It’s now summer… do you need to take a break? Even a mini-one?

Reflecting on June… for quite a few people that I know, it was one heck of month. They were presented with certain challenges, and were stretched. There were moments where they were able to rise to the challenge; they took what life gave them and they ran with it…Feeling good that they were progressing towards their goals. Then there were times when it got pretty rough.

How was June for you?

Recently I had lunch with a wonderful and inspirational woman. In sharing her story I heard how life has given her many challenges and how she’s done her best to manage them.

I was touched by how deeply she cares for her child. Telling me that once it was clear to her that her child’s life was at risk, she moved to another part of the United States. Wow! I sat there, marveling at the beauty of this human being. Appreciating her kindness and strong devotion to her child.

And then it happened… she “made a mistake.” She dropped a couple plates. CRASH!!! All of a sudden I saw a shift, her strength – at least for a moment – faded. Where did the big strong mama-bear go?  The powerful woman who protects her child…

My first thought was “Oh well, they’re only plates,” but I could tell she felt bad about it. Even though I was okay with it… she wasn’t. And no amount of telling her was gong to do the trick. Nope. She was embarrassed.

Was this a big deal? On one level, probably not. On another level though, I thought, what a shame.

There it is again. That pattern. So many times we focus on the negative… so much so that we miss the good or beauty that is all around us. Our minds may naturally bend to what’s wrong, bad, or broken.

I can still remember a very competent, capable professional who told me, “You know, I have 200 clients, 199 love me, and 1 doesn’t.”

Guess where his attention was focused? Did he focus on the 199 or the 1? He dismissed the 199, and he shared how he over-focused on the 1.

I am not saying ignore the 1. I think we can learn from both. It’s when we over-focus on the negative where I get concerned. And when this happens I’ll hear something like, “My mind is driving me nuts!”

Yes. We can get stuck in negative loops. Over and over these messages play.

What do you need to take a break from? Is there something that zaps your power?

How about, just for today, start to notice what you do well. I mean really notice, not “Yah, yah, I did it”… but let it sink in.

In parenting there’s a saying “Catch your kids doing something right.”

Why not include yourself?

What did you do well today?

_____________________________________________________________

Call Angi @ 408-761-9458  

©  StrengthsMinded®  2013 – 2021