Stop and Be Positive

Some days I notice nothing except the next thing on my to-do list. My days fly by in a blur. I know that I have arrived at my destination, but I can’t remember much about getting there. If this has happened to me, I bet it has happened to you too. You don’t have to look much further than a crowded street full of people mesmerized by their mobile devices to know that it is happening to almost everyone.

A few years ago I invented a little trick that I use whenever I get sucked into the vortex of tasks and commitments. Every time I see a digital clock that reads duplicate numbers, I stop, take a breath and focus on the things that I am grateful for in that moment. So, when I happen to notice a digital clock that reads 10:10 or 11:11 or 12:12 or 1:11 or 2:22 or 3:33 or 4:44 or 5:55, I have a concrete reminder to stop and be positive. I do this until the clock changes to the next minute.

On days when I am feeling particularly frazzled, the clock seems stuck in place. On other days, the minute is over in a heartbeat.

Here’s how you can use this trick to bring more positivity into your world when a digital clock gives you the cue:

Shift your thinking from what you are intently focused on in that moment and make a mental list of everything you are grateful for.

Stop what you are doing. Put down your phone, push away from the keyboard, look up and look around. Notice something positive in your surroundings and be thankful.

Give a sincere compliment to someone you work with, live with or supervise before the minute is up. Say it out loud if the person is near you. Phone, text, email or write a note with your positive feedback right then, in that instant and send it.

Start a running list of the good stuff you notice and add to it every day.

Share this trick with your colleagues, family and friends. Encourage them to do it too!

Say something positive in a meeting, or at home during dinner. You can blame it on the clock or just keep it to yourself!

When I first started using this trick, I was amazed at how many times I glanced at a clock at just the right time. Strangely, on days when I am feeling particularly pressured the time seems to nudge me from my hyperactivity far more often.

Are you ready to be more positive every day? I’d like to challenge you to give the “clock trick” a try and post a comment. I would love to hear from you! Don’t forget to Like this post and Share it too!!