We all encounter situations (some brief, some longer or even permanent) where we feel out of control or frustrated by ourselves or the situation. Often, anxiety and stress begin to loom and change our thinking patterns. We start seeing the world from a ‘scarcity’ viewpoint, especially if this stress is to do with time or finances. We start restricting ourselves and constantly feeding the thoughts of “I don’t have enough time/money to do this”. Crazily enough, it is this attitude that begins a very damaging cycle of thought patterns. With this constant feedback of negativity, your psyche begins to believe that this is a permanent state. Creativity shuts down and you begin focusing solely on living pay-check to pay-check, hour-to-hour, etc. However, if you notice anxiety and stress creeping into your thought patterns, you have the power to act quickly and refute them. Instead of going into survival/scarcity mode – reframe your language and your thoughts to instead say, “I have this amount of time/money…how can I use that best?” or “What ways can I come up with to meet this need?”. By placing the emphasis on the possibility of the future, rather than the a negative state of the present, your creativity and optimism stay high. You feel more powerful and equipped to change your circumstances, get excited about your next move and make productive decisions. Then, hopefully, these circumstances will be opportunities for growth, new connections and a building of faith in your ability to handle what life throws at you. What’s stressing you out now? Try shifting that mindset first, rather than waiting for it to pass before you allow yourself to feel better.
LLUMI Australia 