Misery Can Eat You Alive

This is a true story about a woman I worked with for several years.

I'm sure we all know at least one person who cannot find a good thing to say about anything or anyone. Your typical "miserable" person who could have $10 million handed to her and would complain that it wasn't $10 million and $1.

This was such a person.

The sky would be blue, the temperature warm and the flowers in full bloom. She would point out one small cloud that loomed in the horizon, that it was two degrees warmer in another town and that the petals on the tulips were wilting prematurely.

She had nothing good to say about anyone we worked with, and I thought we had a great group of people.

I eventually started to avoid her because try as I would to get her to find something good in the world, she would strike down my every effort.

When we would learn of anything new in the workplace, she would immediately react with anger and start venting her opinion to anyone within earshot.

I decided to distance myself from her because I could not raise her energy and she was bringing mine down.

Science has proven that the way we think, feel and react has an impact on our health and physical well-being.

When someone is constantly sick or suffering from one ailment or another, this may often be a reflection of what is going on in his or her thoughts.

Of course, there are always exceptions; however, I have observed that many of those who live in a constant state of negativity, and who react to many situations based on their judgments, suffer more maladies and chronic illnesses than those who don't.

I often contemplated this theory when thinking of my co-worker and I wondered if some day she would suffer a fatal heart attack or terrible illness because she was so filled with anger and negativity.

While working a Tuesday afternoon shift, she booked off duty early and went home because she had a small bruise on her leg that was causing her intense pain.

Later that same evening, she was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with flesh eating disease.

Wednesday her leg was operated on and it was learned that the disease had spread into her other leg and abdomen.

Thursday she was given her last rights.

When I heard of this series of events, I was shocked and saddened. I listened to others saying, "How could this happen? She's young and so healthy."

I couldn't help but think to myself that her thoughts and negative feelings might have finally manifested themselves through her physically. Somehow I was not so surprised anymore by the terrible news.

She remained in Intensive Care for many months and even though she was not expected to live more than four days from her diagnosis, she remains with us today.

She has very little left of her legs, endured numerous operations on several organs, and spent many months in physical, mental, spiritual and emotional agony. Many months passed before she was able to see her two young children.

I often think of her when I am inclined to react to certain situations in a negative way, or when I am tempted to fall into a negative pattern of complaining or criticizing.

One of the great powers we have is the power to choose, and when I'm faced with the choice of complaining or making the best of a situation, I take the high road.

Do I do it consistently? Not always. After all, I am human and do make mistakes. But, every day I continue to strive to be better than I used to be.

What can you do today to create a more positive outlook on life?

Laurie Hayes, founder of Where the Heart Is Life Coaching, is a Life Strategy Coach and author of several articles and an e-book designed to promote excitement and inspire action in others to pursue the best life has to offer. To secure a copy of her free e-book, "10 Guidelines for Attraction," visit http://www.wheretheheartis-lifecoaching.com

---

Michael Vick is Average

Michael Vick can do wonders on a football field, but... Read More

Neither A Borrower

Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 4,... Read More

Encouragement--Heart At Work

Encouragement can have a very powerful effect on bosses and... Read More

Who Are The Underminers?

How many of you had the experience growing up of... Read More

Without Love

Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 30,... Read More

A Cat In The Hand Is Worth Two Birds In The Bush!

I bought this computer just over two years ago with... Read More

Exceptions To The Rule

Yesterday I turned 48, and she just turned 21. Uh-oh,... Read More

Blasting Out of the Shadows: The Power of Your True Voice

First, let me share a quote from Ashlee Simpson's latest... Read More

The Power Of A Dream - Success Always Start Off With A Dream

Back in the good old days of school, the teachers... Read More

The Power Of Love In Your Life!

CELEBRATE YOUR LIFE!"If there is light in the soul, there... Read More

The Bouncer (Turning Defeat into Victory)

I'm a pretty competitive guy, though I try to keep... Read More

What Movies Can Teach You About Meaningful Coincidences (Use Them to Get What You Want)

When you have your dream clear in your mind and... Read More

Spiritual Bread Making

All the ingredients to make 12 loaves of bread already... Read More

Go Ahead, Toss the Starfish!

There is an old story that tells of a man... Read More

The Essence Of Freedom

Life is too hard and too risky in the eyes... Read More

I Am Unique

We have given a lot of thought, paid an indecent... Read More

Wake-Up Call

Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 7,... Read More

Sissys Show of Support

I had been fighting with the software program that I... Read More

Tranquility

It's all in the mind- your mind.It's not brought about... Read More

How To Have An Effortless Life

Isn't that an appealing title? How to Have an Effortless... Read More

Happy Ending

I'm writing to you with a completely shattered heart. I've... Read More

Why My Wife Is My Hero

My name is Chas Brothers. Many of you know me... Read More

And How Do We Feel This Morning?

Without question, going to the hospital is teamwork from the... Read More

Today is Yesterdays Tomorrow

The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it... Read More

Caste Out

Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 29,... Read More

Entrepreneur and Mom

When I was 12 years old, I had surgery with... Read More

Order and Law

When disorder comes into our lives, we obviously aren't paying... Read More

Turning 40

Most of us, at one point or another, take a... Read More

Jerrys Yo-Yo

The blaring sound leapt under Jerry's skin and strangled him... Read More

Van Morrison, Spiritual Rock Star

Here I am gazing on the Web for extraordinary witnesses... Read More

How To Walk On The Path Of Peace (Part 1)

As there are silent depths in the ocean, which the... Read More

Winning the Thought Battle

If you have read my articles or heard me speak,... Read More

I.Q. You Q. He, She, or It Qs.

I have, in recent years, come to believe that IQ... Read More