‘HOW TO TURN A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE’
We have 50,000 thoughts a day, 40,000 of which are negative. In this BLOG we will discuss a common scenario which you will all be able to relate to in everyday life, followed by tips on how to turn a negative situation into a positive one.
On wakening, you realise you have slept through your alarm, you get up in a panic, get yourself and the kids dressed in a rush. No time for breakfast, you have to drop the children to school/ creche. On route you have snapped at them for no reason because you frustrated you’re in a rush.
Already late on the way in to work you hit traffic, the news is on the radio full of negative life stories/ events. You’ve arrived to work 15 minutes late, still no breakfast and your stomach is rumbling like thunder. Behind with your morning schedule, you turn to a colleague and say, ’COULD THIS DAY GET ANY WORSE?’
OKAY, its at this point were you need to put the morning behind you, STOP, take a deep breath and flip the situation on its head, if you continue on this negative path your day will certainly go from bad to worse.
‘WHAT YOU GIVE OUT, YOU GET BACK’
So ask yourself ‘how can I turn this into a positive?’, ‘what can I learn from this experience?’. How can I see life through a different lens?
There is a very simple exercise you can do everyday to help with this. It’s called A GRATITUDE JOURNAL.
Try to use this exercise to help conquer these scenarios over the summer months ahead.
‘REMEMBER HOW BLESSED YOU ARE, INSTEAD OF HOW STRESSED YOU ARE’
THE GRATITUDE JOURNAL’
Write down ‘3 things’ that you’re grateful for each day.
The more simple it is, the better.
Everyday has to be something different. That’s maybe a challenge for most people at the start because we aren’t used to this little task yet, but you’ll get there, just give it time.
It’s common to think of obvious things first. Things such as:
1. My family
2. My house
3. My job
The harder you have to think, then the things you’re grateful for become even more simple.
Smaller things such as:
1. Lunch with a friend.
2. Diesel in your car.
3. Sunglasses
No need for a full description on why, just a quick note of what comes to mind at that time. You already know the why’s in your head. Don’t make it Robotic, if you’re struggling to enjoy the process at first, then it can be reduced to 2-3 times per week. Then once you’ve got into the swing of things make it a daily routine.
‘WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A GRATITUDE JOURNAL?’
You will start each day better by opening up your mind to a more POSITIVE way of thinking.
You will APPRECIATE even the smallest things that you would never see, masked by the busy lives we all live.
You will stop thinking of the things that are going wrong for you and be more GRATEFUL for the things that are going great for you.
You will become more AWARE of the good and not just the bad.
You will develop GOOD RELATIONSHIPS
You will learn to remain CALM in situations
You will have lower levels of STRESS
You will be HAPPIER on a daily basis
You will be more PRODUCTIVE with your time
If you PERSIST with this daily exercise, then you will have gained a habit. A habit that can help you instil everything listed above continuously. That can’t be a bad thing right?
CONCLUSION
Remember, a parachute only works once it’s open, much like the mind. Try this simple exercise each day or as much as possible for the summer ahead.
Let your parachute open up and get ready to see life through a different lens.
Today my picks where:
1. Sunny morning
2. Staff
3. Hot cuppa tea
What 3 things are you grateful for today?