Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared on Virgin.com.
“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 categorize them and react. 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 favor 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/girlfriend 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.
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About Alissa
Alissa Finerman is an Executive Coach and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, speaker and author of Living in YOUR Top 1%. She works with managers, C-suite executives and teams to leverage strengths, shift beliefs and achieve meaningful goals. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked with Ross Stores, Petco, BNP Paribas, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Brookfield Property Partners, Neutrogena, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Dress for Success. To learn more about coaching with Alissa, please visit her website and follow her on Facebook
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