cultivating a positive mindset

[RUSSLA]

What steps have you guys taken towards maintaining a postive outlook?

Personally, whenever i feel down or depressed i try to feel gratitude for everything that has gone right for me in my life. Sometimes just focusing on the fact that i exist helps me feel better.

Right now i'm trying to keep myself in a permanent state of gratitude, acceptance, and openness, but it is hard at times...

I still find that temprorary external circumstances are influencing how i behave and feel.

How do you combat this?

[Matthew Haupt]

I think I'm a little suspicious of anyone who claims to be ALWAYS in a positive state, and nothing affects their composure. Such a person would either be robotic or consciousless, I should think. When something negative happens, I would say its normal to feel a reaction, but as long as you remember that you want to be positive, and get back on the horse, and keep steering towards your goals, then you'll be fine.

I'm a tax preparer, and on Saturday, I had an appointment and it seemed to go fine. There were still a couple of things the couple needed to find for me to finish the return. Afterwards, the husband called me back with the numbers we needed. But he had some concerns. During the appointment, it had become clear that they had not been deducting something should. He felt like I hadn't been thorough enough, that they should have been deducting this all along, and that it was my job to ask them lots of questions and make sure they were deducting everything possible. Also, I done a tax projection for next year and forgotten to back out a few things I should have. I might very well lose the client. Now last year was my first time with these clients, and I had been VERY thorough. But after this conversation, I felt like crap. I had let my client down.

Then I realized this was one of those opportunities for learning and growth. I reminded myself that I hadn't actually finished with the return. I reminded myself that they had filled out the organizer I had sent, and I had gone through my checklist, and they had told me what had changed during the year, and none of the changes warranted asking questions I had already asked last year. But ultimately, yes, I should have focused more on them, because there was another return I had been working on all week that I really wanted to finish after their appointment, and so I gave them short shrift. But realizing these things didn't make me feel worse; I felt empowered to improve my methods and continue to become the best damn tax preparer/financial advisor in the country. And so I am. Boo yah.

[Ree]

Originally Posted by RUSSLA

What steps have you guys taken towards maintaining a postive outlook?

Personally, whenever i feel down or depressed i try to feel gratitude for everything that has gone right for me in my life. Sometimes just focusing on the fact that i exist helps me feel better.

Right now i'm trying to keep myself in a permanent state of gratitude, acceptance, and openness, but it is hard at times...

I still find that temprorary external circumstances are influencing how i behave and feel.

How do you combat this?

I simply keep in mind that nothing in this world can really touch or affect me.... the inner me that is, which I consider to be who I truly am. Personally I don't use the word "gratitude" because that implies that everything that has gone right in my life has just been random occurrence or a gift from some great being. What I do is allow myself to feel good and proud and strong about those things I have accomplished. Recognize your accomplishments and give yourself credit!

Of course external circumstances may influence how you behave and feel. The important point is to NOT be a victim of those external circumstances. Recognize them, analyze them, accept them and then go on with your life.

[jbsmith]

I strive to be positive as much as possible - a switch to about 80% of the time from a distant past 20-30% of the time (my own estimate)

There are 3 major ways I have learned to really stay positive - or at least transform from negative very quickly...

1. I have a big set of WHY's in my life. I have a set of guiding, deeply held purposes that guide my actions and motivation each and everyday. My kids, my health, my contribution to the community override all else. Whey I have doubts about what I'm doing, hit obstacles, or just feel down I go back to those fundamental why's and I can usually escape quickly back into a positive state of mind.

2. Deep breathing and exercise. It's pretty tough to be negative when you have the endorphins surging produced by a good increase in oxygen from deep breathing or physical exercise. I plan and stick to a strict exercise and deep breathing regime, but will always go for some short-term exercise if I dip during the day.

3. I have triggers that can put me back into a positive mood. A few favorite quotes, some movies and TV shows I own that I can plug in that will instantly change my mood, music that will let me turn on a dime. Trick is realizing you are slipping into a negative mode quickly so you can take measures to change your perspective.

Jeff

[RUSSLA]

Originally Posted by jbsmith

I strive to be positive as much as possible - a switch to about 80% of the time from a distant past 20-30% of the time (my own estimate)

There are 3 major ways I have learned to really stay positive - or at least transform from negative very quickly...

1. I have a big set of WHY's in my life. I have a set of guiding, deeply held purposes that guide my actions and motivation each and everyday. My kids, my health, my contribution to the community override all else. Whey I have doubts about what I'm doing, hit obstacles, or just feel down I go back to those fundamental why's and I can usually escape quickly back into a positive state of mind.

2. Deep breathing and exercise. It's pretty tough to be negative when you have the endorphins surging produced by a good increase in oxygen from deep breathing or physical exercise. I plan and stick to a strict exercise and deep breathing regime, but will always go for some short-term exercise if I dip during the day.

3. I have triggers that can put me back into a positive mood. A few favorite quotes, some movies and TV shows I own that I can plug in that will instantly change my mood, music that will let me turn on a dime. Trick is realizing you are slipping into a negative mode quickly so you can take measures to change your perspective.

Jeff

yeah, exercise is huge. I feel great after every workout.

i'm working on triggers right now too. I'm also becoming a lot more aware when i start feeling upset or angry.

I think one of the keys is to just not care about other people's negative opinions, and don't take things personally.

know your goals and purpose, and don't let anything dissuade you from them. This gives me confidence as well as feeling positive. When things go right, i say "good, just as i expected" when things don't go right i look for the silver lining, or just laugh about it and try again.

I think it's slowly starting to raise my consciousness and make me a happier guy over all.