5 Tips for Generating Positivity
Things been rough? Here are 5 ways to lift yourself and your team out of a rut.
It’s inevitable. We all experience moments of frustration and pessimism - especially when outcomes don’t align with our expectations. Here are 5 methods for propelling yourself and your team back into the realm of positivity.
Do something altruistic. By focusing on graciously volunteering your time for a cause beyond yourself, you’ll experience an almost immediate boost to your positive energy. Either volunteer your time to an internal cross-functional partner who has been strapped for resources or take the team on an offsite or virtual volunteering event. This will help individuals raise the collective vibration of energy within the team.
Smile. Not only does smiling boost your immune system over time, studies have also proven that smiling reduces stress and heart rate. Smiling is contagious - it’s an act that most individuals respond to as a result of mirroring (similar to the yawn phenomenon).
Take a break to do an activity that brings you joy. Pick a tried & true activity that you know brings you delight. This could be a workout (hello endorphins!), listening to a jubilant song, going for a walk in the sunshine, talking to a loved one, etc. By refocusing your attention on an activity that you affiliate with joy, you’re sure to reground into a more optimistic mindset.
Get real. If you’ve experienced a loss, it’s important to acknowledge that loss to yourself and your team. Putting on rosy glasses without acknowledging the frustration/sadness/anger might mean digging yourself deeper into the rut. Be transparent about the loss in order to gradually move forward into a more positive headspace. It also may be unrealistic to immediately move from disappointment to total optimism. Be gentle and kind with yourself and your team and set expectations accordingly. Check out this emotional guidance scale to help you set expectations around how to reach a state of joy/optimism.
Choose a moment to savor. When you notice yourself spiraling down a mental path of negativity, take a few moments to savor something - an experience, food, a conversation, or an activity. By intentionally seeking delight in a moment, your neural pathways will re-route your thinking back to a place of positivity. You can do this exercise with your team too if you’d like - go on a walk in the sunshine, listen to your team’s theme song, designate a dress-up day, or ask everyone to bring their favorite sweet or savory treat to a meeting and intentionally nom them together without distractions.
Feeling stuck? Book a free coaching session to build methods for better navigating your inner critic!