Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night I just know I’m not going to be going back to sleep. My mind starts to race, I have creative ideas, and I know I must write them down or I’ll forget. So, I get up.
Just this morning, I woke up fretting about this and that, when the word “re-phrase” popped into my head. What if I learned how to re-phrase the anxiety and trained myself to respond/think in a whole new way.
What if, instead of saying “look at my schedule; I’ll never get it all done,” I said “look at all the different things I get to do and people I get to see today?” Doesn’t that feel better? And, not only that, it’s true!
I get into my office quite early in the morning because I find it is when I am most creative. In an effort to maximize time, I have been re-organizing, utilizing what traditionally is called a to-do list or a project management tool. Using a simple spreadsheet, I put together a to-do list for the month based on set goals. Then, on separate sheets, I broke that list down into both weekly and daily tasks. As I reviewed the extensive list of tasks, I felt my body tense up. I thought about re-phrasing again and instead of calling my list a to-do list, I renamed it “Things I Get To Do Today!” Just by changing the title, my body traded that de-motivating stress for excitement. And it is a reminder that I get to do amazing things everyday.
Another benefit of re-phrasing is increased energy. Nothing is more draining than negativity. Sometimes negativity becomes a habit, but re-phrasing is a way to focus your attention on breaking that cycle. A positive attitude draws others to you and attracts their own positive energy…everyone wins!
Refreshing your life starts with re-phrasing. Try it today. Here’s how:
Make a list on one side of a page. Write down a current worry or negative thought that’s bugging you or zapping your energy. On the right side, re-phrase that. For example on my own list I have…
Re-Phrase Your Life
| When you are saying/thinking… | think/speak this way instead! |
|---|---|
| I can’t get everything done. | I love not being bored! |
| I don’t have a clue about… | I’m learning something new everyday! |
| Why don’t they learn how to drive? (or some variation of this) |
Young: Those hormones are acting up! Middle: Maybe they’ve had bad/good news! Older: They need a break! |
| Add your own. | Re-phrase it here! |
I’ll be talking a lot about the impact your attitude can have on your life. Re-phrasing is a tool we all can use to grow a more positive and Fabulous attitude.
Remember…we are all extraordinary women!
