For most of us it is difficult to stay positive when we’re stressed, overworked, or anxious. I’ve always been a worrier. My mind tends to either focus on the negative or wander off into never ending what-ifs. Growing up I rarely focused on the solution, but complained about the problem. After talking my dad’s ear off, he would warn me “that which you focus on expands.” As difficult as this can be, it is something I try and incorporate into my life everyday. I have become a firm believer of speaking things into existence. I have gotten into the habit of keeping a post-it on my laptop screen with three short phrases to focus on each week.
Quotes are subject to interpretation of course. Here are the quotes on my post-it this week and what they mean to me:
Nevertheless, she persisted.
In 1986 Coretta Scott King wrote a letter which was never documented, criticizing Jeff Sessions’ nomination to become a federal judge. When Senator Elizabeth Warren stood up to oppose Sessions’ nomination by Trump for attorney general, she read Mrs. King’s lost letter. Warren was interrupted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel in hopes of silencing her. This is where “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” comes from. This is one of my favorite quotes because it can be applied to so many amazing, persistent women throughout history who fought against the grain for what was right. “Nevertheless, she persisted” keeps me going.
Find Peace of Mind.
“I gotta find peace of mind” by Lauryn Hill has been on repeat for me. You may have heard the expression “My mind is like a web browser where 13 tabs are open, 2 of them are frozen, and you can’t figure out where the music is coming from.” As basic as it sounds, that’s me. My brain is constantly thinking, analyzing, and processing. It gets exhausting. To me, finding peace of mind is to explore tranquility and mindfulness in the chaos of my thoughts. While this is difficult, the peacefulness achieved is rewarding. I try and take at least ten minutes each day to focus on clearing my mind and grounding myself.
Pay It No Mind.
From the amazing Marsha “Pay It No Mind” Johnson. One of my best friends from home has this tattooed on her left arm and has inspired my analysis: Things happen and we often get caught up in them. Pay it no mind is a reminder to not dwell. What you focus on expands, and if you fixate on the negativity, positivity can’t cultivate. Because my mind is often be racing, I have taken this week to focus on letting my thoughts come and go without further analysis. Mindfulness.
I am still working on learning from these three quotes. Once I move into next week and add new phrases to my sticky note, I won’t forget the last weeks. I am constantly learning, growing and developing my own positive focus.