What do you do when the dreaded “should haves” strike, conspiring to pull you down into the gutter?
It shouldn’t be like this…
I should’ve known…
If only I had…
I really should be doing…
Dot dot dot…I’m trash.
Here are six steps I use to stop a downward spiral and get it moving in the right direction:
Acknowledge your growth. Growth is a constant, iterative process with its own set of growing pains. Try to see “trial & error” as a built-in feature instead of a bug.
Become the parent your inner child never had and always wanted. Forgive your mistakes, feel your pain, and prioritize the healing.
Choose language that leads you to the place you want to be. “What’s the lesson in this?” is a useful upgrade to “Why is this happening to me?”
Screenshot encouraging comments and save them to read during the down days. Sometimes all you need is a little validation.
Celebrate the small stuff. Ambition addiction is real. When you feel like you’re still not doing enough, slow down and put into perspective all of the micro-wins you’ve witnessed in the past day, week, or decade.
Phone a friend (ask their permission before you unload) and talk your way to a new point of view.
What other tools are you using to airlift yourself out of negativity? Let me know via comment, mail, or message.