No products in the cart.
28 Positive Thoughts For Productive Living During Tough Times
One day you’ll be glad you worked your way through the tough times, even though today you might be feeling a little bit lost and alone.
And maybe you’re not sure of the direction you’d like your life to take. Or you could be unhappy about the way you look.
You might be sick.
You might not be feeling very special or very blessed.
You might have financial worries, or relationship problems.
Just don’t let setbacks become the story of your life.
As Samuel Butler said “If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall before long be surprised to find how little remains that we cannot do.”
Following on from those wise words, here’s 28 thoughts I’ve accumulated whilst getting over many things that were hard to get past. Thoughts that helped me move on to live a more positive, productive life.
- If you’ve spent a lot of time feeling miserable about something that’s hard to get past. Try getting over it instead. Remind yourself that you can as easily choose to say ‘so wha’t AS ‘this is awful’. So what that you’re less than perfect? So what that you made mistakes? Keep saying it until it becomes your truth.
- Each time you think the game is over, you’ll discover a new one is just beginning.
- You were incredible and magnificent before this person or this event happened, don’t allow it to define you as less than that now.
- No one is born with a monopoly on wisdom. It comes from the path we choose to walk, the choices we choose to make. We don’t inherit wisdom, we earn it.
- Don’t be so inflexible that you can’t stop whatever you’re doing when creativity strikes. Give it a fair chance by always keeping your heart open. You might not know what’s going to come in, but be prepared to go for it. And be proud of yourself when you do.
- Remember you are the ruler of your inner world. Let no-one think for you, dream for you, live for you. Do it for yourself. You’re worth the effort.
- Set the bar high, set the bar low. It’s entirely up to you. You’re the only one who truly is affected.
- If you don’t want someone to drive you crazy, keep your keys away from them.
- Don’t invest the opinions of others with a power they don’t possess. Stay true to you. Only you can say what’s right for you.
- If you trip over stepping stones, you’ve turned them into stumbling blocks. Tripping over something isn’t important. Picking yourself up is.
- Complaining isn’t a good strategy, it doesn’t dilute problems it magnifies them. You have a finite time on this earth and complaining won’t make the time any happier. (Read The Last Lecture)
- Growth isn’t very orderly and won’t be predictable. Learn to work with it.
- When you value your time, your body, your abilities and yourself you’re more likely to protect them.
- It’s important some days to allow yourself to sit and be. You’d be surprised at how many brilliant ideas come to you that way.
- Live each day consciously knowing that joy exists within you and all that’s required of you is that you notice it. Life works out much better this way.
- Take the time to allow solutions to flow. We all want instant gratification, but remember there’s nothing wrong in sometimes letting things run their course.
- When you practice managing the easy things in life until you can do them well, you’ll find it easier to manage the difficult.
- Don’t passively live your life. Dive in with gusto, Paint, write, create, love, hug, forgive, swim, dig in the dirt. Experience it, be a participant.
- The self-help industry can be wonderfully empowering…but it’s called self-help for a reason…the one who makes a difference in your life is you. Help yourself.
- If you want to know if you’re thinking the right thoughts, take a look at your life. Are you happy with your experiences? If not change your thoughts, it’s the only way to change direction.
- You are a beautiful mosaic of gifts. Everything fits neatly together when you’re in harmony with yourself and the life you lead.
- Make sure you’re not pouring all your livingness into the lives of others whilst never developing what is most valuable in your own.
- Remind yourself that success is more about who you become than what you get. Being the best YOU possible is the greatest success story.
- Put as much energy towards a desired outcome as you do to wasting time and you’ll realize the abundance of opportunities that are sitting, waiting to be born.
- You’ll gain great self-respect when you’re willing to be responsible for your life and that’s real power.
- The current state of your bank account, your health, your relationships, your everything is a physical manifestation of your thinking.
- Take your focus off what others are doing wrong and keep it on what you can do right. You’ll be amazed at the places your gifts will take you.
- To be good at anything takes practice. Don’t give up because you falter. Our minds aren’t always disciplined and resist half hearted attempts to have new thoughts. But you are greater than your mind and wanting to live a positive productive life means you have to have positive, productive thoughts. Practice, practice, practice as though your very life depends upon it. It sort of does.
May some of these words encourage you as they have encouraged me throughout the tough times in my life.
I understand how difficult it can be to know how to live in a physical world of challenges from our highest perspective, even if we know it will take us to the best places we’ve ever been.
Encourage one another.
Love Elle
xox
This is such a rich resource, Elle! I especially liked this one: “Each time you think the game is over, you’ll discover a new one is just beginning.” We’re always holding out for the happy ending, but the happy ending is actually not holding out for one but just being with whatever unfolds.
You clearly have learned so much about dealing with challenges. This list is a real keeper and will encourage anyone going through tough times.
