The Power of Positive Thinking
Jennifer Mandato, MA LAC
As we transition back into the school year we are continually met with new challenges and accommodations to be made. A lot of work with my students has been around social-emotional learning and growth mindset. How to increase their flexibility in these challenging times as well as ways to cope with the many emotions we have been experiencing.
Which gets me thinking as adults how are we doing this? How are we coping with not only the challenges for ourselves but for our children? Are we operating in a growth mindset and flexible to the curveballs thrown our way or are we stuck unable to move forward? How do we do this? How as adults can we operate in a growth mindset? Keep it simple: think positive, talk positive, feel positive.
Think positive
It is easy to get bogged down with negative thinking patterns during these trying times. Change your mindset. Start the day with a positive outlook. When you find yourself getting stuck on those negative thoughts, flip the switch. I’m not saying ignore everything going on and only operate in happy land, but not to only focus on the negative but the positive things in your life.
Talk positive
Everyone needs to vent now and again, but let’s not dwell here. Talk it out and then problem solve. What are the solutions? What are the happy moments of your day? With your family? At work? Start by once a day talking about the positive moments and then work on increasing that goal.
Feel Positive
Talking the talk will help us walk the walk.
Changing our mindset just like we do with our kids can help change our mindset as well. Not just to focus on what isn’t going our way but also to focus on what is. Start with baby steps, see how you feel in a day, week, and then a month.
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