Spring's Eternal Optimism

What a difference a week makes. This time last week Colorado

was experiencing "snowcopalypse”—bomb cyclone winds,

blowing snow, and road closures. We hunkered down at home

and watched as snow blew sideways and branches fell to the

ground around our house. The first day of spring is

promising to be sunny and warm with most of the evidence of

last week’s storm melted away.



In the northern hemisphere, we enter a new season as the

spring equinox welcomes new life. Whether you're in the north

or south, the change signals that the season before is dying so

a new one can be born. Although there are aspects of each

season that I enjoy, I particularly love this time of year!  Our

garden is full of snowdrops and crocus and every day new

things are popping up and surprising me. The lovely snowdrop

is one of the first flowers to appear in the spring as it warms the

snow around it and works its way through the snow to bloom.



The spring equinox is a seasonal, astronomical event caused by

the Earth's axis tilting neither toward nor away from the sun.

Twice a year, at the Vernal (spring) and Autumnal (fall)

equinoxes (equal light), the Earth's tilt is in perfect balance. Day

and night, light and dark, are nearly equal in length. Springtime

is a time of growth, renewal, new life, and balance.  We begin to

feel more energetic and open to allowing changes – both big

and small – into our lives. This is a time to examine our

lives—inner and outer and make room for the new (think “spring

cleaning”).  Across cultures and traditions people are called to

positive thinking at this time of year. How can anyone not be

inspired by the spirit of optimism that spring brings?

The darkness of winter is ending &

we’re moving into the warmth of the

light. Nature is coming alive after

months of being dormant.  The same

thing is happening to you.  Your

attention is drawn toward your

intentions for what you want to plant,

grow, and nurture within. The end of

winter can sometimes feel a little unsettling. The energy shifting

from an inward to an outward focus and the transformation it

brings may bring a feeling of being out of balance. Where do

you feel out of balance in your life? Where do you feel

balanced? What are ways to bring balance in to your life?

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One way to bring balance in to life is by shifting our perspective.

Research in to the new and growing field of Positive Psychology

shows how important emotions such as hope, joy, and

excitement are to our wellbeing.  

Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.

The founder of Positive Psychology, Dr. Martin Seligman, and

others have determined that one of the key elements that has a

major effect on wellbeing is optimism. Their research shows that

optimistic people are happier, healthier, recover from illness

more quickly, and even live longer.



Optimism is having confidence in a positive future or success of

something even when an optimist encounters a difficult

situation. She makes course corrections toward a desired

outcome because of her positive perspective.  This indicates

that an optimist accepts the situation, even the obstacles to

success and continues to work toward accomplishing her goals-

-Growth Mindset in action (see our March 14th post).



Psychologists also believe that optimism can be learned and/or

can also be genetically inherited. If an individual is taught to see

the positive aspect of each situation and cultivates the belief in a

positive outcome from childhood, this becomes a lifelong habit. I

see myself as an optimist (most of the time) and believe that I

both learned and inherited optimism.



For as far back as I can remember, I heard my mother's words

"Things always turn out for the best". I didn't always believe her

when things didn't turn out the way I wanted them to. But those

words have echoed in my mind and heart for decades, thanks to

my mother. In case you think she lived with her head in the

clouds, never seeing "reality" the way the people around her

did, allow me to tell her story.



She was the oldest of four children, born to farmers in rural

Georgia. From the stories I've been told, I learned that she was

a happy and healthy baby. When she was nine months old, she

became infected with the polio virus. Shortly afterwards, she

was sent 200 miles from her home to a hospital in Warm

Springs, Georgia where she would spend the first five years of

her life. Not only was she separated from her family (my

grandparents couldn't afford to leave the farm and travel to visit

her very often), she was isolated and underwent very painful

treatments, including time in an iron lung. She had very little

comforting, physical touch. The disease left her paralyzed on

one side. I can’t image how she felt or how she survived and

thrived.  I've come to believe that her attitude, her mindset, was

her pathway to living a long and fulfilling life. Much like Viktor

Frankl's examples in Man's Search For Meaning, she choose to

see the "glass half full" even under such devastating

circumstances. She chose to see the present and future from a

positive perspective.



