Five Tips for Staying Positive Despite Doom and Gloom
Because I’m of a certain age, I’ve been through numerous economic ups and downs — including the gas shortage of the 1970s when my parents could only buy gas on even/odd days, the early 80s recession when I was in school and wondered if I’d be able to finish, the early 90s recession when it seemed everyone was out of work, and the dot-com meltdown.
Each time fear gripped people, including myself, and like many people, I made choices based on this fear.
This time around, I decided to find ways to remain positive. I found my inspiration in this month’s Selling Power magazine, whose theme is, well, staying positive.
So, as a public service, and to offset all the gloom and doom we’re reading in the media, I offer my five tips for staying positive during this time of financial uncertainty.
1. Have a long-term plan and stick to it — What goes down always comes back up. Now is the time to keep your long-term plan in mind — whether it’s growing your business or learning a new skill – and to make decisions based on it, not on what the market or others are doing in the short term.
2. Read something motivational every day — You can find all sorts of great books to help you think positively. My favorite book that I return to periodically is, The Success System That Never Fails by W. Clement Stone. It’s dated but the information is very applicable right now.
3. Listen to motivational people while driving — Also in the current issue of Selling Power is an article about Mark Victor Hansen, the successful author of the Chicken Soup series. You can go to his site and download the free recording, “The Strangest Secret” by Earl Nightengale about the power of positive thinking. Although it was recorded 50 years ago, it will still inspire you. Another fantastic speaker is Alan Weiss — his Odd Couple program with Patricia Fripp is a must-buy.
4. Exercise – I’m a firm believer in the power of exercise. Not only does it lift your mood, it also helps you with setting and achieving goals. I know because when I first started lifting weights last summer, I could barely use the four pound weights for bicep curls. I can now do 2 – 3 reps using 10 pound weights — plus do 50+ push-ups!
5. View the abundance around you — I have a quote on my desk that reads, “People live in a world of abundance but exist in a world of scarcity.” It’s very true. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, focus on what you do have — you’ll be amazed at how it changes your perspective. We all have so much if we only stopped to think about it.
Do you have additional tips for staying positive? Post them here, please!
October 7th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
This is so true Dianna. Staying positive and sticking to your plans is the only way stay out of the gloom. I think the more people hold back on looking ahead the longer it will take for things to bounce back. We just have to keep going and hope for the best.
October 7th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Dianna — What great advice! Badly needed. I’m going to watch the presidential debate tonight, but then I’m going to turn off the TV for the rest of the week. The media is loving every minute of the current crisis — and they’re taking full advantage of it. Shame on them! And shame on us for falling for it!
Besides listening to Earl Nightingale’s Strangest Secret, which you’ve mentioned, I also started reading positive, constructive books in the evenings. No more news at night. No more business books in bed. I’m reading some spiritual stuff right now, which has had a very positive effect on my life. And I’ve just started a book on the Law of Attraction. All great stuff.
Thanks for the reminder to stay positive. It’s something we need to work on, as it’s not the typical current state for most of us.
October 7th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Ed — I actually unsubscribed from the WSJ because I couldn’t handle reading all that negative news. Now I’m swearing off the front page of the Boston Globe.
I’ve been reading more “spiritual” books too — and really paying attention to how much I do have. It’s very easy to think you’re headed to the poor house if you listen to the news enough. It’s very negative.
Neil — I absolutely agree with you.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
YES, YES, YES, to Dianna, Ed and Neil! I’ve found that when you make the decision to default to positive… it eventually becomes part of your nature. Eventually, you no longer have to “choose” to think and act positively and the pure beauty of this life opens up for you everywhere you look. Doing the things that Dianna mentioned in this article is essential to get to that level. Thanks Dianna for writing about this topic.
Pete
October 8th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Pete — Thank you, and thank you for stopping by. I’m now following you on Twitter!
October 8th, 2008 at 8:31 am
With the others: thanks, Dianna. I can’t see the joy for the trees sometimes. A few reminders bring me back.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Great post, Dianna! I’ve had a sticky note on my desk for a year now that says, “Scarcity thinking will ruin your business.” I’d gotten into a spiral for a while where I was focusing on how long my to-do list was and how under-resourced our association’s marketing function was. All that did was make me unhappy and kill my productivity! Now I make a strong effort every day to concentrate on the good things going on with our membership (ie clients) and how much I’m able to achieve in a day. My to-do list is still long, but my attitude about it is much better – and everyone around me has noticed. Staying positive and focusing on the abundance in your life, your family, your job…it can make a huge difference not just in how you function, but in the impact you have on the world around you!
October 8th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Debra — Exactly! The more positive you are, the more good things happen around you.