Maintaining a Positive Mind
There are specific things you can do to develop and maintain a positive mindset. You may want to tackle one method of developing a positive mind each week, then add another tool the second week while keeping up with the previous one.
Become aware of the words and statements you say to yourself. Focus on the words that you say to yourself when things go well and when things don't go so well. Do you find that you beat yourself up? Change directions and be kind to yourself by speaking to yourself with respect and positive affirmations, whether you believe it or not at first. Eventually, your mind will begin to believe the positive statements.
Become aware of the words and statements you use with clients. Meditate or plan time to be still every day. Allowing your mind and body a time to regroup helps you to lower your stress and become more creative, because the more relaxed you are, the more creative you become. Physiologically the mind cannot think well when under stress because the “flee or fight” response takes over automatically. All the energy that would otherwise be used in creative thought is used physically to run or fight the stressor. This is why when you're under a great deal of stress you can't think of anything good to say, and then after you cool down you wonder why you couldn't come up with some great zingers.
Take personal time for yourself and don't feel guilty about it. Think of personal time as your ally and brainstorming buddy. You know your thinking is clearer when you take time off from thinking about work.
Learn who and what drains your energy. Focus on the times your stomach may slightly ache, your neck gets tense, your back gives out, or you begin to feel a headache coming on. Keep a journal where you can log where you are, what time of day it is, and whom you're around when these symptoms of stress strike. You will be amazed at what you find.
Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work.” Many inventors and entrepreneurs kept working at their invention or craft and maintained the mindset of not giving up. Just think what would have happened if Edison had given up after the first 100 failures?
Everyone has a personal threshold of stress that they can deal with. It is important that you find what level of stress creates your personal boiling point and use relaxation techniques from your de-stress tool kit to calm down. Identify your emotional stress boiling point and keep your stress below this threshold. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit—what is your threshold? You want to do whatever it takes to keep your stress below boiling so that you can be productive.
Affirm you and your potential daily. There is something positive and powerful about hearing affirming and validating statements from others. Can you imagine how much motivation and confidence would be created daily if these powerful statements came from you?