The Positive Psychology approach also recommends building

optimism by habitually recognizing and challenging pessimistic

thoughts – something made much easier by the new season in

which we can throw open the windows, and let in the fresh air

and soft sunlight.



Spring is all about opportunity – a time for cultivating optimism,

for accepting ourselves, finding balance, strengthening the

belief in ourselves and our ability to overcome obstacles,

including our own fear.  This Co-Creative Mandala, "Optimism"

invites you to embrace Spring's Eternal Optimism and step into

the unknown. The spiritual journey of the spring equinox is one

of discovery.  Remember, savor,  and build on optimism

throughout  the year.

Let go of fears, old habits, and stories.

Throw open the windows and let in the fresh, vibrant

energy of new life.

Infinite possibilities are available to you.

Expect success!

Embrace the beginning of something new!

Optimism Exercise:

Spring has always been considered as a time for change and

personal evolution. If changes need to be made in your

life, this exercise is going to set that in motion. It’s designed to

help you honor what is and leave behind whatever doesn’t serve

you and to support allowing your goals to manifest.



Give yourself plenty of time to dive deeply into this exercise.

Meditate, journal, create your sacred space for doing this

exercise throughout the spring season. Come back to this

exercise as often as you like. Make it your own.



Find a quiet place, without interruptions. Light two candles, one

for that part of you that is holding on and one for that part of you

that is letting go.

 

Invest your time and attention. Don’t rush. Close your eyes.

Take several deep breaths. 

 

Open your eyes and focus on the mandala. Invest a

few minutes toward feeling the “Optimism” energy traveling

through your body & all your chakras. Imagine that energy

bursting through your crown chakra & extending far into the

heavens. Now, feel the “Optimism” energy entering your

body through your crown chakra. Sit with this energy for a few

minutes, feel yourself connected to the mandala energy.


 
What about the mandala captures your attention? Notice and

Wonder--Something in me is feeling...

 
I wonder what it wants me to know?



Begin asking yourself the following questions; acknowledge

whatever is holding you and holding you back. This helps train

your brain to cultivate optimism...
 


1. What does optimism feel/look like to me? What does

optimism mean for me in me spiritual journey?


2. Where do I feel optimistic in my life?


3. Where is there pessimism? Do I feel out of balance in any

aspect of my life?


4. What can I do to bring optimism to that part of my life? 

This is one thing I'm willing to do that brings optimism to

my life.



The cycle of life is once again starting. This is the season of

new beginnings. Right now, these energies are combining to

make this a time of growth & evolution.  In order to make this

change a reality, first appreciate what is. Then cultivate the

power of optimism. Believe that anything is possible this time of

year. Celebrate spring because it reminds us that our optimism

eternal.



You may have difficulty with this process. I know when I first

started intentionally shifting my attention to being optimistic,

I thought I was "betraying" reality. That seems odd to me now,

but I was invested in the limiting beliefs that come with

pessimism. I think I was afraid to let go and allow optimism to

guide my life. I invite you to be gentle with yourself and trust the

process. You've been living with these beliefs for a lifetime;

they've protected you; pessimism has kept you safe. It's

important to acknowledge and honor this.



One energy modality that I've found to be gentle and effective

for working with limiting beliefs is EFT/Tapping. By tapping on

meridian accupoints, EFT-Tapping sends a signal to the energy

system that you are safe.  It's a very effective technique for

clearing our energy system of the disruptions that happened

when the experiences we had created the limiting beliefs.

When we feel safe, we can see our human experience through

a compassionate and optimistic lens.



I offer 30-minute complimentary EFT/Tapping Sessions. This is

a perfect way to begin exploring and releasing limiting beliefs as

you move toward a life of Eternal Optimism.


Peace and Joy to your seeking heart,