First of all, positive thinking is much more than a set of CD's or books from a popular "think nice thoughts" guru. It's a consciously-chosen way of life.

Is your glass half full or half empty? How you view every situation will determine your course of action throughout your life. While it's not healthy to continually look at the world through rose-colored glasses, it's not a good idea to walk around with storm clouds hanging over your head, either.

I'm not advocating the ostrich's stick-your-head-in-the-sand approach. Our problems usually don't go away if we just ignore them. We have to take the initiative to find a solution, a way through the difficulties we face.

Secondly, there are no failures in life, only opportunities to grow. Facing and overcoming a difficulty will make you a better person. It's not an easy formula, but it's simple. It's not complicated. Look at your situation with the goal of finding a solution. Wallowing in the "Why me?" swamp of self-pity will get you nowhere.

I've often been accused of being a Pollyanna, and I take that as a compliment. If you haven't seen the Walt Disney movie, "Pollyanna," you need to look for it on your next trip to the video store or add it to your Netflix list. This cheerful, courageous girl was taught by her very wise father to look for the good in life. He called it "the Glad Game." For instance, if you dread Monday mornings, you can be glad that it's a whole seven days in between them!

One hot summer night, I had to spend the night in a van at a truck stop with my husband and two young children, as the tow truck couldn't arrive until morning to take our broken-down vehicle to the nearest service station. Though it was hot and humid, we managed to fall asleep sometime in the night. In the morning, as my companions began to grumpily complain about their uncomfortable evening, I exclaimed brightly, "You know what? There are NO mosquitoes here!"

The groans I received in response to my observation were typical. Pollyannas tend to unintentionally irritate negative people. But I love a quote I came across recently: "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." (Herm Albright 1876-1944)

Think about it: Would it really make you feel better to complain about your circumstances, or would you rather take a positive attitude of "It's worth a try!" and plow forward with some course of action that just might improve your situation?

While you're mulling over your bleak circumstances, what you must focus on is the fact that what's out there (the situation) is not nearly as important as what's inside you. If you entertain negative thoughts, the outlook can become completely hopeless. Your inner voice uses phrases like, "I'll never..." and "I knew it wouldn't work" and "I've failed again."

Quick, switch channels! Pretend your mind is a radio and spin that tuner knob like crazy! Tune out the negative voice and tune in some positive thoughts.

I love the story of a psychiatrist who set out to determine the mindset of two average little boys. They were both put into a room full of horse manure. The first little boy simply sat down and began to wail hopelessly and helplessly. The second little boy, as soon as he was placed in the room, began digging through the manure with both hands as fast as he could go. This went on for quite awhile, to the amazement of the secretly watching psychiatrist. No longer able to contain his curiosity, the psychiatrist interrupted the little boy to ask him what he was doing. The boy responded cheerfully, "With all this manure, I know there's got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

When your life looks more like a room full of manure than the mansion you'd been hoping for, don't just sit down and drown in a sea of self-pity. Get up and start digging. There's got to be a pony in there somewhere!

Keep a positive outlook, no matter what life hands you, and you will succeed in reaching your goals and fulfilling your dreams.