We all have the potential to change and to embrace new challenges. We all have the potential to be great at what we choose, but without seeing that we can, our perspective will work on the old negative patterns we accumulate from the past.

Changing the process is part of the bigger picture. You’re changing how you think and see the world. Living in a negative environment has prompted me to explore a different perspective. It was enough for me to know it wasn't the life I wanted for myself. I needed to make the change.

We can either encourage a positive mindset or leave the old ones in place. The longer we leave a negative mindset, the bigger the challenge in changing our perceptions. It is the experiences we encounter that help us challenge our perceptions of ourselves and of each other.

Be your own best friend, support and embrace your life and your choices. Be happy with any outcomes, regardless of whether they turn out to be what you want or not.

Disappointments are part of life’s rich tapestry, we should learn to embrace and be okay with them. Without disappointments, we may fail to understand life.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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6 comments on “Changing perceptions”

  1. I try to keep a positive perspective on everything. Even if it looks like it's not good I see it as positive.

    I started doubting my parenting abilities the other day but got a hold of myself and decided it wasn't me, plus I had some encouragement from a friend!

    I think seeing negative will make the situation worse. My mom is a negative person when it comes to my daughter. She doesn't have the confidence in her to be able to live her own life and take care of herself, therefore my daughter listens to her and feels somewhat the same way.

    She needs to know that she can do anything she sets her mind to. Everybody can.

    1. I'm pleased you do Lisa. It's so important to have a positive perspective. I agree with you that when we're around negative people it's very easy to slide into negativity from being positive.

      I think when that happens it's important to focus solely on yourself. That is what I would do.

  2. I grew up in a world where there was always a negative perspective about everything.

    It has quite often affected my better judgement to the point of making many decisions that were never really the best thing for me.

    I was conditioned very well to always see the negatives in life which made it nearly impossible to see the light of day,basically. I'm having to work very hard right now to change my perception of life to be able to become a much more positive person who would actually enjoy living rather than just surviving.

    I'm hoping and praying that I will be able to do this very soon so my life would be so much better!

  3. '@Randy: I've read lots of your comments and I really believe you are more and more positive as times goes on.

    You've taken the most important step; to recognise the need to change things.

    There aren't many of us that can honestly say we have even done that yet.

  4. '@Brad:Thank you very much for pointing out that I do seem to be getting more positive over time.

    It's very hard to notice the changes in myself where others would notice a lot quicker. I've had to work really hard on changing which can be a truly monumental task!

    I'm hoping and praying that I can continue to have continued success in the future.

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