Focus
on the Positive
by Donna Cardillo, RN, BS
There’s
no question that how you view yourself, other people, and
the world around you has a major impact on your ability
to be happy and successful.
Unfortunately,
it’s human nature to dwell on the negative. We often
have negative “tapes” playing in our heads,
telling us that we’re not good enough, not smart enough,
too old, too young, or whatever the self-doubt du jour is.
When someone asks us to recite our weaknesses, most of us
can rattle off a handful of negatives without thinking about
it.
On
the other hand, when asked to list our assets, most of us
are at a loss for words. That’s because the negative
thoughts are always right up front and ready to roll, while
the positive thoughts are buried somewhere in the back,
behind the “if only I was” and “if only
I had” thoughts. During times of change and transition,
negative thoughts and self-doubt take on a life of their
own.
It’s
easy to be negative and unmotivated, but it takes some work
to be positive and motivated. While there’s no off
button for those relentless “tapes,” there are
things that you can do to turn down the volume and shift
your focus from the negative to the positive.
Keep
a “Positive” Journal
Pick
out the perfect journal for you. What size, shape, color,
texture, and design feel right? A spiral notebook or leatherbound,
blank-paged book? Take some time to choose, because you
won’t use it if you don’t like it!
Now
that you have the ideal journal —
| • |
List
your strengths and assets. Think of all the things you
do well and what your particular strengths are. Include
both work-related skills and personal attributes. |
| • |
Ask
someone close to you to tell you what they like about
you, what your strong points are, and what you do particularly
well. You may be surprised by what you hear. |
| • |
List
all of your accomplishments. It may take some time to
compile, but start today. Go back as far as you can
and write down anything you can think of. Have you graduated
from college, raised a great kid, solved a tough problem,
or overcome an obstacle? |
| • |
We
tend to think in terms of where we are now and where
we still want to go. We forget where we’ve already
been and all that we’ve accomplished. It’s
empowering to look back at your accomplishments. When
you see them in writing, you’ll be amazed by all
that you’ve done. |
| • |
Take
time to remember any positive things — in your
personal life as well as your professional life —
that people have said to you or about you. |
| • |
List
things that you would not change about your life |
| • |
What
five memories make you happy? Do they bring up thoughts
of friends or family members that you haven’t
contacted in a while? Give them a call or drop them
a note |
| • |
Gather
inspirational quotes, prayers, and sayings that mean
a lot to you. Post a few where you’ll see them
often — on the refrigerator, on your mirror, on
the dashboard of your car, and on your computer. |
| • |
Once
you’ve started your positive journal, review it
often. Keep adding to it. It’s not enough to just
think about these things. You have to write them down
and review them often. This is especially helpful when
you are feeling down, experiencing self-doubt, or having
a bad day. |
What
Else Can You Do
| • |
Listen
to motivational tapes. There are a slew of them available
today. You’ll find them in your local public library
or any bookstore. Listen to a few until you find one
or two that you like, such as Les Brown’s The
Courage to Live your Dreams or Susan Jeffers’s
Inner Talk for a Confident Day. Listen to them while
riding in the car, exercising, or doing house work.
Nourish your mind with positive thoughts. |
| • |
Read
inspirational books, including biographies of people
who have overcome great obstacles. One that comes to
mind is The Story of My Life, by Helen Keller. It’s
an incredible book by an amazing woman. |
| • |
Surround
yourself with positive, motivated, upbeat people. This
is one of the most important things you can do to stay
“up.” Some of you are probably thinking,
“I would — if I knew some people like that.”
Seek these people out, maybe through professional associations.
Talk to people you admire and ask them what they do
to stay positive and motivated. |
| • |
Let’s
face it — many of you are spending your days with
people who are negative, dejected, and devoid of spirit
and hope for the future. And I’m not talking about
your patients. In many cases, your coworkers are the
ones dragging you down. You need to get out amongst
the living. Go to professional association meetings,
conventions, and seminars to meet people who are doing
interesting, constructive things with their lives and
making a difference. Associate with winners. Their attributes
will rub off on you. |
Take steps to shift your focus from the negative to the
positive. It’ll pay off for you in unexpected ways
— when you focus on the positive, that becomes your
reality.
Copyright
Nursing Spectrum Career Fitness(sm) Online (www.nursingspectrum.com),
All rights reserved. Used with
permission.
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