Tools for positivity in difficult moments

I was recently reading an article about advice Warren Buffet gave about overcoming setbacks. His advice when asked how he overcomes setbacks is to focus on the good in life instead of the bad.

Logically this makes sense but when you are in the midst of a challenging time, it can feel hard to do. We’ve all had those phases in our life when it feels like everything around you is crumbling and let’s face it, you feel hopeless. I still very vividly remember a time after a boyfriend and I broke up suddenly and in a difficult way where I literally called one of my closest friends on my way from work almost daily. I remember crying on the phone and telling her that I just didn’t know how to not feel sad. I felt like I was never going to be happy again. She sent me a quote that I still have in my phone today.

In times like these where you are facing a difficult break-up, a sudden job loss, you are exhausted from the challenges of life, it can feel hard to find hope.

The article with Warren Buffett reminded that it takes active cultivation and intention to get yourself back to a positive place, especially because our brains are wired to focus on the negative.

I sometimes forget how many intentional practices I have built into my life to remain positive. Sharing some things that have worked for me in case they help you:

1)      Daily Gratitude list:

I learned from Oprah several years ago about her daily gratitude practice. Every day she writes down 3 things she is grateful for that day. Since learning about her practice, I have integrated her practice into my daily life, and I have found it really helps. Even if I am exhausted, at minimum, I write down 3 things I am grateful for that day.

I will admit that if I have had a bad day, it can feel hard to find 3 things but I try to push myself to find the little things, even if was just that I was grateful to see the sunshine or take a walk.

2)      Positive Quotes:

Since I was in college, I have been leaning on quotes to bring me hope or inspiration during difficult moments. In hard times, sometimes the quotes I saved have been the things that have helped me remain positive or ground myself in really hard moments.  

3)      Vision Board:

I will admit that I used to think vision boards were a little woo woo and didn’t really see the value in them but when I was going through my coaching program, one of my classmates encouraged me to create one. It’s still hanging in my office to this day.

In the difficult moments, I have my vision board as a reminder of my “why” in my life. It’s filled with quotes and the goals I have set for myself. At times, it can be really grounding to remember the things that I told myself I wanted to accomplish or that are important to me.

If you find yourself in a difficult moment, I hope some of these practices help you. I encourage you to try one of these out. I would love to hear what you tried and how it helped you.

Sharing one of my favorite quotes of all time from the movie, “Hope Floats.”