Sometimes a simple change in perspective makes a big difference in how I approach something, which in turn can often affect the outcome. I have watched my attitude toward certain events on my calendar. Some of the meetings and events that seem to be dominating my calendar these days at times have felt quite onerous. At one point last week I found myself thinking of a particular event as “that dumb event.” In the scheme of things I suppose I could have referred to it in a much more negative way than simply “dumb,” but the point is that I held a dim view of what was required of me in attending this dumb event. Finally I caught hold of myself, realizing what I was doing, how I was bathing that event in constant negativity. I realized that in so doing I was predisposing myself to experience it in a very unhelpful borderline damaging way.
Get a grip, I finally told myself and ceased referring to it aloud or in my head as “that dumb event.” I won’t give myself enough benefit of the doubt to say that I began referring to it as “that wonderful event,” but at least I stopped thinking negatively about it. By the time I actually attended the function, I found it enjoyable and acknowledge that it sparked a number of new ideas in my head about how to move a particular project forward. Had I remained in my negative, irritated mindset, it is possible, in fact quite likely that I would have experienced the event negatively and sat through it, barely enduring it and deriving no benefit for having spent the time there.
Increasingly I am aware that it often takes an act of will to turn away from an unhelpful mindset, a negative approach to an event, a person, a situation. I look at how I am viewing a person from a particular perspective and realize that I am influenced by the attitudes of people around me. While their opinions might help to inform how I approach a particular person, I nonetheless must use my own judgment and instincts in dealing with him/her. It is easy to get drawn into negativity; often we are surrounded by it. In a toxic environment we can find ourselves pulled into unhelpful feelings toward a person or an organization and before I realize it I am listening to and agreeing with the disparaging opinion that’s being expressed.
Being positive is in many ways, swimming against the current in many situations. It has required a lot of work to find positivity even in the midst of struggle and drama. But it has definitely been worth the effort. I am grateful for the lesson, for the internal compulsion that I find and focus on what’s good, what’s positive, what works rather than the alternative. On days like today when I decide not to focus on the “dumb event,” but approach it from a neutral to a slightly positive perspective I find value where there previously appeared to be none. I try to approach the world from this particular filter as best I can. So far I am only moderately successful and still fall down a lot, tripping and falling into my own skewed perspective. Still, I stick with it, doggedly determined to get better, to not only not fall victim to negativity, but to infuse my life and my environment with positivity when and where I can.
Gratitude continues to be an essential element in my efforts at self improvement. When I look around me and see blessings everywhere I cannot help but move toward greater positivity in my life. I hope I can get more people to join me in this effort. If we each really began to consciously focus on the things for which we’re grateful, think of what kind of world we’d be living in. I for one am interested in living in that world.
