33 replies
Two nights ago I didn't sleep at all. Perhaps you've had similar restless nights.

I just buried a member of my family less than a week ago. My freelance writing business has slowed to a crawl. And my wife is about to go back to college to become an RN (she's a hard-working LPN right now). My two little kids slept peacefully with no worries.

I was doing enough worrying for all of us.

When I left teaching a couple years ago to freelance write FT I knew there would be hard times. But it still didn't prepare me to handle it all in stride. And I just about fell to my knees the other night.

But there are two mantras that I hold close to me always and they are important for anyone who wants to succeed:

1. Always believe in yourself
2. Always stay positive.


I finally rolled out of bed before the sun was up and I grabbed a cup of coffee. I was left with only two choices: keep feeling sorry for myself and be the enemy of my worries or embrace my worries and then find ways to overcome them.

Of course I chose the latter. How could I not?

Because I know the importance of always sending out positive thoughts and feelings. What I put out will come back to me eventually.

So I decided to work harder and work smarter. I decided to use my current situation as fuel for doing better and reaching higher.

And I firmly believe that's the #1 key to success.

There have been millions of people throughout histroy who've achieved their dreams. If you took them all as a group, there would only be one common characteristic between all of them: And that is they always believed in themselves.

To be added to that elite group of people, I have to always believe in myself and so do you.

To succeed we always have to turn bad into good. And the way to do that is to always stay positive and to always believe we will succeed.

Now I have to get back to work.

Thanks for listening,

Chai
#bad #good #turning
  • Profile picture of the author DNAforAbundance
    I can empathize with your situation. I won't go into details, but i know what you are going through. Just by writing it down and releasing it to the world, will make a difference.

    My thoughts are with you,
    To your success
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    • Profile picture of the author MommyEnterprises
      I feel your situation very much so. I do quite a bit of paid blogging each day. A few months ago, we had two friends die. I then had to deal with some other family issues that make it where it is very hard for me to work. At times I cannot write when I need to. I am hoping it will all pass and my motivation will come back in full force.
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      • Profile picture of the author ibringjoy
        It's always darkest before the dawn...

        I feel that your decision to embrace your worries and your situation as something that can make you stronger and better may be your turning point. Things will get better.

        I hope they get better soon.

        Kathryn
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      • Profile picture of the author ctutt
        Chai,

        You touched my heart too. You're writing for only 2 cents per word? What kind of writing assignments are you seeking? I have 7 content-hungry sites plus I want to do more.
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        • Profile picture of the author yuri12
          Your story is truly inspiring. If I were in a situation where my motivation is at a lowest point because of unforseen circumstances, I would readily cry out to God and ask for a sign. But the truth is, the first step to achieving is to believing in yourself. That we may remain positive despite the pressures of life, we can still find hope that things will work out right not just for ourselves but for our family, friends, and colleagues. We all want to be inspired to improve our quality of life and this topic just gave me a heads up on how to do that. Thank you very much and always keep your head up!
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          • Profile picture of the author clawHAMMER
            Chai-

            I can relate to your struggles. I've had alot of family issues and personal hardships as well the past 2 years. I've paid dearly in so many ways. It's been very difficult to get the train back on the tracks again and my finances have suffered as a result.

            I try to keep an optimistic outlook but I often have to ask myself why God keeps testing me like this to see if I'll eventually breakdown and just throw my hands up and walk away from everything.

            I just have to keep on truckin and accomplish some success online to make all my time, efforts and pain I've endured the past 2 years worthwhile.

            May the wind be at your back so you may ride the momentum.

            Glenn
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            ~"Never say never cause you never know!"
            ~"Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run there is still time to change the road you're on." - Led Zep

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        • Profile picture of the author Chaiwriter
          Thank you everyone for your kind words. I truly appreciate it.

          Life is all about ups and downs and I know an "up" is coming soon.



          Originally Posted by ctutt View Post

          Chai,

          You touched my heart too. You're writing for only 2 cents per word? What kind of writing assignments are you seeking? I have 7 content-hungry sites plus I want to do more.
          Yup, .02 a word but that's not my regular rate. I'll send you a PM tomorrow though.

          Take care,

          Chai
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    • Profile picture of the author colinredk
      I know how you feel. It's the same here. I'm still there crawling back. Admittedly, I have not let go yet. The house is empty. Crazy as it seems, I talk in the house even while I'm alone. I've got two teenaged kids and they're coping way better than me. My strategy right now is more like wagon trains in a circle.

