I was talking to a woman the other day about getting together for lunch. She shook her head at me sadly.

“I can’t,” she said. “I’ve got to go to work that day.

She honestly sounded so down and depressed that I figured that she hated her job and asked her if she did. She said no… and went on so say… while it wasn’t the best job in the world, it was not the worst one either. From the look on her face, though, you’d think she was digging ditches or scraping gum off bathroom walls..

Of course, seeing this as an opportunity for growth… I asked her to try something: I said, “Instead of saying I’ve ‘got’ to go to work, say I ‘get’ to go to work.”

It made her smile, and I could tell that she was a little skeptical, but she promised to give it a try.

Changing “got” to “get” may seem really insignificant…and you might be wondering how this will change your situation….but the truth is: your thoughts (subsequently you words) create your reality.

What most people don’t realize is that we make our own happiness… however, at the same time, we make our life miserable, frustrating, etc. This all comes from the words we use to describe things.

The way that you choose to see a situation will definitely determine how you respond to it, both physically and emotionally.

Remember that your body takes cues very easily. Have you ever found that when you smiled, you actually started feeling happier? Even by changing something that minor, you are cuing your body to be more receptive and to enjoy itself more.

When you’re in a place where you’re feeling down about everything and discontent, be aware that this is something that can easily snowball on itself. You’ll find that when this happens, it is so easy to lose momentum and energy…and it can spiral out of control. This is where depression comes from… it’s just an ongoing choice to feel bad, then it gets worse and worse, until it ‘seems’ to be out of control.

Make a conscious choice to improve your attitude and the way that you see things.

Like the woman I talked to the other day, instead of saying that work is something that you’ve “GOT” to do, recognize it for a privilege and a joy – because it is. What’s the alternative???

There is something positive in the situation if only you can find it.
– Do you get to make other people happy during your job?
– Are you pleased to make the day easier for your co-workers?

It is true that not all of us have our ideal jobs, but there is definitely something bright to look for.

You could say that you have a job where people call in with complaints all day, or instead you can say that you have a job where you help people towards customer satisfaction. It’s all in how you view it.

Practical Application

Though this may sound the typical “half empty/half full” rhetoric… please don’t overlook this very important lesson.

Be aware of what you’re saying because it’s creating your reality “as you speak”.