I am still sick but the good news is I was able to lift my head up today. I don’t think I’ve ever been this sick in my life. I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel I think. My appetite came back a bit and I didn’t mind the sunshine coming in. I was able to focus a bit longer and actually could read my book.

I am reading Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine. I love this guy! And I love that I found him via Stella & Dot. He was the guest speaker this week at the Director’s Conference. Jessica Herrin, the CEO and founder of Stella & Dot, is a very positive, authentic, and influential woman. It’s fitting that she chose Shirzad to present to the leaders of the company and that they shared the video presentation with all Stylists.

The way we think creates our happiness and success. This is a premise I’ve carried all my life and keep practicing daily. This book teaches you how to increase your positive intelligence to achieve greater potential.

The part that relates to being sick today is that when we are presented with a bad situation, we have choices where we can turn the supposedly bad situation into a gift or opportunity. This is how I typically see things, and try to very quickly. I try not to dwell on the negative feelings and try to see things as gifts or opportunities. Shirzad calls this the three-gifts technique.

The three gifts from being sick this week for me are the following: (1). My kids are very resourceful and independent. They can make their own food, help with the chores, look out for each other and get their homework done without my nagging. They also do know how to be quiet!; (2) My friends and family are amazing and empathetic and giving and loving. It’s ok to receive help and I feel extremely grateful, especially to my husband who took over my duties in addition to his own; (3) I got to slow down, and let things go and relax and things didn’t really fall apart.

I am thankful that I had more energy today and hope this continues tomorrow, as I continue to take it easy. As Shirzad says so eloquently, “We can’t control or choose much of what happens in work or in life. We can, however, determine the impact that these events have on us by choosing how we respond.”

So if you’re facing a challenge this week, try and see if there is a hidden gift or opportunity that might come from your “bad” situation.

Namaste