A little different, but focusing on the positive...

Hey!

I had a chance to catch up with my good friend in the UK on Friday afternoon and we were talking about things we’ve learned during the pandemic and she shared her go-to question for people when she is talking with them now: “What good things have happened this year?”

It was great because as I’ve been working through a few books, I’m reminded that we are definitely drawn to the negative.

I also realize that this is an evolutionary protective device because the things that are scary or bad can kill us.

But that got me thinking about some other things this weekend and how to turn the tables on things and focus on the good things and the positive because there is room for the pessimists, but being optimistic at some level is how we have been able to get through so many of the challenges we are dealing with.

First, let me share a few things that have been nice for me this year:

• I’ve had a chance to hang out and goof off with my family this year in a way e might not have had the chance to do in the past. In fact, as you read this, I’m likely in the middle of driving the boy to a travel soccer match in some far off place like we swore we’d never do.

• I’ve had a chance to get to know some of my neighbors and friends in ways that I might not have had the opportunity before.

• I’ve been able to read, think, and learn about marketing in a way that I have not been able to do in the past.

• I got to meet a lot of few folks virtually through podcasts, interviews, and other forums that’s been pretty cool.

• And, I’ve been able to read some books and learn some stuff that I might never have learned before.

BTW, there is a new Don DeLillo book coming out this week!

Now let’s turn to being an optimist.

Let me share with you three ways that we can all reorient our thinking around the positive to move forward.

As I’ve talked about before, focus on the Stockdale Paradox. This is an idea in Jim Collins’ book, Good to Great!

To give you the short version, the Stockdale Paradox says that what we are dealing with will suck and we will get through it, but we don’t know when it will end. But it doesn’t mean that we have the right to give up and mope. We have to keep, keeping on.

So let me turn this back to you and let me share a TED talk that was shared with me on Friday that shares the hypothesis that stress isn’t always bad.

But back to reorienting our thinking around the positive.

First, start by thinking about what has been good this year.

I shared a partial list at the top. Everything isn’t all bad and sometimes we need to remember to look for the good stuff because we naturally gravitate towards the bad.

So take a moment and think about the things that have happened that you can move towards.

Second, focus on things you can control.

I’ve been talking with a lot of folks that are taking classes.

That’s great.

Do something that produces a positive outcome for you and helps you focus on something positive and productive.

Finally, tune out the negative where you can.

I do this thing called “not fact-checking” which means that I am not following the news every day.

This matters because when I find myself doom scrolling or watching too much news, my mental health and positivity are definitely impacted.

So put down the Twitter and click off the CNN, focus on the things you can control, and remind yourself what has been good this year.

As the Stockdale Paradox teaches us, we must continue to keep moving, even when it sucks.

I’ll talk to y’all later.

Dave