Fashionable brunette lady with a colorful umbrella

Here’s where to begin when unwanted change has you feeling as if you’ve been T-boned by an eighteen wheeler, left on the side of the road to die, and you feel like a total loser.

  1. Decide if this is a fight or flight situation.
  • Resolve to fight your way out of this mess and get back on your feet.

Or

  • Run! Distance yourself from a situation where you or your children are in danger of physical abuse.
  1. Stop crying.
  • It’s okay to cry and feel sorry for yourself – you just don’t want to stay there.
  • Dry your tears & wash your face.
  • Comb your hair & put on a little lipstick. (Everything is better with a little lipstick!)
  1. Get outside and take a 20 min. walk
  • Just 20 minutes of mild exercise releases endorphins that are natural mood lifters.
  • LOOK UP at the big blue sky and fluffy white clouds. Remember who The King of the world is, that He calls you his friend, has promised never to leave you and as Psalm 118:6 says, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.” Somehow big problems always look a little smaller after you’ve spent some time out of the house surrounded by the beauty and majesty of God’s creation.

I’ve been sharing this strategy for some time now with audiences during my talks on four specific tactics for bouncing back from setbacks and was taken by surprise when a woman recently e-mailed to say, “Penny, I was going to do what you said to do. I was going to get out of the house and physically LOOK UP, but it was raining…”  At the moment all I could think was, “bless her heart—why didn’t she stay inside and look out the window?”

I had to admit, I had not considered the possibility of rain when I shared LOOK UP with the audience she was part of, and all kidding aside, I truly felt sorry for her missing her moment. I’m also thankful for the answer to my prayer for a way to help her and others LOOK UP on a rainy day.
Every woman needs to own a fancy, beautiful, fun umbrella. Then, no matter what the weather may be doing, you can step outside and LOOK UP from underneath the shelter of your protective covering remembering “…His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4

And while you walk in the cleansing freshness of a rainy day try humming this old-timey song sung by Judy Garland

Click here to hear it:  http://bit.ly/2r6RiFD

“Look for the silver lining whenever clouds appear in the blue,

Remember somewhere the sun is shining,

And so the right thing to do,

Is make it shine for you.

A heart full of joy and gladness

Will always banish sadness and strife,

So always look for the silver lining,

And try to find the sunny side of life.”

Lyrics by songwriter: Bud DeSylva 1946

And PS – Just so you know—the IRS has still not figured out a way to tax silver linings. So go for it!

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