5/30 Mental Toughness Thursday

Jon and Noah celebrate their win at the Festivus Games in April. They had no control over their competitors, only themselves, and they focused on what they could control to win! 
Every Thursday I write about mental toughness or mindset. Our thoughts are about the only things we can really control in our lives. We can't control other people. We can't control our co-workers. We can't control traffic. We can't control the weather. The only thing we can control is ourselves. 
The amazing thing about our thoughts is that we can focus them to actually change our mood! How cool is that? I recently listened to this article on NPR about how we can change our mindset from gloom to gratitude with 8 actionable steps. I like anything that gives me actionable steps with a positive outcome. 
Here's a quick summary of the eight techniques discussed in the article:

1. Take a moment to identify one positive event each day.
2. Tell someone about the positive event or share it on social media. This can help you savor the moment a little longer.
3. Start a daily gratitude journal. Aim to find little things you're grateful for, such as a good cup of coffee, a pretty sunrise or nice weather.
4. Identify a personal strength and reflect on how you've used this strength today or in recent weeks.
5. Set a daily goal and track your progress. "This is based on research that shows when we feel progress towards a goal, we have more positive emotions," Moskowitz says. The goal should not be too lofty. You want to be able to perceive progress.
6. Try to practice "positive reappraisal": Identify an event or daily activity that is a hassle. Then, try to reframe the event in a more positive light. Example: If you're stuck in traffic, try to savor the quiet time. If you practice this enough, it can start to become a habit.
7. Do something nice for someone else each day. These daily acts of kindness can be as simple as giving someone a smile or giving up your seat on a crowded train. Research shows we feel better when we're kind to others.
8. Practice mindfulness by paying attention to the present moment. You can also try a 10-minute breathing exercise that uses a focus on breathing to help calm the mind.

Want to learn how to can turn your Eeyore attitude into Tigger? Listen to the article. 

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