Chicago Home and Lifestyles – How to stay positive, even at your worst: 4 tips
We’ve been talking these last few weeks about the New Year, our goals and generally how we can make our lives easier and just a bit better. Staying happy is not just going around smiling and ignoring the negative feelings that come along when things get tough. It’s normal to have feelings of sadness and disappointment when you have significant professional or personal losses. It’s important to give yourself time to grieve before you can accept what has happened.
The thing is: how do some people find ways to move forward and get things done? Often, they develop a plan to move forward. Here are a few things you can plan to do to help cope with the bad times:
Surround yourself with people you trust. Even if that’s the last thing you really want to do, it can help! When you are sad or stressed, you often don’t want to be around others. But sharing your situation makes you realize that often others have had similar feelings and experiences, and they can share how they coped. It’s good to know that you’re not alone.
Know what is under your control—and what isn’t. When you focus on the things that are under your control you can more easily move forward. You can focus on what actually will make your situation better, feel better and be more productive.
Try to give others the benefit of the doubt. This is especially important when you are angry about something at work. We sometimes tend to blame others when we are not successful. But not everyone is out to get you, even when it feels like it. Most of the people you work with are potential allies. This helps when you are passed over for something you want. Imagine a positive interpretation of the actions of others!
Find and celebrate small wins. Take notice of smaller things you’ve completed successfully. Sometimes when something negative happens you tend to look for the negatives all across your existence. Smaller successes are easy to overlook, but are a clear sign that you are not cursed.
These strategies can help get you through any setback! They will help you feel better because they encourage you to move forward and look forward to the future instead of wallowing in self-pity.
Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago
