Positive Mindset Practices
A while ago, I began teaching a 6-month long intensive leadership program on Positive Mindset for a large team of middle and senior managers of a major bank. During the discussion, some participants challenged the idea that positivity can be cultivated.
And that is absolutely valid - there are some of us born with higher innate positive attitude and others who tend to see things more negatively (science calls this positive vs negative affect). In addition to that, there's the impact of life circumstances, or what happens to us that shapes us. The old question about nature vs nurture...
Studies have shown that there are three elements affecting our outlook on life:
1. Genetics
2. Life circumstances
3. Intentional activity
It turns out that none of these elements work by themselves - they are all interconnected. But the interesting bit is that intentional activity has a great power over the expression of our inherited genes.
In other words, positivity is a choice. And most importantly, a practice which can be intentionally cultivated. We're not talking about toxic positivity here. After all, I'm a mindfulness teacher with my main practice in Buddhism! We are talking about acknowledging and accepting all emotions as part of our human experience, while consciously building our capacity and inner strength to transform amidst life's challenges.
4 Positive Mindset Practices
Express gratitude
Take time to express gratitude for the blessings in your life, big and small. Research shows that when we appreciate and show gratitude for the things, situations, freedoms, people and conditions in our life, we feel and work better. Gratitude reduces stress, increases happiness levels and improves performance.
Smile often
Smile more often, especially when you are stressed. Science has proven that even a “fake” smile has the power to improve our psychology and mood. Next time you are challenged or are faced with a complex problem, try smiling big for a few seconds before you respond and watch how your outlook improves.
Avoid complaining
When we constantly complain about small things (the weather, traffic, small mishaps or things not going our way), we are essentially training our brain to look out for things to feel upset about. Try to avoid complaining or nagging for 30 straight days and notice how that affects your outlook on life.
Focus on strengths
When we are stressed we typically focus on problems vs solutions. Try making a practice out of listing our strengths and capabilities on a daily basis. What are you good at? What do others tell you they admire you for? Write a list of your positive attributes and keep it close whenever you don’t feel so positive, to lift yourself up.