Tips for Adopting a Positive Perspective

Accept the diagnosis, not the prognosis. A diagnosis is a determination of what is currently happening. A prognosis, though, is somebody’s best guess of what will happen to the average person. You do not have to accept this best guess as your future reality because you are not the average person. You are smart, talented, and determined. You can choose to think and act differently to create a better outcome.

Develop an attitude of gratitude. It is impossible for negative thoughts to exist when feeling gratitude. It may seem difficult to have gratitude when facing a crisis. How can I be grateful for this bad thing that is happening in my life? Well, what if this isn’t happening to you, but rather for you. In other words, the crisis is really just a challenge to help you grow into a better person and build a better life. You can have gratitude because you have faith it will lead to something better.

Expect a journey with challenges and obstacles. Overcoming a crisis doesn’t happen in a day. Just as the crisis took months or years to develop, overcoming the crisis will also take time. It will take time to work through all the options. It will take time for your body to heal, to find a new job or start a new business, or to re-establish your life after a broken relationship. Just knowing that everything takes time and that there will be good days and bad days along the way will make the journey easier.

Use unconditional self-acceptance. You’re going to stumble and fail. That’s ok. That means that you are trying. When a bad day comes, you’ll be able to accept it for what it is. When things don’t move as quickly as you would like, you’ll be able to give yourself some grace. You’ll be able to reassure yourself that things will get better with time. Give yourself some grace. Look for the lesson. And then, move on.

Exercise—The Relax, Reframe, and Re-zoom Process

Follow this process to develop adopt a new positive perspective:

1. When you think about your crisis and the possible consequences, how would you rate your stress on a level of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest?
2. Relax – Take three belly breaths and exhale for twice as long as you inhale.
3. Release – Get into the body and release any contractions.
4. Resource – With your eyes closed, imagine yourself 5 years in the future.
5. Look back at the event and feel neutral (it was neither good nor bad). Write down what you would tell your other self that is experiencing the crisis now.
6. Look back at the event and feel slightly positive (it turned out to be a good thing).  Write down what you would tell your other self that is experiencing the crisis now.
7. Look back at the event and feel that it was the best thing that could have happened to you (blessing). Write what you would tell your other self that is experiencing the crisis now.
8. Reframe – Which perspective makes you feel the best in your mind and body? What evidence is there that a positive outcome is possible? Have other people been able to do this.
9. Re-zoom – Focus on the new, better feeling perspective. How will you maintain this new positive perspective?
10. Now when you think about your crisis with a positive perspective, how would you rate your stress on a level of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest?

Congratulations!

You have just adopted a positive perspective on your crisis. And if you’re like most people, your stress level has dropped at least 2 points. Your mind and body should feel more relaxed. Most importantly, you are now in a position to think creatively about how to achieve the best possible outcome from your crisis.

Adopting a positive perspective is Step 1 of The Crisis Cure™ method. To learn more about The Crisis Cure™ Course and Coaching Program, click here.