J.O.Y.

Today, I was inconvenienced. I had to wait to pick someone up, and there was no parking. I pulled down a side street and sent a text message, I’m here….

As I waited, I started to get annoyed. I like taking photos of nature, so to pass the time I drove slowly down the block. Just yards down the road I discovered a lovely stream, a quaint bridge, and a large lake with rock features and ducks - who knew?

My bad mood lifted! It made me think how negative emotions can obstruct our ability to reach our goals, but there are things we can do to lift our spirits. Here are three ways to move on with J.O.Y..

'J' is for 'justify' your feelings. We all have suffered disappointments. Tell yourself it's okay to feel upset, sad, or any other way.

'O' is for 'options'. Help yourself move away from negative feelings by thinking about something you can do to change the situation.

'Y' is for 'you', as in 'you can do it'. When we feel vulnerable it's harder to act. Think about what’s in your control. What can you do to inact a change.

**I wish everyone Happy Holidays and the skills to keep that happiness all year round! **