Are You Practicing Positive Push-ups?

Just about a year ago, I shared with your my thoughts on practicing positive push-ups.

I recently heard someone compare being positive and embracing a positive energy/attitude to doing push-ups. To see results, you need to practice and keep practicing continually. The more you practice push-ups, in theory, the stronger you become and you’ll see an increase in your push-up ability as well. Easy enough for the positive stuff, right?

We have thousands of thoughts that run through our minds during any given day. Have you ever taken inventory of your positive, negative or indifferent thoughts? I heard the push-ups to positive comparison and a light went on in my head. I haven’t been truly practicing my positive push-ups lately. Sure I have been getting “me time” and patting myself on the back for my accomplishments along the way.

Aside from all of those important things, I’ve been having a tough week. It has included pangs of negativity about my job and anxiety over my future goals with a dash of self-doubt in the mix. Not fun.

So why has it been a week of negative thinking in spite of all the good I can acknowledge? I’ve written about how positive thinking, feeling and living is a continual process. You can’t just do it once and be done. I truly believe that. I also see how not practicing my positive push-ups has made for some squishy muscles lately.

5 ways to grow your positive muscles:

Evaluate the positive aspects in my life. Fabulous working mom, hard working employee and all-around great person, even if I do say so myself (yeah me!).
Focus my energy and not let my surroundings take my positive energy from me. That includes being aware of who I surround myself with on a daily basis. Positive people resonate positive energy. On the flip side of that, negativity exudes… well, the negative.
Break the habit of self-doubt with a practice “push-up” of self-admiration each day.
Leave myself a note at work to greet me in the morning”¦. “You’re awesome BABY!” (the note I left last night really says that and it’s on my desk at the office waiting for me).
Remember life is a marathon, not a sprint. Slow it down, breathe and smile.

My solution is not immediate nor a quick fix because building muscles takes time and practice. I know I may experience some bumps along the way but being authentically positive and happy is worth the daily “push-up” practice.

Tell us how you practice your positive push-ups.