How you see the world determines the world you see. —Jon Gordon
I'm generally optimistic. I’m a glass-half-full person. I think the best of others unless they give me a reason not to. But some nights, I wake up with anxiety and worry about the problems I will face the next day. It's hard to shake this feeling, and it can ruin my day if I don't intentionally stop myself.
When you encounter problems that rob you of sleep, how do you approach them? Here are three possibilities:
Blame others. Hey, it doesn’t solve my problem, but at least it takes the responsibility off of me! It’s someone else’s problem now! But let’s be honest. It takes a lot of mental energy and ultimately it doesn’t solve anything. Not a great choice.
Focus on your shortcomings. Zig Ziglar said, “The most influential person you will talk to all day is you. So you should be very careful what you say to you.” If you already struggle with a negative self-image, this approach will only confirm your worst fears. It's like sticking a knife in your side and twisting it over and over and over again. Another bad choice.
Ask yourself, “What is this situation asking of me?” Or, said another way, “What am I being asked to grow into? What skills am I being asked to develop?” The truth is, you aren’t born with the ability to deal with every life situation. We learn the most from failing and making adjustments.
It is amazing how well choice #3 has worked for me. Do I apply it every time? No, but I know it works. This approach allows me to control the meaning I give to whatever problem I'm facing. Choice #3 makes me more curious and less judgmental. It helps me grow because I’m focused on improvement instead of dwelling on what is wrong. I actually just adjusted my sour mindset as I wrote this piece!
You will face challenges this week. You may already be in the middle of one. You and I get to choose how we respond. We can shift from a wounded-victim mindset to a place where you can expand your creativity and grow.
Try Choice #3 and let me know how it goes. It works if you will work it. Leave a comment below or send me a note. My prayer is that this will be a much better week. I’m cheering for you!
See you next Sunday.
Thank you for reading. The best compliment I could receive is that you would share it with someone you care about.