Be Positive!

It’s a choice we all have… How will you embrace the new day?  More importantly… What is your attitude upon embarking this new day?  Like a droplet landing on still water, all of us have an affect on those around us making waves emanating outward from us whether positive or negative.

It’s powerful that we can have an effect on others.  During these tumultuous times of 2020, I have noticed an excessive amount of negativity.  It is constantly bombarding us from the media, people we know, people we don’t know, etc.  It’s like we are in a bubble of negativity.

A lady I was rehabbing many years ago, which has stuck with me like a mental post-it note, told me, “Any salmon can swim downstream, it takes a strong and willful salmon to swim upstream!”  If we are bombarded with constant negativity, then we must be strong and willful about doing or being the opposite – Be Positive!

As I was thinking and chatting with a physical therapy client the other day, I had sorta of a mental epiphany.  Having a Positive Mindset and Being Positive to Others is all encompassing.  It doesn’t matter what gender you are, what religious affiliation, what political party you align with, what ethnicity etc, Being Positive and Projecting Positivity transcends everything.

As I gave it more thought, I realized there are 3 aspects to Being Positive:
1. Mindset
2. Being Positive when Receiving
3. Being Positive when Projecting

Having a Positive Mindset, like I eluded to earlier, is a choice.  Somedays it’s an easy choice and sometimes – maybe most days, it’s a struggle.  Please don’t confuse happiness with being Positive.  I love this explanation of a Positive Mindset: “An attitude someone has who expects & desires good.”  By choosing to Be Positive, you are in the mindset to expect and desire good which will have you focusing on what you can influence and do for the better.

A Positive Mindset is easy in relation to the next 2 aspects – communication: Being Positive when Receiving & Being Positive when Projecting.  No-one will really know for the most part if you falter by having a non-positive mindset, but if you are not Positive during communication whether Receiving or Projecting – it will be blatantly obvious.

For instance, when someone gives another person a compliment, most people don’t accept it.  That is a negative mindset revealing itself.  Be Positive and accept the compliment.  That person “put”themselves out there to communicate Positivity – accept it.  Whether you believe it or not, accept it and claim it.  We all need a little reassurance and support as we travel down this road called “life.”  Being Positive, allows you to be open to other’s communications.  That doesn’t mean you open yourself to being verbally trampled.  A great saying I’ve heard is, “Don’t accept criticism from someone that you don’t respect enough to ask advice from!”  Being Positive when Receiving communication also you “allows” the other person to project positivity.

Being Positive when you are Projecting during communication is essential, whether that be non-verbal, tone, words etc.  What you say, how you say it, and what is said is like that droplet on the still water, may be small but still has an effect that may travel far and wide.  In the world of ‘social media’, video recording, sound bites, and etc, your communication can be copied, reproduced and projected far and wide.  Why not project Positivity far and wide?  You will notice that not only the people you interact with will be more Positive, but it will re-enforce your Positivity. A Win-Win? I think so.

So I challenge You to be that strong and willful salmon – Choose & Be Positive.  Show others it can be done…be that shining light in the dark!  As we march to the end of 2020, wake-up and choose to Be Positive in Your Mindset, Be Positive on how you receive and project when communicating, and see what an amazing difference it makes in yours and other’s lives.  Until we chat again…

Be & Stay Well!

Sasha

Ps:   If this resonates with you, please let us know – we are here for you!