A Water Mindset

A Water Mindset

I’m drinking a glass of ice water while I type this. I really like ice water, although I am pretty sure that is unimportant information. As I was drinking my water though I started thinking about the water in the glass. My glass is about half full. It started out full, but I have drank half of the glass of water so now it is half empty. Or is it half full? When you look at a glass of water that is half full or empty how do you see it? We have all heard the sayings about attitude and whether our glass is half full or half empty. Wait, you haven’t heard that? Ok, so the nutshell version is this. If a glass of water contains enough water for it to be halfway filled is that half full or half empty? The pessimist, the person who worries entirely too much and always views life with a negative perspective, will tell you that the glass is half empty. On the other hand the optimist, the person who is entirely too bright and cheery all the time and finds the good in most, if not all, things will tell you the glass is half full. You see how this worked right? One glass, same amount of content and yet two different views. So, is the glass half full or half empty?

Keeping it Real

I would like to tell you that my glass is overflowing. It really isn’t, remember I have drunk half of its contents, but I like the sound of that. You know, that eternal optimism… overflowing, what a great mindset. That would indeed be my goal, to have that type of a mindset. But alas, that simply is not where I am most of the time. It is where I wish I was, it is where I strive to be. But my glass often seems to have an invisible leak, for I usually think it is closer to empty than to full. I find myself focusing on negative worry way more than I am comfortable with. I have to wonder why we do this to ourselves. Why not focus on the good? Why not embrace the positive things in each day? I understand the concept is challenging, but can you imagine how you might feel if you focused on the positive in your day/week/life? Changing that one thing, our view of things, could change so much for us.

Moving Toward Positivity

I know this idea of moving from a half empty to a half full attitude may not be easy. I do understand what I am suggesting, and I understand that for some that may feel almost impossible. The beauty of life is that you do not have to do it alone. I do know sometimes life can be overwhelming. Trust me when I tell you I know too well pain that you didn’t imagine you would ever heal from. Some of the pain in my life I will never heal from. There are pains and emptiness from the loss of loved ones that is sometimes overwhelming. But, while I believe in experiencing life, I also believe in healing and in finding the good in the moment. I understand sometimes it seems impossible. Sometimes we have to get others to help us find the good.

Living a “Half Full” Mindset…Starting Today

So let’s get started in that half full mindset. I have been known to generate lists and to encourage others to do the same. One of my lists is “what makes you feel good.” It is a great list. Think about it, you spend time writing down what things and people make you feel good. Then, when the glass appears half empty, pull out that list and work towards a mindset of knowing the glass is indeed half full. Nothing changed, but your mindset. And yet everything changed. Changing how we look at life can indeed change how you feel. Sometimes, for some of us that is more difficult than it is for others. Sometimes we need help changing our mindset… ask someone for help. Feeling better and seeing your glass as half full, or even overflowing, is worth asking someone for help with. Remember changing one thing may change the view. And change begins with one little thing at a time. Thank you for spending your time with me today, be blessed my friends.

Cindy has spent her career of over 30 plus years in one role or another of the mental health and counseling world. She has worked in private practice and in school settings. She holds a Ph.D. in Exceptional Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis and a couple of other degrees in School and Human Services Counseling and Exceptional Education and currently works in public education full time and adjunct part-time at a nearby university. Cindy has spent her career working to help individuals, families, teachers, schools, and even communities better understand ways we can take better care of our kids. It is her hope to use this as a vehicle that will benefit all, but most especially our children – they are the future you know.