Everybody experiences feelings of frustration and defeat, but self-development training can prevent those feelings from lingering. It can feel natural to sink into self-loathing on difficult days – especially for those of us who feel the pressure of working for ourselves. Wallowing in a mental funk can lead to procrastination, loss of focus, and next thing you know, your efforts could be completely derailed. Don’t despair – here are three self-development tips that will make you feel more positive, even on the really difficult days.
1. The circumstance isn’t the problem; your response to the circumstance is the problem. And you are in full control of how you respond to things like criticism or defeat. Instead of saying “I’m such a loser for not getting that client,” ask yourself, “What important lessons have I learned that will help me succeed next time?”
2. Be as kind to yourself as you are to the people you love. If your wife, girlfriend, or best friend failed to snag a new client, would you call them a loser? Probably not; so don’t do it to yourself, either. You deserve better.
3. Stop expecting defeat. Don’t tell yourself not to expect great things because you had a setback. Running negative thoughts through your mind accomplishes nothing. You are in control of your thoughts; always flip the negatives upside down to form a positive. “I may not have gotten that project, but now I know ________, I’ll be better positioned to get the next one.”
Your personal self-development should involve daily exercises, which can include journaling, affirmations, or simply addressing negative thoughts as they occur. If you can simply remember that you are in control of your thoughts, then you are already on the right path.
Click to check out my book, Life Mastery: How To Unleash Your Hidden Potential And Achieve Everything You've Ever Wanted, which contains a ton more information about the self-development techniques that have helped me grow and thrive from the inside out.