The video above is a special announcement that may interest you.
The picture I posted above this tip is of the mountain that I see whenever I leave my house and head into town. Mt. Baker. Majestic, snow-capped, serene. Exquisitely beautiful.
That is of course, if I choose to look at it.
You see, I can choose to focus on lots of other things too. Some things I regularly choose to look at instead include:
- goofy drivers who go too slow in the fast lane
- vandalism done to the bus shelter on the way
- garbage left on the streets by some ding-a-ling
- another red light (seriously, every one RED??)
And my focus totally determines my mood.
Mt. Baker = happy
Bad driver = frustrated
That’s the point of today’s tip:
Your focus determines your mood!
Let’s be honest: if there were no problems, you wouldn’t have a job. People pay you to take away their stress and solve their problems.
By definition, that means that YOU take on their stress, and YOU take on their problems.
That’s a good thing! It also means you get paid! No problems = no job.
But if you choose to constantly focus on problems, you’ll be a stressed, unhappy person.
Build positive focus into your life
So you need to focus on better things.
What are those things for you?
I know it isn’t reading the news first thing when you wake up. Or listening mindlessly to the radio on your commute.
But some (for me) are:
- Prayer
- Exercise/getting out in nature
- Reading something building
- Listening to challenging, solutions-focused podcasts
- Reading stuff that’s good for me (Just read ‘Destiny of the Republic’ about the assassinated President Garfield. Made me want to be a better man)
- Being around wonderful, positive people
Lock your attitude in at a 10
If there were a practical life skill I’d like my kids to have, this is it.
It doesn’t mean you’re happy all day. It doesn’t mean you don’t see the weeds.
It does mean that you’re focused on moving forward and finding solutions. It means you’re going to look on the positive, not the negative side of life.
So take a minute. Write down all the things you’re grateful for. And look up from time to time to get perspective on your problems.
It’s never as good or as bad as you think it is!
Getting ahead is about getting started!
Trevor Throness is a speaker, consultant, and author of “The Power of People Skills.” He is also co-founder and senior instructor at professionalleadershipinstitute.com https://professionalleadershipinstitute.com/
Find more about “The Power of People Skills” here: https://www.amazon.com/Power-People-Skills-Dramatically-Performance/dp/1632651068
