Being positive.

[Wish upon a star]

Its something that most of us have a problem with.

Its really hard to be positive when you are feeling low but it can get easier in time.

For example. If you have SI'ed and you are beating yourself up. Dont.
Say to yourself "ok, I had a slip up but Ive done really well to get this far and I can do it again.

Or if you are SU and you feel alone, helpless and pathetic. Say to yourself "I am never alone, there are plenty of people that can help me. I am not helpless, I can do something about this. I am not pathetic. I am just struggling and lots of people have felt the same way"

Being positive is damn hard but Im proof that it can be done.

[eleonor]

Nice words!
You're terribly right!

[disastercake]

You're right it's hard work, but gets easier and more natural with time and persistence

[handmade mute]

Yes! Beating yourself up after SI'ing only makes things that much worse, because you feel guilty and silly and blah. I try and remember that the slipping up isn't the important bit, it's what you do afterwards that matters, because I've already proven I can go x amount of time without, so at least I know I can manage that long again. In the end, we're only human, and we shouldn't assume we're perfect, or expect perfection. I mean, if someone came up to me and said 'I'm a screw up, I just SI'd', I wouldn't be so unforgiving as I am to myself. I'd tell them it was alright, and comfort them, and help them meet their needs, so I should do that for myself, too. *nods* now I must print that out and put it in my diary, because I really need to remind myself of that more often.

[Wish upon a star]

Thats excellent hun!

My positivity usually only lasts a few hours and i often find that negativity controls me. I dont want it to anymore.

[handmade mute]

Good luck! Deciding that you don't want to be controlled by negativity is a great start!