Six Steps to a Power Attitude
Posted Wednesday July 29, 2009
Even when things don’t go your way you can get and keep a power attitude. Push that negativity out with positive energy. Your emotions and your mind are much more powerful than anything life can throw at you. If you want to transcend those inevitable bumps in the road and succeed in any area of your life, whether it’s your health, home or family, it all begins with putting yourself into the most productive and powerful state possible.
Step One: Recognize the “Bump”
Be conscious of the event or emotion that is threatening to render you powerless. View it in its singularity instead of as a full-blown attack on your mood. For example, if you have a fender bender, don’t fall into the mood trap of saying “Everything is going wrong.“ Instead, see it as the singular event that it is—a fender bender. Just be increasing your awareness of the events and emotions to which you respond, you put yourself way ahead of the game.
Step Two: Acknowledge Other Factors
When things go wrong and you feel anger, fear, or despair welling up inside of you, remember to acknowledge other factors that may be affecting your mood. For example, you may be tired or hungry or distracted with other issues. Acknowledge any negative physical or emotional factors so that you can remove them as much as possible from your current situation and channel your energy in a more focused direction.
Step Three: Interrupt the Process
Instead of letting your emtions get caught up in the spiral, interrupt your behavior immediately. The best way to do this is with some type of activity. Go for a walk, sing a song, do a Tarzan yell, antyhing. Some type of physical action is a great way to draw your focus away from an unwanted thought. You are not ignoring the emotion; you are merely preventing the negative state that will render you powerless to do anything productive about the situation.
Step Four: Get a Powerful Body
Most people don’t realize how immensely the body affects the mind. You can’t feel energized when you are slumped over with your head down and eyes lowered, nor can you feel depressed when you are standing in a powerful stance with your head lifted, eyes looking upward, taking full, deep breaths. Check your stance, composure, and breathing. When power is exemplified through your body, your brain often takes that as a cue to halt the negative emotions. I see so many moms slumping through life. I want to snatch their elbows off their gracery carts and scream “It’s life! Hold yourself up and get excited!“ Yes, even grocery shopping can be done in an energetic, resourceful state. So should making dinner, folding laundry, and playing at the park. It’s your life, and you deserve to live it in the most positive state possible.
Step Five: Get a Powerful Mind
Focus on that vision that you have for yourself. Vividly capture that image of who you are becoming with all of your senses. Let all of the good things about your life push out the bad, and channel your mental energy to focus not only on all that you are becoming but also on the progress you have made.
Step Six: Take Action
Redirect your focus by thinking of an effective action you can take to get rid of that bump in the road, find a way over it, or even use it as leverage to gain more sucess. Replace that bump with something positive, something empowering. Instead of worrying about bills, sit down and make out a workable budget. Instead of getting angry at your husband or partner, go for a walk and think about everything you love about him. Instead of fretting about your maternal insecurities, make a list of all the ways that you are a good mother. The easiest way to push out the bad is with the good!
