Building A Winning Mindset - “Positive Thinking”
Hello BDC Readers!
Over the next few weeks we will focus our blog on a new series titled “Building a Winning Mindset”. Each week we will bring you a blog post that is dedicated to helping you #buildawinningmindset.
Your mindset plays a critical role in your ability to deal with the challenges you face. It can have an impact on your ability to progress in life and accomplish your goals. Each blog in this #buildingawinningmindset series will provide you with tips and strategies to help you shift your mindset to always be a winning mindset. The first blog of this series will focus on how you can develop positive thinking. Positive thinking is the practice of focusing on the good in any given situation. Let’s dig in…
Not feeling well? Kind of blah and wishing you had something better to say about the day than a mumbled ‘fine’ when someone asks you how you are? The solution might be simpler than you think. Our attitudes really are everything. When we’re not feeling great about our lives or how the day is going, everything can seem to go wrong. The problem is, life isn’t a steady thing. You might have one really good day followed by another equally bad. With so many things outside of your control from the weather to politics it might seem impossible to ever truly feel good about anything. The answer lies in your thinking. By being able to think positively, you will find your entire outlook changes.
How do you develop the habit of positive thinking?
Rephrase - The obvious answer is to use more positive words. Instead of saying something negative, either out loud or in your head, try to find a better way to say things. For example, work isn’t grueling so much as it might have interesting challenges. While this might seem artificial and forced at first, the more you work to rephrase things, the easier it will be to find a more positive spin.
Reframe How many times have you talked about ‘having’ to do something. This alone has a negative connotation, as though you’re being forced into something you don’t want to do. Instead trying to drop the word ‘have’ in this context, and try inserting ‘get’ instead. You don’t have to do a presentation by Friday. You get to do one. Hear the difference? This is how you change a task into an opportunity.
Reorient - Sure, disasters are going to happen. Not everything you attempt is going to turn out exactly the way you’d like it to. Rather than focus on the disaster, try changing your focus. It might be time to shift to a slightly different method or goal.
Relax - It’s so hard to be positive when you’re absolutely exhausted and feeling like you’re in over your head. Sometimes the best way to cultivate better self-talk is to cut yourself some slack and take a break. Things will look brighter when you can come back refreshed.
Reassess - Being positive should never be about closing your eyes to tragedy or injustice. Bad things are going to happen in the world. But someone with a positive attitude will be able to look beyond the tragedy to the next step. Positivity finds solutions where others only see problems. Here is the birth of activism and change.
Hope fully these things tips will help move you closer to thinking more positively. Our next blog will focus on “Using Positive Affirmations to Combat Stress”.
XOXO,
Keisha J. ~ Boss Lady
Founder/CEO, By Design Consulting, LLC
Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach
