Positive attitude

Over the past school year I have had a lot of trouble trying to keep a positive attitude about a lot of things: my job, my students, my place in life, my ability to do everything I feel I'm suppose to do... the list goes on. I think I might have finally found something that works!
Starting last week, I have begun to do a devotional with a friend. Now I've done devotions before but I never followed through with them or I never actually felt like they affected my daily life. Here's what's different about this devotional... first it's short. I don't really have time to do some massive journal entries or to read huge passages in the bible. And the days I need it most usually are the days when I have the least time for it. Second this is different because of how I do the devotionals. I don't just read the page and close the book. I read it and then copy it to an email and send it to one of my closest friends. We're doing this every week day. This keeps me accountable because I feel like this deco goes beyond myself and if I don't email her she CANNOT read it because she doesn't have the book. A part of me feels like non-concrete purposes that are solely affecting me aren't enough to motivate me. But now I can more easily fight off my laziness by reminding myself that another person is depending on or expecting me to follow through. This accountability that my friend provides helps me not to let myself off the hook from doing what I'm suppose to do. End result... I've been doing the devotional every weekday morning since we've started this even when it is inconvenient. Finally this devotional is different because of how I am applying it. After I type the day's positive though/verse/piece of truth, I write out a prayer for my friend and I. This prayer helps me apply the truth to what I know I am going to face during the day including my usual challenges. I release the day, my heart, and my mind to one who knows best and loves me most. This prayer is also a little more real (not halfway done) because I know someone else is going to read it. I am not just writing a prayer to fill a page - we both need help and when I'm emailing her is probably the only chance I'll have to even think about spiritual things consciously. Again the prayer has purpose. It's not just lip service. We need that prayer because we need God desperately to show up during our daily life.
Through out this week old process I think the think that I have found most encouraging is seeing that it actually made a difference in my day. The days that I have done the deco I have walked out of school smiling more with less weighing on my shoulders. It has been amazing and such a relief.
I pray (and i hope u will pray as well) that this habit continues and that it continually becomes more effective. I would appreciate prayers for my/our commitment to this deco and that God is thoroughly present in our hearts and minds. Please pray that my friend and I grow in wisdom and love through this ongoing process.