I know first hand what it is like to be in emotional pain, for I existed in it for years upon years. I know first hand what it is like to feel less than or inadequate and sad, always looking at the worst in everything and that I am not worth anything. I know the feeling of being alone in a room full of people and feel not only are they focused on me and my inadequacies, but they are talking bad about me and laughing under their breath at me too. I know what it is like to look at my situation and give into it, not fighting tooth and nail to fix it and move on. I too have been depleted of every ethical fiber of my being and had an integrity level close to a that of a slug. I have had doors not only close on my face, but slammed shut so hard, never to be opened again. I have had walls tumble down on me, foundations of support disappear, and when I finally thought I was un-burying myself from the carnage that my life was creating, life itself would kick me in the teeth and throw my back down to the dungeons. I was beaten, bruised, bleeding and swollen. Life for me was not worth it any longer and bad thoughts were starting to enter my mind. I thought to myself that not being around may not be a bad idea. After all, who needs a broken man who has no direction in life and lives without purpose or reason? I was just a sad and pathetic person that just exists!! Well after contemplating all of these quandaries, I figured out how to get off the ground. I figured to myself that the only way to look was up, so up I went.

I thought of a way to take myself from the bottom, the deepest and darkest bottom that I have ever encountered, and rise above it all. I started to realize that if I was to change my life, I needed to change how I approached life. I looked around at my life and everything in it was negative. I decided to become different and allow my negative world to be a catalyst that will springboard me to looking at life through a positive eye. Once I made that decision, once I let change enter my life, things started to happen for me. I allowed the negatives in my life to become the vehicle in which I will change for the better, and they did.

Sometimes, I reflect back to where I was 7 years ago and ponder as to why I let negative behaviors rule my life. I wonder why I let my negativity allow me to make bad decisions and poor choices, thus creating bad actions. I sometimes get a laugh of how I used to act and at the behaviors I portrayed to the world, yet fully understanding that I can not unscramble those eggs of the past. I have moved on to a better place, a place where happiness surrounds me and peace lives in me. A place where you too can find and get all of those negative forces in your life to work for you.

History shows us that though mental anguish, pain, failures, broken dreams, and unfulfilled goals cause suffering, they also can be used to inspire people to do more, have more, and become more.

If you are down today, if you feel less than or adequate, sad or upset over something that has happened to you recently or in the past, take that negativity and turn it around to work for you. Take those thoughts of impossibility and the can’t do it thoughts and keep finding a way to make them possible. When you tell yourself you can’t do it, remember that little train that thought the same thing and eventually succeeded. When you find yourself financially struggling, just have the faith that your miracle is right around the corner and giving up before that miracle happens would be ludicrous. When you become disappointed in yourself, know that fresh opportunities are being created right in front of you. When your mind is riddled with fear, know that faith will allow you to make it through the other end of that fear and this too shall pass…Remember, every breath you take breathes new hope into your heart to go on. Every step you take can bring you to a place where you only dream of. Never stop moving forward in life, no matter how scary it looks.

We only have one life to live and is it not worth living it out to be the best life you can ever have? Is it not worth it to smile in the face of adversity and rise to every challenge, fully knowing that tomorrow is not a guarantee? Life is short and for some people it is shorter. Always breathe positive breathes of encouragement not only to yourself, but to anyone and everyone around you!!!!!!

Please enjoy this day and always be smiling!!!!!!!

Rich Barnes