“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”  – Winston Churchill

We all know that one person, that person who seems to just be optimistic in all situations.   They find the good in the bad, the happy in the sad, the sunshine in the rain, and I could go on and on with examples.   When we look at this person what do we see?   Normally, we see someone with determination, focus, and drive.   We notice they are persistent, humble, and grateful.  All together, they exude positive thoughts in (almost) all they do.

Now, I know what everyone is thinking, “But Chris, this can’t be just a ‘Be Happy’ post?”, and you are correct.   I’m not here to say  just be happy, for I know that there will be plenty of tough times.  Tough times will come, but our reaction to these times will be the determination to how it actually effects us.  This is where Positive Thinking comes into play.

Does it really work? Simple answer?  Yes.  A recent study by a Harvard psychologist found that those who had a positive attitude towards their actions, due to being told that what they were doing fulfilled the guidelines and needs for weight loss, showed significantly better results than those who were not given any information to the impact of the same actions.   What does this say?   Basically, it says that when we have a positive outlook on the work we are about to accomplish, we perform at a higher level and gain greater rewards.  Reinforcing our daily routine with a positive outlook will drive greater results and less stress.

So what does this look like practically? Well, I’m glad you asked…

1. Be Grateful-   The first step in any positive thinking is to be grateful for where you are today.  It may be difficult in tough situations, but if you really take the time to see how much good you have, you’ll rarely be able to hold the thundercloud of negativity above your head.  We all must realize just the gifts we have been given and be thankful for them.  When we take for granted our lives,  we only strive for what we don’t have, instead of cherishing what we do have.   This is a recipe for negative thoughts and jealousy, and I’m pretty sure we all know that nothing good comes from jealousy.  Take time to reflect on the good things in your life, and then be thankful for them. You’ll be amazed how it will impact your day.   
2. Zoom in on the details-  Doesn’t time seem to be flying by?   Well, that’s because it is!  Far too often, we find ourselves on autopilot, simply going through our days without paying attention.  Life seems to go by quickly, and our reactions are based off of bland thoughts and attitudes.  When we actually pay attention to the details around us, time seems to “slow down” and allow us to understand the situation.  While this may seem crazy, in some ways its actually true.  Our minds become super focused on the things around us and the brain begins to process all the small details, which ultimately slows down our minds.    Try this sometime, look all around you, check out the different colors, the sounds, the smells.   You’ll be amazed how it changes your thoughts of the situation.   Once you’ve slowed down time, then you can react to the situation accordingly.   Stop sometimes to smell the flowers!
3. Look for the Good-  I have a friend that always said “Blue Sky Thinking”.  Now, I don’t know if she thought of it herself or from someone else, but I normally counted  it as a pretty lackluster phrase.   She would write it on everything and say it often to others.  While I didn’t use it myself, I now see the impact of what thinking of the positive can really do for you.   When we look at the good in every situation we are in, we are able to find motivation to keep moving forward.  Finding the good may simply be realizing that you are one step closer to the end of this struggle, or it can be to see how someone else can benefit.  Finding the good in a difficult situation oftentimes is the difference between success and failure.   Search for a positive aspect of every situation.
4. Trust the Process-  At the end of the day, we are all on a journey towards becoming better versions of ourselves.  Have faith in yourself, in others, in God.   We must trust that we are moving towards our goals.  If we have vision, have set our goals, and directed our lives towards those goals, then we must trust the process to get there.  When you are no longer worried whether or not something will happen, you bring action into your life.  As with a previous post, the trail will get you to the top of the mountain.

I’m positive (See what I did there) that positive thoughts can unlock power in many of our lives.   Remember, be grateful how far you’ve come already, zoom in on the details of life, look for the good in every situation, and lastly trust the process you’re on.  Every day is a new day to conquer and achieve.  Use every bit of it you can.

Blue Sky Thinking!  (That’s for you Adrienne!) 

-CP

Let me start by painting a picture for us all…

You’ve driven up to the mountains; you can see the trail ahead of you, the sign just revealing the start.  You know its going to be 4 miles to the top, and you look up at the mountain you’re about to hike.  You can see the forest covering it and what you think is the peak, but you’re unable to see the actual way up there.  You know the trail in front of you will lead you there, so you simply look back down at the trail and begin walking. 

Isn’t this what we do when we go hike?  So what’s this got to do about Focus? A lot actually!   Just follow with me and hopefully I can explain it well enough.  

When we look at our goals, often we look at the end goal to our struggles.  We see the high school skinny picture we once were, we see the coworker with the new promotion driving the new BMW, or Facebook pictures of a friend’s engagement.   Whatever the goal may be, we get a picture of what our end result will be.   And that’s GREAT!  We need that end goal, we need to see the mountain we are about to climb.   But wait… What happens to us when we focus too much on that mountain?   The trip seems long, the climb too high, the goal too far away.  I know that a personal goal of mine is to weigh less than 250 lbs, a loss of 75 lbs from my heaviest.   Yes, that goal is daunting, really, it feels heavy, but I cannot be focused simply on the end goal.  While I make sure my decisions align with the end goal, I don’t focus on it.  If I did, the weight would crush me, the distance would be far too much. So, I change my thought process, and just like hiking, I focus on the trail before me.

So what do I mean by “focusing on the trail before me”?   It means to focus on the steps you have to take today.  The 5 feet in front of you that you can see the steps.  When you look at the mountaintop you can’t see the trail and the details, but when you focus on the trail in front of you, you can step over the rocks, maintain solid footing, and traverse the needed ground.  Sure, the view isn’t as great as it is at the peak, but it takes time to get there.  If you keep trying to focus on the mountaintop, you’ll stumble at the places you are today.   The steps needed to reach the end goal will be slowed, or even halted, by the lack of attention to today.

So how can we practically apply this to ourselves?

First, write down whatever mountain (goal) you’re trying to climb.  This is the big picture.  The end goal of your struggle.  You need to be able to see it, to envision it, but it shouldn’t be the focus of your eyes.

Second, look at where you are today.  Assess what you need to do to achieve your goal in the place where you stand today.    When I look at my goal, I know that I cannot lose 75 lbs in a day, so I look to what I could today to effect my overall goal.  I ask myself, “What should I do today that will bring me closer to my end goal?”  

Third, get MOVING!  Start making steps, make decisions, make preparations, make a movement towards this goal.  You can’t climb the mountain if you’re still sitting in your car.  Start making strides, you’ll be amazed how quickly the distance becomes shorter.

Fourth, constantly remind yourself where you’re going.  Sometimes we can get so overcome by the path we are on, that we forget to see where we are headed.  Just like hiking, life has many trails, and sometimes these trails can take us in the wrong direction.  Reflect, reassess, and refocus on the goal that you set and the actions you need to be taking. The worst is to push so hard to reach a goal, never noticing that you’re actually going in the wrong direction.

Fifth, celebrate! When you finally reach the mountaintop make sure you see just how far you’ve come!  You made it to the goal, you climbed the mountain!  You’ve achieved something that few will, you’ve made it to the top.  In your journey, you will see many that have turned around, or ventured off the trail.  They didn’t focus on the steps in front of them, they focused only on the goal.  They lost motivation or direction, or both.

As you climb your mountain, remember, sometimes the terrain changes, the trail looks different.  Some things will change.  Some trails may be a better choice for you, while some may not.  You’ll get tired, you’ll get discouraged, you’ll think about stopping.  Simply stated… DON’T STOP!   Remember your end goal, but walk the trail before you.  That trail leads you to the top, even if you can’t see it all the time.