My recent efforts at introspection have yielded many valuable insights that are shifting how I experience each day of my life. For one thing, I am catching a lot of the old thought patterns and programs “in the act,” either while they are busy tormenting me or (even more happily) before they get going 🙂 . This alone is helping me enormously, as it is making me very optimistic that I shall be able to shift my thinking onto thoughts that are more pleasing.
Another thing I have been doing a lot of is appreciating the areas of my life that are already going well. This is not just to make me feel good: it is a way for me to examine how I think in the areas where I am highly effective and happy. As I have also written about, success leaves clues. In other words, if you examine your (or other people’s) thinking process in areas of life that work well, you will often see how your thoughts correlate exactly with the success you experience in that area.
I have used the example, for me, of running. When I think of running, I feel good. I feel at ease. I feel relaxed. I feel positive. I can think clearly, and plan calmly. I am looking forward to my half-marathon next month, and I am thinking about which longer runs (10+ miles) I will take between now and then to maintain my preparation for it. As I said, I feel ease. I already feel good, I already feel like I’m enough.
In other words, I have a positive, confident, friendly attitude towards this subject, and positive expectations of satisfaction and joy! Now what could be better than that?
I’m not saying this to brag! Not at all! I am saying this because this is exactly the type of attitude that I wish to have in all areas of my life! Believe me, I eagerly await the day when I am so fortunate to consistently think this way in my career! In fact, that is really why I am digging into this subject: I wish to transform other areas of my life that could use it.
I am committed to shifting my attitude in all areas of life so that I can experience this ease there as well. I have learned that appreciating what is already going well is the key. And even in this example, I can quickly see how it would help me in other areas to have the kind of positive view I have in my exercising.
So I am at work in adopting a friendly attitude in other areas that are important to me. Of what does a friendly attitude consist? Well, let’s think for a moment of the condition of being friends. What is your attitude when you are friends with someone? Here’s my list:
When I am friends with someone…
- I am eager for interesting interactions with them.
- I look forward to hanging out with them.
- I am open-minded, and free-flowing, knowing that we will come together and think up interesting things to do.
- I am easy-going, unattached to any particular outcome. I just enjoy being with them.
- I appreciate what the friendship can give me, and what I can give it, without expecting more of it than it can bear.
- I am flexible about the friendship. I let it be, give it space, and act to strengthen it when inspired to.
Think about areas of your life that work well. Don’t some of these qualities apply in those areas? For me, they definitely do… and with my friends too!
So now I am interested in how to cultivate that attitude in everything that matters to me. How does doing that sound to you? Doesn’t that sound nice?
I don’t know about you, but this is my strategy from here on out. Believe me, I’ve tried it the other way, it didn’t work.
Adopt a friendly attitude toward what matters to you!