2020 has been a real doozy of a year. Saying it “hasn’t gone to plan” is probably the understatement of the year.
From social life to work life, there have been massive shifts in the way we do things. Adaptation has been key.
- In a blink of an eye, working remotely suddenly became the norm. Organizations learned the lesson that there’s enough benefit to possibly continue having a remote workforce even after this crisis ends.
- Social events have gone virtual. Physical geography no longer prevents me from “seeing” friends and family. Connecting virtually on a more frequent basis is what I call a COVID blessing.
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Of course, adaptation isn’t always easy. Uncertainty, stress, frustration, anxiety… all add up to overwhelm!
Us humans tend to feel comfortable in a set routine and don’t like much change, so 2020 has undoubtedly caused much overwhelm.
→ When in overwhelm, you’re focused on the past or worried about the future. The gap is where you want to be – in the present moment.
Here’s my 2 cents on things we can all do to strengthen our mindset, stay in the present moment, and cope with overwhelm. Mindset is like a muscle, and like any other muscle, you need to build it up.
Make these tips daily habits, and you’ll become more resilient and better able to handle life’s twists and turns.
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3 Tips to Strengthen Your Mindset
Bottom line for all these tips is… watch your thoughts.
Your thoughts can spark fear. MAKE INTENTIONAL CHOICES about your thoughts. Thoughts are powerful because they create your feelings that you act on. Act on what serves you!
If you’re ready to move through your thoughts that are not supporting your goals, then use some of my tips to intentionally choose your thought.
You have the power to choose your thoughts. Own it!
1 – Gratitude
It’s easy to feel gratitude or appreciation when life is mov’n and groov’n.
When the world as you knew it gets turned upside-down, it’s only natural to feel off kilter and focus on what is not as you’d like.
Focusing on gratitude is one of the best things you can do for your mindset. It will help you adjust the lens through which you see the world.
There’s always something to feel grateful for and appreciate. Focus on all the small things in life that bring you joy. If nothings else, the sun rose, the trees are standing tall, I’m breathing…
Science shows that gratitude has big payoff. According to Harvard Health Publishing:
Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
Those are some pretty major benefits! Is it time to make a conscious effort to appreciate what you DO have?
Thinking about gratitudes is good, and writing daily gratitudes is better.
When you write gratitudes (instead of only thinking about), you create new neuropathways, so they’ll have a bigger, long-lasting impact.
This habit will have you looking for reasons to be grateful throughout your day. And as you find reasons to be grateful, the Universe will send you more and more reasons.
START TODAY! Download my free Daily Positive Journal page to write your gratitudes.
Choosing an “attitude of gratitude” makes life better!
2 – Acceptance
Our world is changed. Change happens, it’s a given. In any given situation, you can:
- Change it
- Accept it
- Or resist it
Ask yourself, do I have control over this, or do I have no control?
If you have control over a situation, great! Own it and do it well.
When you do NOT have control in a situation, resistance creates tension and stress, making resistance a very unpleasant choice.
The more pleasant choice when you don’t have control is to relax and accept the change. Accept it! Release it!
Yes, easier said than done, but it’s your choice. Acceptance is easier if you give yourself compassion – treat yourself like your best friend would treat you.
Viewing challenges through the lens of “this sucks” does you no favors.
→ Acceptance will give you peace of mind. Resistance will give you stress. Which do you choose?
3 – Choices
Each choice you make has consequences.
What makes you feel good? What makes you feel happy? What do you love to do? DO MORE OF THOSE THINGS!
What makes you feel bad? DO LESS OF THOSE!
If you feel like you’re being pulled in 100 different directions at once and you can’t get any traction on your to-do list, and there’s always one more thing to do… it’s no wonder you feel overwhelmed.
Life is short. What choices can you make today that will help you slow down and empower yourself to show up in this world like you want to show up?
Start with small things and gain momentum.
- Choose to give yourself a 10-minute self-care break – even if you’re busy.
- Choose write your gratitudes.
- Choose to let go of the little things.
- Choose to surround yourself with supportive people.
- Choose to celebrate your accomplishments.
Adjust the Lens Through Which You See the World
See the world through a lens that will build you up – not tear you down.
Life is full of peaks and valleys. I know 2020 has been hard going.
While you’re going through what seems like a valley, grab opportunities to learn something new about yourself, about life, and about the world. Learnings that you can benefit from long after this crisis is over and you’re back up on a peak.
Life is not a race. Sift and sort through what you want for your life. Know that you don’t need to have everything figured out at this very moment.
The journey through all the peaks AND the valleys is where the joy exists. The peaks and valleys are as important as the destination. The joy is in the journey, so don’t rush it.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”
Lao Tzu
Mindset is the key to quieting overwhelm and seeing the world through a lens of what is good.
Strengthening your mindset will serve you well for the rest of your life. Regardless of your starting point, today is the perfect day to start your journey of strength training.
Even a global pandemic can’t steal your joy, unless you let it.
Need help? If calming overwhelm is something you need help with, please reach out to me for support. I’ll help you find the clarity, confidence, and courage to live the life of joy you are meant to live.
Challenges are part of life. It’s what you choose to do with the challenges that moves you forward…or not.
