CELL PHONES are Digital Heroin
January 4, 2023
A Better Plan Than Retirement
February 1, 2023I recently watched a video from Simon Sinek about perspective and how the human brain can't comprehend the negative. It's incapable of doing so.
Simon is referring to the fact that the human mind can't comprehend negative words like "don't." For example, when I tell you, "don't think about a pink elephant," what are you thinking about? A pink elephant.
The same goes when we face difficult decisions or challenging times in our business. Our brain can't comprehend the negative, so it fixates on it. We dwell on what could go wrong and all the potential problems that could arise. And often, that's precisely the result we achieve because of our backward thinking.
Why We Need To Focus On The Path
In Simon's video, he mentioned an analogy about skiers, stating that "the best skiers in the world don't focus on the trees, they focus on the space between them." They're not focused on "not" crashing into a tree. Instead, they're focused on the path ahead of them. They know that if they simply stay on the path, they won't have to worry about the surrounding trees. This is precisely how we need to approach our business and our life.
We're constantly bombarded with negativity - whether in the news, on social media, or even in our day-to-day lives. It's easy to get caught up in this negativity and forget the positive things happening around us. We've all been there. We've all experienced that gut-wrenching, panic-inducing moment when we realize we're in over our heads. The fear starts to creep in, and suddenly all the "what ifs" become a reality.
It's easy to get bogged down by all these negative possibilities and what could go wrong. But if we can shift our perspective and focus on what's positive, what's possible, and what we want to happen, we can change the outcome of our business and our life.
For example, I rarely get overly upset when negative things or problems occur because rather than focusing on the issue, I go into solution mode immediately. By not dwelling on my problems or becoming fixated on what’s already in the past, I have more energy to focus on what I can do going forward to improve things. This reduces my stress burden and enables me to scale past challenges quickly.
Focus on the solution, not the problem. Focus on the journey, not the destination. Focus on the path, not the trees.
How Do We Avoid Allowing Negative Thoughts To Hold Us Back?
For business owners, we must make critical business decisions and overcome challenges that can impact our future successes. How do we ensure we're not letting our negative thoughts hold us back when making these decisions?
Here are a few thngs to keep in mind:
Our brain is hardwired to focus on the negative.
However, just because our brain is wired this way doesn't mean we have to let the negativity take over. We can choose to focus on the positive instead.
It's important to remember that perspective is everything. How we choose to see things will impact how we react and respond.
When faced with a challenge, it's essential to step back and look at the situation from a different perspective. We can ask ourselves, what are we trying to achieve? What's the best way to go about it?
It's also important to be mindful of the words we use.
Our language can significantly impact our mindset and how we see things. For example, if we're constantly telling ourselves that we're not good enough or that we'll never succeed, then, much to Simon's point, that's exactly what will happen. On the other hand, if we focus on positive self-talk and affirmations, we're much more likely to achieve our goals.
When it comes to me personally, I've always been self-confident and believe in my heart that there’s nothing I can't do if I want it badly enough. Of course, there are times when my self-confidence wanes, but with a little positive self-talk, it usually comes right back. Finally, it's important to remember that taking action is key. Nothing will change if we don't take action, no matter how positive our thoughts are. So, if you're feeling stuck, ask yourself what steps you can take to move forward. Focus on the solution and then act on it right away. Do this and watch your business and your life transform before your eyes. Perspective is a powerful thing. It can change everything - our thoughts, words, and ultimately, our actions. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed or discouraged, remember to shift your perspective, and focus on the positive. And the next time you face a difficult decision or a challenging situation in your business, ask yourself: what do I want to happen? And then take action accordingly.
Remember…
Focus on the solution, not the problem – the path forward. Focus on what's possible, not what's impossible.
