ARISE Positivity Card Activities

Activities and thoughts for those fortunate enough to own a set of ARISE Positivity Cards. Enter the interesting ways you use the Positivity cards contest and you will receive a FREE set of ARISE Positivity Cards including the new additions created weekly. Winners will be announced by email or snail mail.
1. To find the most people to compliment with the “You’ve Been Noticed Doing Something Good Card,” conduct a one day, or night contest to find the most people to compliment.
2. Pass the “You’re So Appreciated Card” from person-to-person in a group. While holding the card, let each participant share an experience when they felt sincere appreciation for another person, or when someone showed appreciation towards them. Then have them answer, “Were they able to express it?” Also, suggest that each person in your group writes something positive about someone present. Next, toss the compliments all in a pot to see if participants can guess who wrote it.
3. Relate an experience in your life when a smile made your day, or you when you smiled instead of cried as the world was crumbling around you.
4. Discuss why people in general respond more positively to expressions of kindness rather than to negatives. Are you any different?
5. Use the “Look for the Good Card” to discuss how your life could have been more pleasant if you had actually looked for the good in someone instead of criticizing them.
6. Have each person share an experience where an action, whether good or bad, returned like a boomerang to back that person.  The idea is that one reaps what one sows. Call it Karma, fate, destiny, or whatever; it’s real. Ask each person to relate an experience of this nature in their lives.
7. Discuss how the unkind words of another, when you were a child, still hurts and resonates today.
8. Choose a card from the deck and relate it to a time in your life when tuning out negativity could have made a big difference in yours and another’s life.
9. Ask a child or an adult to choose a random card and explain what it means to them. Give everyone a chance to participate.
10. Make a pledge to tune out negativity by not watching TV news shows, or tuning into murder and mayhem channels? Are you able to say, “No,” to supermarket tabloids that scream negativity or blogs that have nothing nice to say? Decide on how long; a day, a week, maybe longer?
11. Discuss a situation where you, or someone else lost their temper and describe the consequences from that outburst.
12. Can we make a promise to Stop Anger, Stop Worries and Stop Negatives? What would be your first three steps towards that goal?
13. Relate the most recent time you sincerely expressed gratitude for something someone did for you? Or, relate a time when you wish you had said more than just thanks.
14. Can we make a conscious effort to give thanks for clean tap water every time it flows from a faucet, shower or bath? Was there ever a time in your life when fresh water wasn’t available? How do you think it would feel? Discuss it.
15. The ability to erase unpleasant memories and mistakes is fairly rare. Using this magical eraser, what do you want to delete from your memory bank?
16. Discuss people in your life who do not deserve to be forgiven, but forgive them anyway. You forgive because it makes YOU feel good. They needn’t know you’ve chosen forgiveness for them.Everyone has someone to forgive or some personal action they would like to be forgiven for.
17. Life is short. Everything, including us arises and passes away. What one thing would you like to be remembered for 100 years from now?
18. Does anyone have experiences that contradict the saying, ”If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll get what you always got?”
19. Each person thinks back to a decision that made a major impact in their life. What elements caused you to make that choice? Are you content with your decision today? In retrospect, how would you act differently today? Did your mental imaging, attract whatever it was? Were you consciously or unconsciously acting as a magnet drawing this event to you?
20. Sadly, we usually can’t call the police when someone or something steals our joy. How can we protect ourselves from this type of theft?
21. The three P’s: Passion, Perseverance and Positivity; in no particular order. Those lucky souls who have found their niche in life have all three. Individually share your own perception of these three important ingredients for a happy life.
22. Health, Happiness and Harmony. Is this the formula for a wonderful life? What elements are needed other than money?
23. The sky is the limit. Have you ever decided to dislike someone because of the color of their skin only to discover you made a horrible mistake?
24. Why must we nurture relationships and not take them for granted? Tweeting and email are great, but it doesn’t take the place of good, old face-to-face, or telephone conversation. Have you seen friendships dissolve simply due to lack of face-time?
25. Not enough time in the day to give thanks? How about getting into an attitude of gratitude at every red light you come to when driving. What will you give thanks for?
26. Growing up, was there one particular person who was the household distributor for inciting anger and stress in your family? Are you emulating this person?
