Enhancing Your Life/Career in a Month: A Practical Guide to Developing Positivity

Are you worth investing one hour in yourself? Great — you’re intrigued enough to read this article. Here’s a quick overview that will take you about 10 minutes. The rest of the hour can be spent reflecting on these ideas. When ready, a shift from negativity to positivity can bring about transformative changes in your life and career.

Understanding Positivity and Negativity

Positivity or negativity is an emotion that primes us for what may come next. Historically, negative events posed a greater threat to our wellbeing and our ability to pass on our genes, while positive events often passed unnoticed. In the modern world, these emotions can serve us poorly. Thankfully, our brains are malleable, or plastic, which means we can learn and change throughout our lives.

Assessing Yourself: Four Questions

Let’s consider four questions about your favorite subject: You:

Are you able to be aware of how you are feeling? Can you imagine things that don’t exist in reality? Do you have a concept of knowing right from wrong? Do you make your day-to-day choices based on the above?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, you possess the capability to understand and influence your response to events—both real and perceived. This realization paves the way for conscious change.

A Practical Process to Shift Perspectives

To harness this capability effectively:

Become aware of the events that trigger negative responses. Consider your beliefs about yourself that lead to negative outcomes. Assess your behavior and feelings following a negative conclusion. Reconsider your thought processes. What is the worst possible outcome? What is the best possible outcome? What is the most likely outcome? Decide on actions that will maximize your chances of achieving your goals in the situation.

This process harnesses the power of the present, where emotions are experienced. Our feelings are responses to present events, past perceptions, or future expectations. By altering our perspective, we can shift from negativity to positivity.

A Personal Journey to Positivity

By adopting this perspective, you choose whether to focus on potential positives or negatives. This choice is entirely up to you. If you find these ideas resonating with you, it's time to delve deeper.

Martin Seligman, a pioneer in the field of positive psychology, has led research for over half a century. His work is based on rigorous evidence and can significantly impact your life, especially if you wish to change. I particularly recommend his books: ‘Learned Helplessness’, ‘Flourish’, and ‘Authentic Happiness’. These books will be invaluable if you seek substantial personal development.

Structured Approach to Positivity

For those looking for a more structured approach or more guidance, my book ‘A New Pair of Glasses’ might offer value. It’s available for less than the cost of a glass of wine or pint of beer, and even free on Prime. This book provides a structured approach to applying the above concepts to your daily life, infused with other valuable insights.

Conclusion

Investing one hour in yourself can yield a lifetime of benefits. By focusing on how you perceive events and practicing effective emotional regulation, you can enhance your life and career significantly. Start today and take the first step towards a more positive outlook on life.

Keywords: positivity, skill development, self-improvement