Your Daily Mental Reset

I have a secret.

Well, really, we all have a secret.

I struggle with some level of self doubt, negativity, confusion, overwhelm, disappointment, and fear nearly every single day. Some days are more than others. But we all experience these feelings.

• The kids aren't listening.
• Your spouse or partner doesn't feel as close as they used to.
• Your boss is acting weird.
• You just say "nah, I can't do that."
• The goals you had for your career aren't working out.
• The year wasn't as successful as you wanted.
• That nagging injury is keeping you from working out.
• The bank account isn't always what you want it to look like.
• The house, all too often, is best described as “chaos.”
• More often than you'd like, you get just a little bit mad, sad, frustrated, etc.

You might not feel all of these. You might not feel them all at once, but to some extent, they're affecting you. If these challenges never get to you, then PLEASE start your own meditation retreat/cult/multimedia empire and I will send you every spare cent so I can capture a slice of your zen vibes.

But I'm not betting on that.

SO WHAT CAN I DO?

If you are a mere mortal like the rest of us, you've got to combat the messages in your head.

I recommend reviewing and writing out the following things every day:

• Roses and Thorns:
  • Good things and difficulties from yesterday.
• Hopes and Fears:
  • Things you want to get done and wishes for the future.
  • Also include things you are afraid will happen in the future.
• Intentions and Affirmations:
  • Pick one main goal for the day and decide who you want to BE today.
  • Give yourself a pep talk. Affirm your ability to accomplish your daily tasks and longer range goals. And remind yourself to let go of what you can't control.

MAKE IT VISUAL

Doing this exercise is great, but let's make it visual. Here's how I would do it:

WHY DOES THIS WORK?

Taking time to review and write all of these things works for a few reasons:

1. It forces you to think about positive things from the past (yesterday), present and future.
2. It makes the bad things seem more manageable because it puts them in writing. If you can name it, you can tame it.
3. It also puts the bad things into a little box so you can see them. When you can see them, things just seem more objective. Ideas in your head are abstract. Ideas written down are concrete.
4. It forces you to think about the past, present, and future in discrete terms. You realize that the past is over, the present is what you can take action on, and the future is unwritten.
5. Writing slows you down and makes it intentional. It forces you to make a plan to achieve goals and counteract fears.

Give this a try. Or create your own daily mental reset. And let me know how this works for you!

Mike Lyons is an HR professional and consultant specializing in the healthcare industry. He can be found at TXHRGuy.com and on LinkedIn. 

The views expressed in this post and blog are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of my employer.