27. Hanging by a thread? Why not try meditation? Begin a group meditation right now. It can last 5-10-20 minutes; it’s up to you. When it’s over, discuss how you feel. Stress free, I’ll bet.
28. Scalding words can leave permanent scars. Wars have been started, relationships shattered, careers and marriages doomed, all because of an inability to turn down the heat. Ask for two or three examples of personal temper control.
29. Our homes are our refuge from the outside world. Drop work worries and stress of the day on the doorstep. Make it a ritual to begin to smile as you slide your key in the door. Practice laughing. Award a prize for the best all around laugh.
30. We’ve all had angry bosses to deal with. Promise yourself no matter what, you will never make your family the outlet for the grief and frustration you have to deal with at work. Decide who has the best antidote for bad boss behavior.
31. Get Out Of My Life, is more than a song title. When nagging and endless conflict are challenges no longer acceptable, then action is called for. What steps will you use to let someone down easy?
32. Brain games. Anyone can blurt out hateful words. Challenge yourself to replace cross words with positive choices. It’s an easily developed skill that does require practice. See who is a natural at replacing nastiness with uplifting words. Award a championship prize for the most creative transformation.
33. At the end of the day, it’s very cathartic to wash away the day’s anger, frustration and negativity. The kitchen sink, bath tub or shower will do. As you lather up and wash your body, picture all the negatives you were subjected to going down the drain. This same activity can be visualized by picturing it in your mind as if it were actually happening.
34. The art of listening. What better way of showing someone they are important to us as when we give them our complete, undivided attention. Very often we show our love not by what we say, but how well we listen.
35. Every move we make, every grimace, every time we lose our tempers, it’s being recorded by those around us, friends and family alike. Don’t be surprised if what you dislike in others around you is a part of your own personality.
36. One gift I would bestow on my children and yours would be the ability to greet others with a warm and open smile. There should be courses given in the benefits of smiling. Be generous with your smiles particularly with family members.
37. Before the printed word there was conversation. Prior to television and computers, families sat around the kitchen table discussing the day’s events. Families shared common wisdom that isn’t so common today. It’s how we formed opinions, and it was the basis of our collective knowledge. Let’s talk.
38. Never go to bed angry? Discuss your disagreements and reach a resolution before tucking yourself in. If not, it will spoil your rest and probably cause nightmares. You never want to carry over bad feelings to the next day.
39. What is sweeter than an unsolicited compliment or testimonial? Spontaneous hugs, kisses and love notes are the things memories are made of.
40. Aretha Franklin got it right, “All I’m asking is for a little respect.” No matter what age, we need respect. Just like plants need fertilizer to enhance their growth, from the youngest to the oldest, respect makes us shine.
41. Show me a smiling family, and I will show you a healthy and successful one. We are most attractive when we smile. Studies show people who smile a lot live longer. Feeling down, smiling changes our moods. Smiling relieves stress, boosts our immune systems, lowers blood pressure, and makes you more successful too.
42. Get in the habit of smiling whenever you wash your hands, put on your shoes, eat a meal, and watch TV. In other words smile because you’re a very lucky to be alive.
43. Who in your life has been the kindest to you? Can you remember the top 10 things kind people have done for you? Would you be comfortable writing a short touching story of a person who bestowed a random act of kindness on you, or a story showing how kindness is contagious?
44. You stormed out of work after a particularly heated argument with a fellow employee. As soon as you slide the key in the ignition, that’s your sign to start the engine and shut off work. Smile, listen to music, breathe deeply but never allow negatives to spill over between work and home.
45. Zone of peace. Declare your kitchen (or dining room) table a sacred emotional site, a sanctuary that operates as its own community. No cross words. Family members are at truce while at the table. Negatives are outlawed, but it’s OK for family members bring their grievances to the table for resolution.
46. In many instances bullies are home grown. As adults, it’s our job to weed out aggression in young lives and show children how in a positive way to deal with their fears, and frustrations. It’s not easy but that’s our job as a parent.
47. Give others the benefit of the doubt. No relationship is hassle- free. Leave the rose colored glasses on if something or someone isn’t perfect, give it time, don’t rush to judgment.
