Happy #MindsetMonday! I came across this NPR article last week that resonated with me. And based on the conversations I have with clients and peers, I think you will appreciate this too!
It's based on the work of Dr. Deepika Chopra, a behavioural scientist who just released a book on optimism, The Power of Real Optimism. Her central argument is that optimism isn't a personality trait you either have or you don't. Rather, it's more like a muscle, and most of us simply haven't been exercising it.
She recommends three practices, and I walk through all of them in today's video. Here's a quick recap:
The "Ta-Da List"
Instead of a to-do list, write down everything you accomplished today, big or small. Drinking enough water counts. Setting a boundary counts. Self-gratitude is the foundation of optimism.
Schedule "Worry Time"
Give your worries a dedicated 15-minute window, then ask yourself: can I control this? If not, practice letting it go. This keeps anxiety from hijacking your whole day.
Affirmations with the 7/10 Rule
Only use affirmations you're at least 70% sure you believe. Start there, build confidence, then level up. Fake positivity doesn't work but real belief does. The power of confirmation bias can be used to help us build our real belief.
My personal favourite is the "ta-da list.” By writing down wins, our brain releases dopamine which is a motivator chemical. This powerful reward mechanism acts like our own internal cheer leader. It sounds almost too simple, but there's real psychology behind why it works.
My personal example: A colleague recently surprised me with a list of our collective accomplishments for Q1. It was long! And, it reminded me of the many things we had done individually and collectively…even the things I already had forgotten. This is a great way to close Q1 and plan for Q2.
#HumanCentredLeadership #Mindset #Optimism #Leadership
