5 phrases that mentally strong people use to spark happiness in difficult times
Do you smile every time you hear a certain song, or do you cringe when you see an old friend? Both of these are what I like to call sparks of happiness.
We need them now more than ever to thrive despite challenges, distractions, and current events. Unfortunately, as I wrote in my last book, “Mentally Strong Leader” there are some days when these moments are hard to get through.
The main thing is to bring more sparks of happiness into your life – not by accident, but by choice.
It takes mental strength Discipline to gain perspective and make choices that can help bring you joy, especially when negative emotions and thoughts overwhelm you.
The most mentally strong people rely on these five mantras that can provide little bursts of fortitude and creating sparks of happiness.
1. ‘It’s not what I’ve lost, it’s what I still have’
In times of trouble, it’s easy to focus on the past. Maybe you lost time, money or resources when something went wrong with this business project. Or you lost your identity when you were fired. Or you lost your date when your friend moved across the country.
Remembering to focus on what you still have makes a profound difference. Consciously it practices gratitude improves well-being, research shows.
In the above cases, for example, valuable insights, loved ones where you can spend more quality time, and a new travel destination, as well friendship you can continue to cultivate at a long distance.
2. ‘There is no such thing as a perfect road’
You can get stuck in a negative loop when you second-guess your chosen path or complain that things aren’t going the way you’d hoped.
The truth is, there will always be unexpected twists and turns. It’s easier to find joy when you embrace the imperfect path and overcome obstacles along the way.
Think of an achievement or result that makes you happy. Chances are, you’ve faced some challenges to get there.
3. ‘Let it be’
When you’re upset and someone tells you to “just let it go,” it can make you even more upset. It’s also bad advice because you can’t ignore what’s happening and how it makes you feel.
On the other hand, you can tell yourself “Let it be”. This means using a cognitive form acceptanceit’s a surer way to get out of a downward spiral.
Don’t try to push the negative event out of your psyche or change how you feel about it. Let it sit there. Recognize that your emotions are legitimate reactions and pay attention to them how you will move forward productively.
4. ‘Big picture, small step’
When we struggle in the face of failure, we can lose perspective. Small challenges can suddenly seem huge.
Telling yourself “Big picture, small step” does two things:
- It reminds you of the ultimate goal or vision of the life you want to live and who you want to be. When you consider the backlog in the context of the big picture, it shrinks.
- It can help you identify one small thing you can do to get back on the path to progress and positivity. That first step can lead to another small step of hope, which leads to another, and so on.
5. ‘Difficulty Creates Beliefs, Not Results’
Think of it as your ABC-inspired expression ABC model in cognitive behavioral therapy. The idea is to remind yourself that adversity doesn’t automatically mean negative outcomes.
The final outcome of a challenge is determined by how you react to it and the beliefs you form about it.
For example, you will believe that a a job interview that didn’t go well Was it an unrecoverable disaster that clearly showed you failed? Or will you believe that this is a learning opportunity and an obstacle to overcome, as in other situations in the past?
Remember: “When will I be happy that…” is a rush
It is very easy to think happiness if you can earn a little more money or get a certain thing, after you will be happy.
You might say to yourself, “I’ll be happy when I finally get it.” encouragement,” or “If I could just fit into those old jeans, I’d be a lot happier.” Meanwhile, you run away with your head down and grinding away without realizing your joy.
Mentally strong people do what I say”depression,” a practice at the intersection of gratitude and mindfulness. It allows you to feel and recognize gratitude for even the smallest positives in difficult times.
It motivates you draw happiness from finding and experiencing joy in the world around you now, every day.
Scott Mautz famous speaker, coach and LinkedIn Learning instructor. He is a former CEO of Procter & Gamble, where he led several of the company’s largest multi-billion dollar businesses. He “A mentally strong leader: Create habits to productively regulate your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.” Follow him LinkedIn.
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