The Positive Dog Grows

Matt spent the next few days feeding the positive dog with the strategies Bubba taught him, and he even created some of his own. He realized that he felt very positive when he was doing something he enjoyed such as digging, playing catch with a ball, or jumping to catch Barry's Frisbee. He also felt energized when he relaxed in silence, and it occurred to him that feeding the positive dog was most powerful when he focused on the present moment.

Bubba told him that the research supported his experience. It showed that doing something you enjoy and being in the present moment are big positivity boosters—as are meditation and prayer. In fact research shows that meditation and prayer reduce stress, boost positivity, and enhance health, vitality, and longevity. Matt made mental notes of this and made it a point to practice them in his daily life.

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As the days turned into weeks, Matt discovered that the more he practiced positivity, the more open he became to everything in his life. He made more friends. He came up with many new solutions to his complaints and he created many new strategies to be more positive. He realized that the more positive he became, the more open he became; the more friends, solutions, and possibilities flowed into his life, all of which generated even more positivity. He realized that positivity doesn't just feed the positive dog inside you; ...

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