Okay, here’s my blog post about “positive psychology doors close doors open,” written from my personal experience:
So, I’ve been diving into this whole “positive psychology” thing, and I gotta say, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. I kept hearing about how focusing on the good stuff can actually change your life, but I’m a natural skeptic. Still, I figured, why not give it a shot? I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?
I started small. Like, really small. Every morning, I forced myself to write down three things I was grateful for. At first, it felt super cheesy. “I’m grateful for coffee.” “I’m grateful for my comfy socks.” Seriously, that’s all I could come up with.
But I kept at it. Day after day, I scribbled in my little notebook. And slowly, things started to shift. I started noticing the actual good things, not just the silly stuff. The way my dog greets me at the door, tail wagging like crazy. A really good conversation with a friend. Even just a sunny day started to feel like a win.
My “Doors Closing, Doors Opening” Experiment
Then came the real test. I’d been working on this project at work, pouring my heart and soul into it. I was convinced it was going to be my big break. And then…it got canned. Just like that. All that work, down the drain.
My initial reaction? Total meltdown. I was angry, frustrated, and ready to throw in the towel. I mean, this was the perfect example of a door slamming shut, right?
But then I remembered this whole positive psychology thing. I took a deep breath (okay, maybe several deep breaths) and tried to see if there was any silver lining. Anything at all.
- First, I realized I’d actually learned a ton from the project, even if it never saw the light of day. New skills, new software, new ways of thinking.
- Second, I had more free time now. Time I could spend on other things I’d been neglecting.
- I started thinking to pick up some hobbies that I loved.
So, I did something crazy. I signed up for a pottery class. I’d always wanted to try it, but never had the time. And you know what? It was amazing. Getting my hands dirty, creating something from nothing…it was exactly what I needed.
And that’s when it hit me. The “doors closing, doors opening” thing isn’t just some fluffy saying. It’s actually…true. When that project got canceled (door closed), it forced me to look for something else (door opened). And that something else turned out to be something I really loved.
Am I saying that every bad thing has a hidden good side? Nope. Sometimes, bad things are just bad. But I am saying that keeping an open mind, even when things look bleak, can lead to some pretty unexpected and awesome discoveries. I’m still a work in progress, but I’m definitely starting to see the power of this positive psychology stuff. It’s not about ignoring the negative, it’s about choosing to focus on the potential for good, even when it’s hard to find.
