Positive Outlook
I was sitting here thinking that I sometimes,maybe a lot of the time, fail to appreciate the things that I have. Indeed, I often ignore the good and focus in the bad. Knowing that, however, can work as a trigger to get my mind right. So, when I notice that I am thinking that everything sucks, I try to do one of the following things:
- Stop what I am doing and breathe deeply ten times, saying with each breath either ‘breathe’ or ‘it’s OK’
- Look up from whatever I am doing and literally change my focus outward. Look at a tree, or whatever.
- Make a mental or a real list of the things that have gone right in the last day or two.
- Take a moment to say ‘Thanks’ to the universe, or to my wife or kids or someone, to get back in the gratefulness habit.
- Last, but probably most effective, take a walk, or go to the gym for a half hour.
I know that most of this is foundational PD, and that for some it won’t seem original, but for me, it works. It’s interesting to use the bad feelings as a trigger. If it hurts to go like that, stop going like that, in other words.