Hi Sandra, so true that our happy endings are always unfolding, on and on. Life is a great adventure and all we’re asked to do is live it to the full…so I vote we all make it as easy as possible for one another. 🙂
You sound like a person who has been through some things or heard from someone who has. I always say success in life is not about people born with talents, but about a series of little decisions that are made every day. These quotes help keep that frame of mind when making these decisions. Thanks for spreading your message.
I don’t suppose too many people get through life without some challenges and as you say those little daily decisions make all the difference to the direction we’re heading. Might as well head towards something great I say! 🙂
Love the quote: something I have been guilty of not doing recently in a couple of areas and now i have to pay the price and love 16: Take time to allow solutions to flow! Made me realise that sometimes the patience I pride myself on having still needs practice
namaste
Suzie xx
Most of these thoughts are things I too have to remind myself of Suzie. Some more than others. It was a good exercise putting this list together. Course there’s always more! 🙂
Elle, Thank you so much for this brilliant post! These insights are golden. I feel encouraged to be myself and keep going, to let go of worry and regret, and invest that time into my work.
So happy you liked the post Martine. Where we invest our time makes all the difference to our life experience, as you and I both well know! 🙂
I love all the thoughts that you have considered. As I get older I do find myself questioning and seeking spiritual guidance more.
Glad you enjoyed the post Joe. I think most of us wake up at some point to discover what life is all about and how we can live it in a positive productive way. We just don’t know when! 🙂
I love “If you don’t want someone to drive you crazy, keep your keys away from them.” It so sounds like something I would say to a friend.
I’ll definitely be using that one.
Thanks!
~Lea
I like that you’d say that to a friend Lea. Good for you. We all should have friends willing to speak ‘truth’ to us. 🙂
I enjoyed the wisdom of many of the thoughts here. They are certainly very helpful for anyone who needs to make a shift. Thank you for sharing your light!
Hi Evelyn, thanks for stopping by…it’s always appreciated. Oftentimes I wonder if I write stuff I need to remember my own self! 🙂
Hi Elle
I completely endorse your point (9) about not investingin others’ opinions too much.
And I want to add that …..when you are about the act of jettisoning the past its good to let go of any gathering cloud of grudges which are building up around a seed thought, against others, or yourself.Yes you need to pardon your own self as well,lest you make a deep dent in your own happiness and self esteem.
Thanks
Mona
Hi Mona, what a great phrase, ‘a gathering cloud of grudges’. You are so poetic. Doesn’t it always come down to positive feelings about everything give us positive experiences? With the added bonus that we feel so darn great. 🙂
Hi Elle; thanks for sharing these bits of wisdom with us. I agree that mindset is important. You have to decide to be happy and work at being grateful. and my dad always said that you can only do so much so do what you can and let th rest worry about itself. Of course, that didn’t stop me and my brother from trying to work harder when trying to make opening night with th carnival. take care my friend, max
Hi Max. Your dad sounds like a wise soul…how wonderful for you. 🙂
These are all beautiful, positive thoughts. “Don’t give up because you falter.” instead stand up, learn from it and move forward, its not gonna be easy but it is all worth it. Thanks again Elle for sharing all of these wonderful, encouraging thoughts . 🙂
Hi Noah…funny I had that exact experience yesterday. It wasn’t one of my easiest days and it took a while (and a little faltering) but before too long, I was picking myself up and moving back into a space of love and joy. Maybe it’s one of those ‘be careful what’s on your mind’ things! 🙂
I appreciated your statement about having “positive, productive thoughts.” Keeping your mind calm and positive is not always the easiest. I have been struggling with this and I appreciate this website very much. Thank you!
Hi Jan. You are so right. It sounds simple, but that doesn’t make it easy and I think all we can do is keep on going back to the positive side of things as much as possible. And tomorrow start all over again! 🙂
Youve heard this many times, and I am sure you will continue to, but thank you so much for providing such great little positive thoughts that should definitely be embedded in peoples minds. It is so important to not get so caught up in the tough times that occur in life as it can create a horrible downward spiral and helps no one. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Larissa…I’m always so appreciative when someone leaves comments. And I’m truly happy if what I write resonates in a supportive way. So dear one, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas. It’s great encouragement. 🙂
Hi Elle!
Wonderful list of positive thoughts. No. 11 really resonated with me. Complaining is where most people seem to go when life gets challenging. Maybe they don’t realize that it makes things worse and they are no fun to be around. I love no. 25…. taking responsibility for our life and our choices is huge!
Thanks again and have a wonderful day!
Lisa
Hello Lisa…thanks for joining the conversation. We’re so happy to have you! #11 does seem to be a favourite of many of us. 🙂
Trials and suffering can actually refine and deepen gratefulness if we allow them to show us not to take things for granted. Our national holiday of gratitude, Thanksgiving, was born and grew out of hard times. The first Thanksgiving took place after nearly half the pilgrims died from a rough winter and year. It became a national holiday in 1863 in the middle of the Civil War and was moved to its current date in the 1930s following the Depression.
Hi Lisa…that is indeed a perspective held by many. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. 🙂