t all depends on state of the mind how you look at a
particular event that has happened.
You had a terrible argument with your
spouse. Your presentation at work did not go the way it was expected and you
got a negative feedback from your boss or client. You did not get a raise, when
your colleague got it. Your business is not doing as well as you would like it
to do. You got stuck in a job or assignment you do not like. Someone trolled
you on social media or you had faced a worst traffic and got scratch on your
new car. For most of us any if these are more than enough to lose our piece of
mind and feel low for many days or even longer and we often complain that we
are going through bad days or rough patch.
We cannot change a negative situation with bad
feelings. If we keep reacting negatively, this will magnify and multiply the
negativity. If we control ourselves, we can control any situation.
These are the 7 things I normally do to
overcome this feeling of negativity and manage my life when things do not go
the way I expected:
Make
a list of the things I am grateful for
This works like magic. This is so simple … you
cannot be grateful and sad at the same time. We sometimes, needed to remind
ourselves that how blessed we are. We all have so many things in our lives which
many people on this planet can only dream of.
Read
a book
I normally read books which teach me
something and motivate me. Books on Meta physics, Self-Developments,
Biographies, Business Fables and sometimes a good Fiction.
Have you ever read ‘Man’s search for meaning’ by Viktor Frankl. A story of his struggle
for survival in Nazi concentration camp. Please read, if you are looking for
some motivation especially when you are in pain.
Go
for walk or run
This is the simplest way to elevate the mood
and several research have proved that walking everyday can help a lot in fighting
even severe depression.
Watch
to a TED talk or listen to a Podcast
I started doing this recently, rather than
watching the TV, I watch a talk or presentation or a listen a podcast which add
something to my learning.
I also started listening podcasts while I am
driving rather than some random music on FM radio.
Make
a list of my goals
Living in the past is a failure method. When
I list my goals (both short and long term) or review and update my earlier list
and prepare a plan to achieve those, I am taking the first step towards better
future for myself and that brings optimism and elevate the mood.
Write
Writing is therapeutic. A blog post like
this or a journal or a poem. I feel so
good when I finish writing a Poem or an Article.
Do a
random act of kindness
It would sound weird to some of you, however,
many times when I feel low, I do few crazy things. Few examples:
- I write a best possible appreciation email to
one of my team members who is doing an excellent job or a nicest recommendation
to an ex colleague or a friend.
- I give a nice tip (an amount which he would
have never expected) to a rickshaw puller on the top of the fare amount if I
use the service.
- I buy whatever I could from the children selling
at the traffic signals and give double or triple of the amount they have asked
and
many other things like these. Sounds Crazy?? The idea is to ‘Give’. Give whatever you can. Give your money,
Give your knowledge, Give the appreciation etc. and in return receive ‘the joy
of giving’ and that is what would help you.
What do you do to overcome a feeling of
negativity when things do not go the way you expected? Please, do hit the
comments and share.
Exactly 10 years back, I had written this on my personal blog. As a leader, I
have always tried to make sure than none of my team
