Use these 3 steps to move from despair to inspiration
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Have you stopped to consider that there is nearly always more than one way to look at things?
I have become even more alert to the possibilities of looking at things through a different lens recently, and it has shifted so much for me.
Examples of issues we can look at in new ways, that quickly come to mind, relate to many big tensions in the world around us.
The ongoing pandemic, the political climate as the election nears, deep concerns about environmental change as we see storms and fires fiercer than ever before, and a renewed focus on demanding the end to social and racial injustice are some of the big challenges.
For many people, the sense of overwhelm is huge. And it’s exhausting.
It’s absolutely normal to feel concerned about such important matters, but there are options and opportunities to rise above the despair.
We get to chose the way we look at things,
and we can chose the way we respond
When we are able to stay calm and clear-headed, we think better. This allows us to stop being reactive. And from that calmer starting point, we can think positively.
We can make better decisions.
When we avoid spinning into despair, the choices we are able to make for what to do next can be more meaningful, and they can have more impact.
As a glass-half-full person, I realize I have an advantage. But anyone can decide to chose the lens through which to look at things.
Here is how you can make a positive shift.
1. Create the best environment for your wellbeing
We create our experiences, and we create our environment.
Things to delete
News cycles and social media feeds can be toxic. They are built to bombard us with sensationalized information and hype.
I am keen to be informed, but I (and many others) have found that going on a “news diet” has worked wonders. A check-in with a source you trust, once or twice a day, is more than enough to keep up with current happenings.
And, limiting social media “rabbit-hole” excursions not only keeps overwhelm down, it gives you the gift of precious time.
Consider, too, the conversations you choose to have. You can establish boundaries with those who focus only on the negative, or worse yet, rant.
Filter out stressful influences like these for a few days and see what happens.
Things to add
We find what we look for and and what we focus on. And, the universe connects us to where we bring our attention, as well.
Here’s a great example.
While writing this article, I took a short break and my husband mentioned that he’d just read a great opinion piece that he thought I would find interesting. (He had no idea that I was writing on this topic!)
The remarkable New York Times opinion piece, titled, The Outrage Diet, is chock full of inspiring ideas about what to do to limit the impact of all of the fury that is damaging people’s health and wellbeing.
You can also actively seek out uplifting people and resources. Who do you know who is always inspiring you, or impressing you with fresh and uplifting ideas? What podcasts or writers bring you positive and informative perspectives?
Brené Brown’s books and her new podcast, Unlocking Us, and Krista Tippett’s On Being site and podcasts, come quickly to mind. I find myself grateful when I choose resources like these.
You may also want to change what you read and watch for entertainment. Choose what will fill you with uplifting energy and inspiration.
And, I always advocate for adding creativity into your life. The more creativity (of any kind) you engage in, the more easily you can bring creative thinking to everything you do.
Which leads to my next recommendation:
2. Reframe whenever possible
If you saw the email I sent on Sunday about my weekly Creators of Change calls, you saw that I shared a remarkable and inspiring reframe for how to view the current political climate, and how we can move forward.
I shared the work of Valerie Kaur, whose TED talk (and the quote I had pulled from it) shifted my view in a dramatic way.
Valerie Kaur’s take on the way we can see — and impact — the world reminded me of another example I heard from a great coach of mine, that goes like this.
If you entered a room and saw a woman in the late stages of labor, you might declare, “There’s a woman in crisis in here!” But if you knew it was a birthing room, you would say, “There’s a woman in labor here.” Same woman, same event, and a different way of relating to and thinking about what you were seeing.
We have many opportunities to reframe. When we consider what is possible, rather than focusing only on what is problematic, we open our minds. We can see positive perspectives and think about positive things to do, rather than feeling stuck in despair.
3. Take action and see things improve
Action is the step that takes you from the starting point of seeing through a new lens to great outcomes.
The New York Times Opinion piece I recommended is chock full of excellent examples of action you can take when you feel overcome by outrage or despair.
Finding action to take to address a concern or improve a troubling situation — even in a small way — is empowering.
The action can be to dive in and learn more, to reach out to someone, to make a donation, to start a new conversation, to share your ideas (like writing an opinion piece or blog post), and more. Commitment to making things better starts with one small action, and then staying in action.
I also recommend you check out this excellent article, that’s filled with creative ideas for how we can educate high school students in the age of COVID. This is an example of looking at an urgent issue through a new lens. And by adding creative thinking, and suggesting new action, the author has not only enriched us with his great ideas, he may positively impact the lives of vast numbers of students and teachers.
How will you see new possibilities?
What one small change can you make today to create a more positive environment and start seeing challenges in a new light? How can you bring fresh, creative thinking to something on your mind? What action can you take?
If you want to talk about how to bring these suggestions into your life, I invite you to schedule a Live Big Breakthrough Call with me.
I would be delighted to help you gain insight and clarity about changes you are seeking to make, and how you can live a more empowered life.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Stay safe and well, and keep creating.
