Here are 3 ways to have a great week . . .
Set yourself up to be more positive when the world may seem a bit dark or scary …
- Surround yourself with positive people. Even people whom others would regularly call "positive", "sunny" or "happy" can struggle with negativity if they are surrounded by those who are scared or anxious. Be sure to include people in your life who are able to see things from a different perspective, find the good in a situation, and/or view it as an opportunity to grow or evolve.
- Monitor your social media and other sources of information. It's hard, I know.
It is commonplace to have alerts go off on our phones whenever "breaking news". Have you noticed that there has been a cryon on many news channels, non-stop, at least since the first Gulf War? I truly get the point of being informed of real important and immediate breaking news, but perhaps we have now been conditioned that even the most trivial thing is breaking news. Shutting off all of the news alerts is the first step. Not ready to go cold turkey? Can't because of your job requirements? Try shutting them off for an hour or 2 and see how free, and more positive, you start to feel.
It is usually commonplace, at some point during the day, to discuss with a co-worker, friend, or family member, what we heard is going on in the world, some political topic, or about the traffic. It can wholeheartedly be therapeutic to do so, especially if it is something that is bothering you in one way or another. However, you need to make that call. Is having these conversations helping you or upsetting you more? If it is not helping you, you can still bond with this person with a conversation over a new restaurant, an upcoming movie, or the latest show you just binge-watched.
It has become a habit for many of us to scroll through platforms like Facebook, and Instagram whenever there is any downtime, even for only a few moments. Maybe instead you can pick up a book, listen to music or close your eyes and meditate. Or maybe go for a short walk. Yes, your intention may be to see what your friends are up to, or to look through mindless cat videos, but inevitably some form of negativity will find its way in there. Even if it seems like a good thing, ie: a post containing an affirmation stating that you are entering a new phase where you will not have any worries. Suddenly, your focus is turned to what you lack versus what you have. The result? Goodbye Positivity.
- Be thankful for the positives. Remind yourself about what is good in your life, and in the world. It is best if you actually write it down, in a journal, on your phone, or in an app. Every night before I go to bed, I go over what I am thankful for. Some items are repetitive, like my relationship with my husband, our cats, or our home. Other things change based on the day, ie: the 5-star book review I received, the pride I have in what I wrote that day, or the song the birds were singing while I was working out on my deck. Many I do in my head as I lay on my pillow trying to slow my mind to sleep; however, I have recently started testing out an app that has a specific area to list 3 things that I am grateful for each day. No matter how tired I am, I write those three things before closing my eyes, as the app has a reminder. It sounds simple, but I speak from experience when I tell you that it makes a huge difference in my overall outlook. Whatever you do, just put some magic in your Monday . . . and in you!
MAKE EVERY MONDAY MAGICAL
REMEMBER . . . YOU GOT THIS!
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