      The hard part is getting back the momentum. I hope you get back a lot sooner than I am.
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  • Profile picture of the author summer07
    Originally Posted by Chaiwriter View Post

    ...To succeed we always have to turn bad into good. And the way to do that is to always stay positive and to always believe we will succeed.
    Powerful and wise words, Chai. The times in your life when you're surrounded by lots of loss create openings for new insight and new opportunities, if you allow it (and it sounds like you are).

    Thanks for the reminder of how important it is to stay open and flexible instead of shutting down when things are tough.

    Namaste

    audre
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    • Profile picture of the author rocker123
      yeah powerful words. really inspires me a lot with this thread. thanks!
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexandre Valois
        Chai, hang in there bro.

        Had more than my fair share of hits in the face since I started on this road more than a year ago, but it's just life really asking you: How bad do you really want it ???

        Get back up, and do not let her hesitate, even just for a moment, about what you're really worth. Sometimes, a good fight is not to show who's the best. It's not about winning or losing, killing or getting killed.

        Sometimes, a fight more than that. Giving it all you've got, out of respect for your adversary. Because true warriors will always fight for an idea, a greater cause, and they deserve everything that you've got. Until both, exhausted, drop their weapons and smile, each parting ways, until another day ...

        Maybe this will help lift your mood:



        Drop me a note if you think you may need a new player on your team

        Alex.
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        • Profile picture of the author yuri12
          It's not how many times you fall but how many times you get back to the saddle and ride again. Inspiring words that should replenish a drained spirit from all negative incidents. You meet such challenges head-on and move on to the next task at hand.

          I believe things will come around for some of us who ran out of luck and you wanna have faith in yourself for the obvious reasons like family, friends, co-workers, and God. No one can help you but yourself and it's time you take matters into your own hands and reap the benefits of hard work. If you fail, it simply means you learn to find a new solution.
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  • Profile picture of the author sim4
    HOLD ON STRONG MAN, THINGS GET TOUGH BUT LATER BETTER THAN ENVISAGE WHEN WE WORK ON POSITIVELY, SO HOLD IT ON AS YOU ARE ALREADY DOING.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Thai
    Chai,

    "Being a male is a matter of birth. Being a man is a matter of choice."(Edwin Louis Cole ) and YOU ARE THE MAN!
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    • Profile picture of the author webwriter
      I can also relate. Last Thursday, I was involved in an auto accident. There were no injuries, but I was badly shaken up, especially thinking about the cost of getting my car repaired and the soon-to-be-higher cost of auto insurance.

      You can imagine how much I accomplished. Then a close friend of my sister's and mine died from a brain hemorrhage. I was sick to my stomach.

      But slowly, everything is getting back to normal.

      I'm overcoming this by continuing to look forward to the positive things in life. I'm visualizing my car looking even better than new and it will; my ticket being paid in a few days, etc. I also feel badly about losing an old friend, but feel that he's in a better place somehow in the afterlife.

      I've helped my sister to cheer up a little by buying something she wanted that made her happy.

      I'm reminding myself to thank my angels for my good health. After all, things could have been far worse, but so far, I've come out of all of this relatively unscathed.

      So these are a few examples of how I'm turning bad into good.

      Better times are ahead!
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    • Profile picture of the author OLOORE
      Originally Posted by Michael Thai View Post

      Chai,

      "Being a male is a matter of birth. Being a man is a matter of choice."(Edwin Louis Cole ) and YOU ARE THE MAN!
      Great talk. Events whether negative or positive will effect less than nothing, if DECISIVE DECISIONS ARE NOT MADE. Cheer up like you are already doing and the Adversities will soon thin out into oblivion. You have won.
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  • Profile picture of the author soependi
    well nice speech from alpacino
    thanks to share alex
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  • Profile picture of the author sweety4
    Your thinking is great in this situation also. Best of luck and may god bless you chai.
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  • Profile picture of the author amasters
    I'm terribly sorry to hear about the passing of your loved one. Sometimes, the only way to get where you want to be is one small step at a time. In the words of Lao-tzu: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
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  • Profile picture of the author Daret
    Thanks, this is a very positive message. I'm having a bit of a rough patch right now, and you've made me feel a little better
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  • Profile picture of the author dcyberpunk
    Chai,
    Your thread and words of wisdom are inspirational.
    I believe in you too.
    Blessings.
    D.
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  • Profile picture of the author raksamuda
    I learned a lot from this thread. This makes me motivated
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  • Profile picture of the author medgar
    Good on you, Chai.

    I'm sure all your teacher buddies were waiting for you to fail, but we here on Warrior Forum know you have already succeeded.

