Reminder: Today was good
A Gratitude Exercise, or: how to shift your focus from negativity
Life is like a rollercoaster, as the saying goes. Yet too often, we ignore the sunbeams struggling to break through the cloud cover.
We frequently forget that even on gray days, there are rays of light and not everything is entirely bleak. A single bad moment often overshadows an otherwise wonderful day. For many, it's a common pattern to focus on the "negative," giving it more weight and disregarding the beauty.
It's a shame that we often delete the beautiful moments from our mental hard drive just because something else, seemingly more significant, intervenes.
But here's the beauty of it: It doesn't have to be that way. We can actively influence our way of thinking and reflecting, steering it in a different direction.
That's why today, I'd like to share a simple exercise that helps us live more consciously and gives significant moments a kind of anchor, so they don't immediately slip from our memory when a cloud passes overhead.
The Exercise
You'll need your own small mementos. Perhaps you enjoy collecting stones, still have marbles at home, or a jar of 1-cent coins you've been meaning to take to the bank. Just use what you have at hand.
Every morning, select any number of these mementos - there should be at least three of one kind - and tuck them into your right pants or jacket pocket. Then, start your day as usual.
Each time something happens that truly delights you, makes you smile, or gives you a good feeling, pause, take one of your mementos from your pocket, and mentally save that moment. Once you've imprinted this mental image or film, you can place your memento in your left pocket.
At the end of the day, before you put away your clothes, take your mementos out of your pocket and recall the wonderful moments that made the past day special.
This exercise is so simple yet so powerful. It helps us live more consciously and enjoy the little things that make life worth living. It can assist us in minimizing negative thought patterns and redirecting our focus. Ending the day with beautiful memories also sets a positive intention for tomorrow.
Win-Win.
I am not a fan of toxic positivity or ignoring negative feelings, thoughts, and emotions. I believe that restricting yourself in this way will never be a successful route. You might be able to maintain it for a while, but sooner or later you will break your streak and end up back at square one.
However, I do think that reflecting at the end of the day and thoroughly analyzing your hardships can help you put everything into perspective. It is human and very common to forget about the ten good things when one bad thing happens. I wish it were different. If an exercise like the one described above can help refocus your perspective, it is worth a try though, don't you think?
Can I ask for some feedback - again… ???
I sometimes forget that these posts I write are actual newsletters that you receive via email. Do you miss a proper form of address? Should I include some small-talk-y chit-chat at the beginning? I see others do this and have mixed feelings about it. Some are amazing at it and make me feel like their best friend, while others... well, I would love for them to cut to the chase, to be honest. So, as you are actually reading this, what do you think?
As always, thank you for reading. Feel free to share with your friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances, strangers & whoever else you might know.
If you want to say hi, visit my little website - www.martinamay.co - where you can also find my coaching offering. Because, yes, in case you did not know, I am a systemic personal & business coach and I would love to work with you.
Take care & goodbye,
xx MM