Events: positive, negative or neutral?
- Jul 29, 2011
Was what just happened to you positive, negative or neutral? Here's an entrepreneur guest blog on how we categorise and react to events...
“The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind."
Wayne Dyer
This week started off on a good note for one client. She received a job offer to help run a growing online business. In a different scenario a client had a bad week. She went on an interview and was not invited back. Finding a job can be very stressful but there's more to a good or bad week than a single event such as a job offer or interview. Most events are neutral until we categorise them and react. As an entrepreneur you will have many ups and downs on your path to success, so it’s critical to keep your perspective when interpreting events.
Although we cannot control an event, we can control how we interpret it. Which reaction do you favour in the examples below?
SCENARIO 1:
Event: You are laid off from a job you didn't enjoy and need to find a new job.
Reaction: Is this the worst situation or an opportunity to do something you enjoy?
SCENARIO 2:
Event: You start a business and need to raise money but the first ten investors reject your idea.
Reaction: Does this mean you will never be successful or will you continue to search for investors who believe in your idea?
SCENARIO 3:
Event: You break up with your boyfriend of three years.
Reaction: Is this the end of your life or an opportunity to meet someone you love and connect with?
It’s your choice whether you favor being more dramatic, neutral, or hopeful when you interpret events even in the face of adversity. You are given the choice each time you come to a crossroads in your mind to give a single event a specific slant.
TOP 1% BOTTOM LINE: Events are not positive or negative. They became that way once we categorize them. Losing a job for one person can be a relief and lead to a positive path while the same event for another person can lead them into a downward spiral. The Dalai Lama considers it a practice how we cultivate our mind. It’s not always easy but you do have a choice how you interpret events.
Alissa Finerman is a Professional Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals” available on Amazon.com. She works with individuals and organizations to help them think bigger, redefine what’s possible, and get results. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more about coaching with Alissa and to take the Living in Your Top 1% quiz, please visit www.AlissaFinerman.com or www.facebook.com/alissafinermantop1.
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