The nicest part of starting a new school year is the sense that you can begin again. New faces, new schedule, new attitude…wait, new attitude? Is that really possible? Yes, it is.
Small kids can keep you from focusing on the past or the future. I remember when my children were very young, and you basically got them up each morning, dressed and ready for school, and the next thing you know the milk from breakfast was spilled all over the clean outfit. Or there was a tantrum about going to school. Or the kids were fighting over someone’s fair share of something. So, what did you do? You had to begin again…and again…and again.
It’s a great lesson in staying in the present moment as much as possible. If you would like to begin again, take a deep breath, pause, and imagine the refresh button on your computer attached to your forehead. Now push refresh, and see if that doesn’t help you to come back to the present moment. I’m in that mode myself right now as I am reshaping both the way I live my daily life, and eventually my practice.
In that present moment, here are a few things you can do begin again right now:
1. Be grateful and focus on the positive. Having a sense of optimism about what you have in front of you is a good idea. If you have a job, that’s great. If you have friends, family, or pets, that’s great. Literally count your lucky stars.
2. Let go of negativity. If you think you are a failure, you are. But thoughts can be changed. Reframe those negative thoughts, even just a little, right now. “Well, that didn’t work like I expected. I’ll try something different tomorrow that can be successful.” Thoughts are not facts! They are just thoughts.
3. Check whether or not you taking care of basics: eating, sleeping, exercising. Plenty of literature out there on how to do this; I’m just reminding you to check on whether or not you are following through with it. You can check to see whether too many toxic habits for your body have crept in, and start thinking about eliminating those.
4. Be patient with yourself. The first time you try to change your attitude, you may not be able to sustain the optimism, and immediately slip back into “who does that jerk think he is, anyway?” But, just like dieting where 1 pound a week is a good pace to go, 1 reframed thought a day can lead to more positive thoughts over time.
5. Remind yourself you are unique. No one else has had your experiences, or knows what you think. Stop comparing yourself to anyone else, and see if that doesn’t immediately lighten your load.
Each of these actions will help you appreciate the present moment, and the present moment is the only place where you can begin again.
If you’re looking for more pointers, check out my book Confidence: The Real McCoy, with simple tips and advice you can implement immediately, to begin changing your attitude, and transforming your life.
And if you’re looking for strategies to change your outlook and build confidence, hire a career coach. You will be amazed at what a few months of pointed self-confidence building can do in every aspect of your life.
You might also like:
5 Strategies for Dealing with Negative Self Talk
Fake it Til you Make It: How to Fool Your Brain into Helping Instead of Hindering
Tags: attitude, becoming yourself, change, confidence, happiness
