By Linda Knudsen

I’m lying on my bed, tears flowing freely, my heart heavy as my mind replays every challenge. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t shake this feeling.

With everything I’ve learned about positive thinking, I start to worry—have I ruined my chances for success by giving in to negativity? Maybe I should just give up now and resign myself to a life of misery.

In that anxious moment, I imagine I’ve torn up my “prosperity plant” by the roots with my pessimistic mindset. But then something happens that shines a new light on my mood.

I realize I haven’t been out to my garden in a while. Expecting everything to be dead from lack of water, I step outside—and sure enough, the plants look parched, ready to wither under the scorching southwest sun. I turn on the water system.

Slowly, I watch as the thirsty plants drink in the water. Their leaves expand, casting shade over their roots below.

That’s when it hits me—sometimes, we ALL go through emotional droughts. We don’t always have the energy to keep a positive attitude 100% of the time. Even Pollyanna had her moments of negativity! Many of us fear these dry spells mean our goals are out of reach.

But your chances for success are far from gone! While you were in that “optimism drought,” your roots were growing deeper to sustain you. And when you’re nourished again with the right mindset and outlook, your “plant”—your goals—will come back stronger and healthier than before.

It’s important to remember: it’s normal for negative thoughts to sneak in sometimes. It’s part of life’s natural rhythm.

So, how do we get through the tough times? How do we shorten them?

First, have faith that you will make it through—even at your lowest. Life moves in ebbs and flows. Think of it like a roller coaster: the thrilling downhill rush can only happen after the slow, steady climb. The best part is waiting for you at the top! And just like that, life will bring moments where positivity feels effortless and exhilarating.

To make those tough spells shorter:

• Keep uplifting books or articles close by and take a few minutes to read.

• Keep a gratitude journal.

• Notice the struggles others face and find ways to lighten their load.

• Pray for comfort and peace.

• Daydream about your ideal future life.

Since I started practicing these steps and moving forward with faith, my “positive thinking droughts” have shrunk—from weeks to days, and from days to mere moments.

Remember, just because you’re feeling negative right now doesn’t mean your dreams have dried up. They’re still there—waiting patiently for a little water.