Positive

The New Year period can be a potential flash point for difficulties and obstacles that can make your goals seem unattainable. However, while you can’t always control when and where your resilience might be tested; you can have your mindset and core skills ready to assist you in overcoming the resistance you may face on your journey towards your objectives.

Here are a few techniques to employ next time you feel mission success is compromised:

• Manageable, realistic goals. Breaking the end state down into manageable, realistic tasks is the way to go. You may not be able to see your finish point from where you stand but you do need to be able to see your next checkpoint. So, break down your final goal into smaller, achievable measures.
• Reconnect with why. Why is your goal important to you? There is nothing harder than negotiating an obstacle when you don’t really care for the destination. Your goals need to resonate with you. Focus on where you are going and why it is you want to be there. This is the driving force behind every step you take towards your goals and what will sustain you when the going gets tough.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff.  In a world that loves complexity, always be moving towards simplicity. As the book by Richard Carlson suggests, don’t sweat the small stuff. Slow down and consider what is important. If you face an issue today you will not remember next week, it’s not an issue.
• Face time with good people. When things get hard, sometimes all you might need is a small amount of assistance or positive encouragement to keep you on the right axis. So surround yourself with supportive and positive people who inspire and motivate you. Building good networks and encouraging relationships is imperative. Know and get comfortable in asking for assistance in the face of adversity. Lastly, think of your network as your team. You can overthrow governments with a high-level team.
• Concentrate on you and don’t compare yourself to others. Like you, your life and goals are unique. They are a complex outcome of experiences and influences. In a world where most people have an online profile portraying a life they want you to believe, it’s easy to feel like you don’t fit in or you are lacking. Everyone has challenges & setbacks. Stop comparing yourself to online profiles, celebrity personalities and photo shopped pictures. Repeat positive affirmations or self-talk to reinforce positive beliefs and counter negative thoughts. Keep it real. Focus on you, your unique strengths, talents, abilities and how you can utilise these to thrive and evolve for the better. Don’t let self-doubt deviate you from your path.
• Not everything has to be perfect all the time. If my operational experience in high threat environments has taught me anything, it is this. It is simply not realistic to wait for everything to be 100% perfect every time. The pursuit of constant perfection often leads to procrastination, doubt and failure to execute. When you are trying to set the conditions in a situation for success, you need to remain flexible. As they say, “roll with the punches” and remain comfortable in chaos. Adaptability is important. Break tasks down into manageable pieces, test & adjust as you go. Don’t let fear of failure or your need to be perfect all the time stop you from achieving the end state.
• Be grateful for hardship and setbacks. Cultivate gratitude by regularly reflecting on and appreciating the things you are grateful for. Even in bad situations there are positives. Embrace challenges as opportunities for experience and learning will set up up for success. Instead of fearing challenges, view them as opportunities for growth. Rather than dwelling on failures, view them as valuable learning experiences. Analyze what went wrong, make necessary adjustments, and use these lessons to improve your future actions. A positive mindset sees setbacks as temporary obstacles and believes in the power of perseverance.
• Take care of yourself. Your physical and mental health is important. Prioritize self-care activities such as exercise, proper nutrition, and sufficient sleep. Physical and mental well-being play a crucial role in maintaining a positive mindset.

And remember when things go bad, as they absolutely will sometimes, start with breathing. Breathing is important for our mind. It gives us time to think and allows us to self-reflect and identify negative thought patterns, leading to the replacing them with positive ones.

Developing a positive mindset is a continuous process that requires consistent self-awareness. Be patient with yourself and remain committed to cultivating positivity in your thoughts and actions. You will achieve more and lead a happier more epic life.