    I'd be interested to know what sort of stuff you write.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gary Pettit
    "I just about fell to my knees...."
    Last time that happened to me, I did fall to my knees. Having the "burden of the Burden" itself lifted from me brought me back to a place where I could address the important things: What I needed to do, when, and how.
    Within 24 hours I was back on my game. Sure, the feelings linger and continue to sting. But they no longer paralyze.
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  • Profile picture of the author frogjy
    Well everyone, I have been gone for a few weeks working on a big project I plan on making public some time this week. But, I felt compelled to stop by here real quick and show everyone an image I ran across
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  • Profile picture of the author PeterDunin
    Very inspiring post at what must be a difficult time,I am truly sorry for loss.
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  • Profile picture of the author grisbyenterprise
    Great post. I agree with you 1000%. You must believe in yourself. Having doubt will cause your dreams to die a slow painful death. I love what you said about turning bad to good. If you look at just about every individual that is successful, they all have a similiar charecteristic. They all had to overcome insurmountable trials and tribulations. Some were more drastic than others.

    We will always encounter storms in life. How you handle those storms is what determines the average from the elite. I see that you are a hard worker and I commend you on that. I'm sorry about your loss. Trust me...things will get better. In life there are seasons. Keep on working hard now, and when your season of harvest arrives it will be plentiful.

    Here's something to think about. Have you ever seen a thunderstorm that was so severe that it literally scared the life out of you? It's dark, the winds are roaring, it just looks nasty. What happens after the storm? The skies turn blue, the sun is out, and maybe even a rainbow is present.

    Keep working hard. Keep believing in yourself. Your going through a storm right now. This too shall pass and when it does you will be a lot stronger, a lot wiser, and a lot happier. See you at the top!
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  • Profile picture of the author maidmarion
    Yes, you can turn a negative into a positive by just adding a positive to it!
    Law of Polarity. negative + positive = positive

    Which means, if something so called "bad" happens to you, immediately think of something "good" out of it, there is always a gift in every situation!
    When you can focus on the good aspect, it will turn out to be positive, and the outcome will be even better than before.

    Keep your vibration high, expect the best
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  • Profile picture of the author jesus72knight
    Indeed, a life of an IM is full of stress and restless nights. But with enough hardwork and dedication, everything will surely pay off.
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  • Profile picture of the author IstaylPinoy
    That's me now. I'm having some restless nights. Battling out stress and all. I guess this is what's it all about when you are just starting out. I'm doing my best and will always do my best. Thanks for the inspiration.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dave Matthews
    Keep your head held high Chai, and you'll get there.

    I know where you're coming from as I have a few "issues" to deal with at the moment but by keep thinking that things will come round and there is nothing to stop me, but myself, is what keeps me going.

    "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe he will achieve"
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  • Profile picture of the author Gemmacat
    I can relate to your story. Sometimes things just pile up at the worst time.
    What is important, is to not let yourself focus on the negative things. Rather than worry, think about what you can do to make things better. Focus on being active, thinking positive and keep looking forward. That way you can overcome any obstacle.
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  • Profile picture of the author donhx
    Originally Posted by Chaiwriter View Post

    T

    There have been millions of people throughout histroy who've achieved their dreams. If you took them all as a group, there would only be one common characteristic between all of them: And that is they always believed in themselves.

    To be added to that elite group of people, I have to always believe in myself and so do you.

    To succeed we always have to turn bad into good. And the way to do that is to always stay positive and to always believe we will succeed.

    Chai
    I want to be very respectful of what you're saying, Chai, because, like you and virtually every other human, I have been depressed and discouraged too. I feel your pain. But I would like to suggest that your cure ("to turn bad into good") will lead you to a place of even greater misery in life.

    There is a logical fallacy in the idea the people who achieved their dreams did so because they believed in themselves. The reality is, there are probably billions of people throughout history who stayed positive and believed in themselves and STILL failed.

    I know I am going against conventional wisdom, the American way and all that, but I don't think believing in yourself or staying positive helps that much. If you want to turn a page in your life, get really angry. Cry out against your circumstances, rage against your lack of prosperity, review your past decisions and kick yourself for the dumb ones you made. Scream and shout and cry and tell yourself you are sick and tired of the status quo. Let your mantra be, "I'm tired of this s*#@ and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

    No plant grew without breaking though its seed before beginning its struggle toward the sunlight. No caterpillar became a butterfly by believing in itself--it had to struggle to escape the confining chrysalis. A chick does not break free from the egg that imprisons it by staying positive--it has to shatter the shell to become truly alive.

    I'm not Buddha, but I know that real change does not come by believing in ones self and keeping positive. Change comes only after people see themselves as the failures they are, or become dissatisfied with their circumstances, or with being broke and things like that. People need to get genuinely angry and intolerant and impatient at the way things are in their lives. It is this explosive energy that helps us break through the seeds, the shells and the chrysalis's of life, not feel good cliches.
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