Cultivating Optimism and Positivity

Miami, July 4th, 2023. Arriving in a new city, starting from zero, was both thrilling and daunting. I was here to make new friends, start a business, and build a life from scratch. Fast forward to this July 4th, my kids visited, we watched fireworks, and my son moved in with me. For the first time since 2015, I'm no longer living alone but now as a single dad. Building my coaching and speaking business in Miami felt like pushing a boulder uphill – every day tested my resilience and optimism. One secret to my perseverance was a simple yet powerful practice: gratitude. Every morning, after meditation, a workout, and a cold shower, I'd retreat to my room, journal in hand, and write down five things I was grateful for. It might have been the morning sun, the scent of coffee, or a video call with a friend. Focusing on the good became my daily ritual, a foundation for the optimism and resilience that carried me through challenges. As we celebrate July 4th, a time to appreciate our freedoms, let's turn our focus inward and explore the power of gratitude. When we practice gratitude, we actually feel better and more motivated. It's a self-fulfilling loop – appreciating the good in our lives literally makes us feel good. So, how does gratitude translate into impactful leadership and a more fulfilling personal life? Stronger Teams, Stronger You: Genuine appreciation for your team's contributions fosters trust, loyalty, and a sense of belonging. Acknowledging their value strengthens your team dynamic and empowers individuals to perform at their best. A Gateway to Innovation: Gratitude fosters a positive outlook, breeding creativity. When focused on the good, you're more open to new ideas. This allows you and your team to approach challenges with fresh perspectives, leading to innovative solutions. A Ripple Effect of Positivity: Gratitude is contagious. Expressing appreciation to colleagues, friends, and family creates a ripple effect of positivity. This fosters a more optimistic and supportive environment in all your relationships. Two practical exercises to cultivate gratitude: 1. The Gratitude Reflection: Take 5 minutes each day to reflect on three things you're grateful for and write them down. It can be anything – manager, a successful project, or a simple act of kindness. 2. The Appreciation Ritual: Make a habit of publicly acknowledging achievements, big or small. A quick email, a handwritten note, or a simple "thank you" in a meeting can make a world of difference. Gratitude isn't just about saying "thank you." It's a tool for rewiring your brain for optimism, strengthening relationships, and leading with purpose. As for me, I'm just grateful to have these two kids in my life 😊 Happy July 4th! Be True, Be Curious, Be Driven.

Our brains are built with a negativity bias; we remember the problems and failures more easily than the positives and successes. Optimism and hope can lead to improved physical health, better coping strategies, increased optimism, and lower stress levels (Laranjeira & Querido, 2022). Long et al.'s (2020) longitudinal study looked at the effects of hope on health and wellbeing and found that having increased hope is linked to "better physical health and health behavior outcomes (e.g., lower risk of all-cause mortality, fewer chronic conditions, and fewer sleep problems), higher psychological wellbeing (e.g., more positive affect, life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose in life), lower psychological distress, and better social wellbeing." Laranjeira and Querido (2022) emphasize optimism as confidence placed on the successful outcome of an endeavor rather than on the processes. Optimism may drive belief in the attainability of positive results, thereby motivating persistence in the face of obstacles. Optimism can lead to greater resilience and improved mental health outcomes, leading to positive coping strategies and making it easier to experience gratitude. In turn, gratitude can enhance optimism and further improve mental health. This past year, I became an empty nester and then a full-time caregiver for my mother, made a cross-country move, and experienced career changes. I am optimistic that 2024 will have more peaks than valleys, but if it doesn't, that's okay; the biggest and grandest adventure in life is life itself. Here are three actions I consistently cultivate towards fostering optimism and gratitude: 📝 Reflection: Regularly set aside time to reflect on your achievements and progress. This can be through journaling, creating a fun infographic like the one I’m sharing, or simply taking a moment at the end of each day to acknowledge what went well. 🙏 Gratitude Exercises: Start or end your day by listing three things you are grateful for. These do not have to be grand; a simple cup of coffee, music, and sunshine often make my list, and my boys and my mom are always on it too. The practice of gratitude can shift your focus to the abundance in life. 💬 Positive Affirmations: Incorporate positive affirmations into your daily routine to reinforce an optimistic mindset. These are positive phrases or statements used to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts. One of my favorites is “do the things you think you can’t” (Eleanor Roosevelt). In reflecting on the past year, the peaks and valleys of 2023 inspired this personal and professional summary infographic. I share it with a sense of deep gratitude and optimism. I am profoundly thankful for the partnerships and collaborations with individuals and organizations who engaged with me in various roles as a trusted partner, contributor, leader, friend, advisor, educator, listener, ally, and advocate. These successes are shared, and each milestone is a collective achievement. #gratefulheart

I’ve always been optimistic on the outside—presenting a positive attitude in my work and leadership. So much so that when I left my job at Hallmark Tv where I ran the international biz, they gave me a characatire of me standing next to a pile of manure with a shovel saying “There’s gotta be a pony in here somewhere!” But on the inside, I still deal with lingering pessimism, sitting there like a little cloud on the horizon. Before more clouds start to gather, I know I have to work to keep optimistic; true success comes from believing it at your core. So how am I working on that? By focusing on three key areas that are helping me and my thinking : 1. Redefining My Environment: Your physical and mental space shape how you feel. I’m making conscious decisions to create an environment that boosts my mindset—from what I see and hear daily to the energy I surround myself with. 2. Curating My Information: I’ve become much more mindful of the media I consume. Not easy in my line of work, whether at CBC or Twitter! Instead of letting negative headlines cloud my thoughts, I focus on content that encourages innovation, positivity, and forward thinking. 3. Focusing My Circle: The people we spend time with have a huge impact on our mindset. I’m surrounding myself with individuals who encourage optimism and growth—those who push me to not just think big but to believe that big things can happen. From my husband to my colleagues right to my hairdresser - surround yourself with people who have made the shift. It’s a work in progress, but by addressing my mindset from the inside out, I’m becoming a more authentic version of the optimistic leader I want to be. #Leadership #MindsetShift #PersonalGrowth #Resilience #AbundanceMindset #GrowthMindset