For entrepreneurs, business owners and other professionals, it’s a challenging world to live in right now. With consumer behavior changing in addition to the uneasy economy, it’s hard to know what the future holds. Navigating new sales and business tactics needed for success can be overwhelming. It’s perfectly normal for you to be feeling pessimistic but you can’t let negative thoughts keep you down.
So, how do you get out of the rut? It starts with confidence. Believing in yourself is a key component when trying to bounce back. But like anything, it’s easier said than done. When you’re ready to get back in the game, use these tips to guide you on your journey to positivity:
- Don’t be too critical of yourself
Some people blame others for setbacks and others take on all the blame. Instead of thinking about what you did or didn’t do to cause a setback, think about how a stranger might interpret the situation. What was your responsibility? Was the setback a direct result of something you were responsible for? My guess is in most cases, the setback was caused by something out of your control.
- Don’t compare yourself to others
As a competitive person, I get it; it’s really easy to want to compare yourself to others and wonder why they’re more successful than you. But the grass is always greener on the other side. You don’t know what other people have sacrificed to find their success. Maybe they have a giant paycheck but have no close relationships. Focus on what you know: yourself.
- Keep your emotions in check
We can’t control other people or how they react. The nice thing is that we do have the power to control our own actions and emotions. To help increase positive feelings, first identify the feelings you’re having. Are you sad? Angry? Make note of what emotion you’re feeling and then try to identify why you’re feeling that way. Then you can assess a plan for changing those feelings from negative to positive.
- Make a plan
Planning for the future is a sure-fire way to get back on track when you’re in a slump. Write down goals, concrete plans and motivational words and phrases. Be sure to write things with pen and paper giving action to your thoughts. Then, when you’ve accomplished something on your list, you will have the satisfaction of being able to cross it off in red pen. I’ve always found that to be extra satisfying in my own work life.
- Take it one step at a time
If the idea of a 5-year plan is too overwhelming, start with a shorter time span. Maybe begin with daily or even hourly goals. Work your way up to broader goals once you’re feeling confident again. Remember, you’re unlikely to be able to do everything you want to do at once. Try taking bite-sized steps to increase the likelihood of success!
- Surround yourself with happy people
Although making friends with “negative Nancy’s” is a noble effort, it’s not going to help you out of a rut. If anything, it will simply make it harder for you to achieve a positive mindset. Find people who see the glass half full versus the glass half empty. They’ll likely be willing to listen when you need to share, but be careful not to overwhelm them with negativity, either. Absorb their positivity and be sure to share your own positivity back with others when they need help.
Bouncing back from an unexpected setback isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s a process and takes time. Start with the first step today and remember to be easy on yourself as you progress.
