Soul's Calling President and Professional Optimist, Gina Cotroneo, Offers Top Five Tips for Finding a Silver Lining When Times Get Tough

With the Southern California wildfires, we're reminded how in times of disaster, it can be hard to have optimism. But, there are constructive ways to improve your outlook. Here, professional optimist, Gina Cotroneo, offers her top five ways to land sunny side up.

Dallas (PRWEB) October 29, 2007 -- When life gets tough and circumstances seem overwhelming, it can be hard to find the silver lining. But Soul's Calling President, Gina Cotroneo has become quite skilled in the art. In 1997, she was violently attacked. Instead of becoming depressed or despondent, she chose to see the event as an opportunity, turning the experience into positive action by launching her "fashion with a purpose" gift and accessory line. Her first product, the Inspirella umbrella, is a representation of her optimistic outlook. It features positive affirmations on the outside and of course, a silver lining within. Here Cotroneo gives her top five tips on finding that silver lining when times get tough:

1.Reframe things -- Anyone who has lived knows that we will encounter adversity during our lives. Choosing to look at our situation in a positive light can be very challenging, but it is a power we all posses. Feeling empowered is so important to our healing and recovery process. Dig down and find the sunny spot.

2.Create happy space -- Feeding our senses can help us get happy when sheer force of will isn't enough. I'm all for the little black dress, but color has a large impact on our moods. Put on something brightly colored and listen to music that lifts your spirits. You can feel devastated and still dance.

3.Allow grief some time -- Acknowledging our feelings allows them to pass through more quickly. Even if you are doing steps one and two, it's okay to admit to feeling unhappiness too. This too shall pass.

4.Gratitude list -- I find that making a daily list of 5 things I am grateful for helps to lighten my world and nothing succeeds like success. This is a very simple, but extremely powerful tool to help you through anything life dishes out.

5.Help others -- Service to others helps us feel useful, happy. Being able to do something, anything when we feel most helpless is a tonic to us and a great help to others in need.

Cotroneo wants everyone to remember, "None of us are strangers to life's difficulties, but with some simple awareness and realization of our interconnectedness we can all help each other get through with smiles on our faces."

About Gina Cotroneo and Soul's Calling
Soul's Calling is a "fashion with a purpose" gift and accessory line based in Dallas, TX. President, founder and professional optimist, Gina Cotroneo, designs each aesthetically-pleasing product to advertise and spread positivity and good energy. The line currently includes five products with many more on the horizon. Cotroneo has been featured on "Oprah" and "Montel," as well as in Glamour and multiple other publications. To learn more about Soul's Calling and Cotroneo, go to www.soulscalling.com.

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