ShareBy Abdellatif Sharaa
was about 10 years old when my late father, may Allah bless his soul, decided to go for Hajj, (pilgrimage to Makkah). Then when it was time to travel, he decide to take the bus because many of his friends and extended family members were taking the bus also. Pilgrims got ready and went to the station in Amman, Jordan in waiting for the bus, which came from the city of Nablus on the West Bank of the River Jordan.
The waiting passengers became restless as the bus was late, before it finally arrived. The pilgrims, while waiting, became very angry, and what made me proud was my father's tactics to calm them down, telling them that they are now on a special journey that is like no other, must shed their normal daily life routine and concentrate on prayers.
When the bus arrived and pilgrims started boarding, some of them tried to vent their anger on the driver, and the amazing thing is how calm the bus driver was, as he tried to tell them the weather conditions did not help and he had to "negotiate with the hills and valleys." Once all were aboard, I was able to hear my father reading prayers particular to the occasion, and everyone were repeating after him.
I believe that wise and rational individuals can bring peace of mind and diffuse what could potentially be a dangerous situation out of irrational act or words. Those who are described as expert in the world of positivity say that most of us probably think "happy." However, happiness is not the only type of positivity. There are many ways to be more positive in your life even when you are experiencing sadness, anger or challenges.
Research suggests that we have powerful capabilities to choose positive emotions and ways of thinking. In fact, our emotions literally change our bodies on a cellular level. Many of our experiences in life are a result of how we interpret and respond to our surroundings. Fortunately, rather than repressing or trying to get rid of negative feelings, we can choose to interpret and respond to them differently.
You will find that with some practice, patience and perseverance, you become more positive. Let us be calm, cool and collected every time we face something to our disliking. Keep a cool nerve so that you can think correctly, and decisions can be made the way they should be.
Final word: "Being positive isn't pretending that everything is good - It's seeing the good in everything." - (unknown)
