My Dear Daughter,
Difficulties, challenges, trials and tragedies strike randomly and nobody is immune to it. Yes, there will be good times too. This is life.
Since good and bad times go hand in hand, you should learn to deal with the bad times with the right disposition. This is where the admonition of St. Paul in Thessalonians 5 verse18 comes in handy: “Give thanks in every circumstance.” My take on St. Paul’s advice is that we should try to put a positive spin on every circumstance we face.
By looking at circumstances, trials and tribulations with a positive mindset, they can become the grounds for achieving renewed happiness. Note, my dear daughter, no matter what happens, you can choose your responses, which pretty much dictates subsequent events.
My dear, one of the most effective weapons you have against anxiety, negativity and stress is your ability to choose one present thought over another – to train your mind to look at things through the prism of positivity so as to make the best of whatever circumstances you find yourself in, even when it’s far less than you expected.
Yes, my dear, once you can learn to give thanks in every circumstance you can maintain your emotional equilibrium and live a life of greatly reduced stress and anxiety.
Love you always,
Dad