48. We all know life is not a fairy tale. However let’s do our best to ensure every day has a happy ending.
49. Not all indoor air pollution is caused by pesticides, paint, cleaning materials and other chemicals. Unresolved arguments and bitterness caused by lack of communication also creates an unhealthy atmosphere in our homes. Choose a day when your family opens all the windows and doors and lets Mother Nature banish all negativity from your living quarters.
50. “If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?” Rabbi Hillel
51. Families who share collective dreams know who they are and what they stand for. They set goals, develop realistic plans and work collectively to make them happen. They set aside time to talk about their fears and problems enabling them to formulate new strategies when necessary. They make dreams come true by working not wishing.
52. When we make up our minds to strive for the best that life has to offer, somehow life listens and provides us with the goodies we desire from positive relationships to the automobile of our dreams. When we tattoo our wants so they are indelibly etched in our minds, good things happen, maybe not according to your personal calendar but they happen nevertheless.
53. We refer to what is happening in our lives right this minute as the present. It’s a gift and none of us knows how long this present will last. It’s up to each of us to suck it all up and not waste a single second on negativity or regrets.
54. The joke is on people who have not yet learned the power of the smile. It may be the single best thing we can do for ourselves and others. Think happy thoughts, smile with your eyes, and show your teeth. Give away at least 100 smiles a day to others and yourself and observe how your life changes.
55. For many of us it’s really hard to apologize. The I’m Sorry Positivity Cards are like training wheels on your first two wheeler. It’s an easy and very sincere way of acknowledging a situation that you would like to make amends for. Once you realize how eager people are to accept your apology, you’ll be able to store the I’m Sorry Card and go on to verbal apologies. The cards are good practice.
56. Believe me, the pleasure is all yours. It’s very rare that you can pay a genuine compliment and say thank you at the same time, particularly if you are separated by time zones. Too often, we are so busy we fail to acknowledge a nice gesture or favor someone we don’t even know who has performed a kindness. You can brighten your day and that of others by emailing this card or handing them to unsuspecting people who have done you a good turn. The reactions are universally memorable and I can prove it.
57. Have a great Life. Why do we restrict our salutations to just one day when we say, have a good day? It’s not that were selfish. Let’s go all the way and say Have a Good Life. Watch the reactions when those you know and don’t know receive this card. It’s fun, heartwarming, unusual, memorable too. The flip side of the card ,Sun coming up over Jupiter beach in Florida is a keeper too.
58. You were right I was wrong! I apologize! I am sorry. This is the second positivity card in the, I apologize series. The need occurred when we heard from the female species they were tired of receiving the original I’m sorry card too often from the men in their lives. A little variety is good.
59. The BALANCE magnetic positivity card clings to your refrigerator door and works like poison ivy. Read the cute message on the card and back away. Touch the refrigerator at your own peril.
60. Parking meter- Everyone has a story to share of a time when for no reason at all the expired flag popped up on their relationship meter. When do we give up? How many times must we jump start a relationship before we call it quits? I don’t know. What I do know is these cute little positivity card messages create a painless, guilt free way to stay in touch.
61. Everyone wants to make a good impression when they are introduced to someone important. We flash our brightest smile, show our teeth, and look the other party in the eyes. Now is the time to practice delivering genuine smiles filled with warmth and love to your children. Smiling is contagious. Try infecting your family with lots of loving smiles. Give your kids lots of green light means go- for- it, I believe in you smiles.
62. Breathes there a person with a soul so dead to themselves that have never said “and they didn’t even say thank you”! Run a personal contest and see how many times in the course of a day you genuinely express your thanks to those who have been kind to you or made your life a little easier. You Are Awesome! I have seen people tape these card to their shirts, attach them to computer monitors, dashboards of automobiles and stick them on caps. Watching closely the actions of those being awarded either side of this card is a singularly delightful experience one that can last a second or occupy a complete day. Make a game of it and see for yourself. Beware, ARISE positivity cards can be addictive.
63. Trust-“I’m not upset that you lied to me; I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” It is said, that to be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved. What is your experience? Is forgiveness the flip side of broken trust? Have you forgiven the person that broke your trust? Do you plan on forgiving? Have you trusted people in the hope they would become what you wanted them to be, and when they’re not, have you cried? Have you ever been disappointed by trusting that little voice in your gut? How did it work out for you?