Rhiwbina Living Issue 55

Welcome change
Change is an inevitable fact of life
and the sooner we accept that
fact, the easier life becomes as we
move through it.
Being flexible to change stops
us from wasting energy trying to
push back against it. Better still,
change can also provide us with
new opportunities that perhaps
weren't there before. It could give
you an opportunity to improve
yourself or a situation. You can
learn new things or develop new
skills, even if it's the art of being
more flexible and optimistic.
For every negative event that
happens, it will always contain
a seed of opportunity to make a
positive outcome.
Remember that it is not life
events that shape us. It's how
we react and deal with those life
events. We have the power within
ourselves to affect the outcome.
Think positively
Maintaining a positive outlook
on life, especially when it seems
that everything is crashing down
around us, can be very diffi cult.
Thinking positively doesn't mean
ignoring the problems of life,
or daydreaming at the expense
of practical solutions. It's about
reminding yourself that whatever
is going on is temporary, and that
whatever the setback is, it can be
fixed. Even in some of the most
darkest days, there is always hope
that there are better days ahead.
A good way to start thinking
positively is to accept your past
mistakes for what they were, and
leaving them in the past. Mistakes
happen and while we can learn
from them, dwelling on them
does no good to anyone.
Try and view obstacles and
setbacks as opportunities to learn
new things. Identify the situations
that trigger you negatively, and try
to look at them from a different
angle. Instead of telling yourself
that you 'have to', tell yourself that
you 'get to'. This will help bring a
sense of gratitude to your life, and
equip you for other challenges.
Look after yourself
Because your physical wellbeing
is so closely linked to your mental
wellbeing, taking care of yourself
physically can help you get through
life's toughest challenges. And it's
not just exercise that helps - you
may want to explore how your diet
affects you. Improving your diet
can give you more energy, lift your
mood and help you think more
clearly.
Keep hydrated by drinking plenty
of water and keeping caffeine and
alcohol to a minimum. Nourish
your body with the vitamins and
minerals it needs and it will reward
you with more positive moods. Also
get the sleep that you need. Both
your body and mind need it.
Problem solve
Taking the time to solve a problem
will give you the confidence to deal
with the next problem that comes
along.
When a problem does arise, count
to ten to avoid going into panic
mode. Then reassure yourself that
you can deal with the problem,
even if the solution doesn't present
itself straight away.
Look at the problem logically,
without emotion. Then break it
down and apply solutions for each
piece in a timely manner.
wellbeing
Set and achieve goals
To begin with, it might be a good
idea to set yourself a personal vision
statement, in which you can identify
core values and aims in life. Doing this
will help you create a basic roadmap
for the next few years, allowing you
to visualise and aim for medium and
long-term goals.
It will also help allay your stress
since you know exactly where you're
headed, even if temporary setbacks
creep up in the meantime.
You'll also feel a great sense of
achievement when you stop to look
back at what you've accomplished.
Improve yourself
Life shouldn't be about just getting
through it. It should be about feeling
fulfilled and making the most of your
experiences.
Continuous self-improvement goes
a long way towards that because it
enlightens you to new possibilities
and opportunities. Whether it's
trying out a new hobby, creating an
inspirational room, or even starting
that educational course you've always
wanted to do, improving yourself
will give you more confidence to
overcome the challenges of everyday
life.
One clever trick is to write a letter to
your future self, outlining where you
want to be and what kind of person
you want to be. Date and seal the
letter, and then set about aiming to
achieve all those self-improvements
that you've included in the letter.
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