When it comes to living a positive life, being consistent in your efforts is critical. Slacking even for just a short period of time could you set back a tremendous amount of progress that you've already made.

Consistency is tough. Don't believe me? Just take a look at how long it's been since I last blogged. Life gets in the way of our best laid plans more often than we probably care to admit. Kids, work, volunteer commitments... it all takes up our time. And stress and feeling hurried tend to bring out the worst in us (especially if we don't handle it well in general).

Being more positive remains a priority in my life. Even when other things (like blogging) fall by the wayside. It's also something I continue to struggle with on a daily basis. Dealing with telemarketers, slow grocery clerks, unorganized members of a committee you belong to... It can all wear a normal person out. If you're naturally a negative person, then instances like this can exasperate your patience.

Want to keep a consistently positive life? Here's a quick tip for you: make it a habit to count to three when you can feel yourself slipping into impatience. Give yourself three seconds to breathe deeply and consider your next action or choice of words. If it prevents even half of the blow ups you could have in a normal week's time, then it works.