Reading the newspaper, or listening to the news on television or radio, is an exercise in strength - inner strength. "Unemployment Figures Up Again."  "Real Estate Sales Down: Harbinger for the Future."  "Economic Recovery Stalled."  Sometimes, the only way to keep a smile on your face is to quit listening, watching and reading!

Of course, shutting off all outside information is one way to control your mood. However, becoming un-informed about the world around us, on purpose, can be self-defeating. We need to understand this ever-changing world around us, in order to prepare ourselves for the future.

So, what do we do? Well, we make choices. I had a message a while back from one of my readers, commenting on an earlier WCN message. In it, the reader says:

"Having been raised in an unbelievably abusive situation, I developed an outlook on life that many do not understand. I am always asked how I can be so up and positive. What is my secret?  Well, I can't tell you my secret. It's just a philosophy on life.  You can choose to be happy and positive or mad about your past and live a miserable life. I choose happy and positive.

"It took me a while to figure this out, but once I had, all sort of doors were open to me. I obtained a college education (age 38), went to graduate school (2 years after undergrad), am in a field I love and enjoy a wonderful life with a man I have been married to for 45 years. I see joy in the simple things and love a good challenge. I'm sharing this attitude with my children and grandchildren.  There is no greater joy than to embrace life and run with it."

We all have this choice, to either get bogged down in the negative, or look for the good. And, if we look for the good, more than likely, we will find it. Our minds are built to let in those things we feel are important to us. So, why not look for the positive?