me! So I encourage you, even when it may seem difficult, try to lift yourself up rather than bring yourself down. Try to stay focused on all the great things you have, rather than dwelling on the bad. Most of what happens in our daily life is out of our control. Stress is created by lack of control. If we can simply understand that we can’t control everything we’d like to, and focus on what we can control, like your positive thoughts, I almost guarantee things will get a bit easier.
For Goodness’ Sake,
Josh
>Share Josh’s state of mind? Be resolute in a BE GOOD ShirtBOARD.
Our e-journal documents the COVID-19 pandemic from our viewpoint within our community. In the short-term, we hope it promotes connectivity and contrast within our shirtBOARD network. In the long-term, we hope it gives timely interpretations of the event to provide insight and understanding for future generations.
