You Can Increase Your Positivity Ratio

Smart researchers who study leadership behavior tell us we can examine what we are thinking about and understand how our thoughts impact our emotions and behaviors.  In a reciprocal manner, our repeated behaviors affect our thinking. Researchers say we can make desired changes in our lives by noticing what we are thinking and doing, and by taking deliberate steps to build new habits.

Thought leaders tell us we can pinpoint and decrease negative stressors in our lives that are within our sphere of control.  In addition, researchers have discovered that we must add specific, positive experiences into our lives to increase our well-being. Personal negative habits decreased, and personal positive experiences increased is your recipe to more positivity. You can think, feel and do better. You can increase your positivity ratio.

The challenge for busy, productive leaders is real.  Do we have time to think about our thinking? Will we create some margin so we can consider our behaviors, and devote energy to increase the positive in our lives?  Will we do this work for ourselves that only we can do?

As professionals, we desire excellence and work hard to achieve our important goals. I imagine you are adept at pushing through barriers. You are committed to working hard in a less-than-perfect world. But at times, I know the good things can grow dim and your energy wanes. Recurring irritants out of your sphere of control maintain their presence in your work. The negativity of others persists. Because these truths are a realistic part of our lives, I encourage you to consider your personal well-being as something as important as your work.  You must take care of yourself to do good work.

Between now and the end of 2018 are you willing to try a personal experiment to increase your positivity ratio? We are entering a challenging busy season, with many stressors present. What a great time to begin!

Here’s a simple formula: (1) Consider two daily negative behaviors that are draining for you. Commit to do less of these behaviors or delete them completely. Be deliberate. (2) Choose two daily positive behaviors that give you joy and the proper perspective. These are activities that help you be the real you, that renew you and fill you. If you need to create new positive behaviors, or revive life-giving activities you used to do, do it. Add these specific positive behaviors into your weekly schedule. Be deliberate.

As a coach, I encourage you give yourself a specific timeframe for this experiment, notice what’s happening along the way, and celebrate your successes. What do you imagine you will be thinking, feeling, and doing when your experiment concludes? What will be different for you?

Taking deliberate steps to increase your “positivity ratio” is learned behavior. You can change your mind and produce more positive emotions, energy, and better performance for yourself.  How will you begin today?

For creative ideas about life-giving, positive activities, I recommend, “Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide”, by Caroline Adams Miller & Dr. Michael B. Frisch.

Interested in moving forward with coaching?  Please contact me at www.mcwhertercoaching.com today.