Have you noticed that there is an abundance of negativity going on around us? Today’s message is about how to protect yourself from it. I have three simple things you can do to stay Front-Row Positive in a sometimes Balcony Negative world. What I mean by that is we need to arm ourselves with protection from the negativity that can be so rampant these days. These three things will help you stay in the front-row of your life and avoid slipping back into the balcony.
1. Have Positive Expectations
Instead of setting the bar low to avoid disappointment, why not set your expectations super positive first thing in the morning? Expect good things to come your way. Expect those uncomfortable conversations to have the best positive outcome. Expect your next presentation to land as you wanted or even better. Visualize your ideal front-row day and then look for those positive outcomes.
2. Assume Positive Intent
It would be nice if everyone in our world was positive and did what we wanted, never pushed our buttons, and always behaved in a way that made sense for us! But that’s not our reality. Sometimes we are going to be faced with behaviors that we don’t like from our customers, colleagues, strangers, prospects and even family. And sometimes they say or do things that may surprise us. Instead of reacting immediately with judgement, why not assume positive intent? Meaning, why not give people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they didn’t mean any harm at all. Maybe they didn’t realize their words were hurtful. Maybe they made a mistake. Start with assuming positive intent, and then ask questions if you need clarity. Ask questions without judgment, just to gather more information before you move on to judgement. Remember, you can’t be curious and defensive at the same time, so be curious.
3. Give some grace
At the end of each day as you reflect on how things unfolded vs. your expectations, give yourself some grace. No one is perfect, and we all make mistakes. Ask yourself what you could learn from how your day unfolded, what lessons can you pull from your day. Then, show some grace to yourself. When you do that, it’s easier to show grace to other people as well.
Here’s the good news. The next day, you get to start these three things all over again! After all, each day you get to choose where you sit in your life, and I suggest you choose to sit in the front-row.
Thanks again for watching today’s Front-Row Friday video and sharing it with your colleagues, friends, or your family. I love getting your notes of appreciation! I never know who is watching, so I always appreciate it when you take the time to tell me how the message resonated with you.
Have an amazing Front-Row Friday!
Your Head Usher,
