It is amazing how our attitude can color our experience. We have all had mornings when it feels like the world is against us. The more stressed and desperate we feel, the more evidence we find that life is an uphill battle. Thankfully, when we catch ourselves in a downward spiral we can choose a new course.
This week we started summer school in our district. The lead up to the first day went as smooth as can be. Everything fell into place and I was personally excited about getting started. Somehow, that excitement turned into anxiety when Monday morning arrived. As I got myself ready and then headed off to school it felt like I was driving with the emergency brake on. One part of me was excited to get to school while another was ready to go back to bed and hide.
I was painfully aware that my mind was struggling and conflicted. An old belief had activated in my mind. While I was planning and preparing for a successful summer session, another part of me was lamenting the fact that nothing ever goes my way. It did not help my mood that I was getting stuck behind the slowest drivers and hitting every red light.
As I sat at a light, I set an intention to see the good that was happening around me. Rather than remain feeling lonely and trapped, I began acknowledging all the support I was receiving from my friends, family, and colleagues in the district. I repeated a new idea a few times in my head, “Things are working out for me.” My mood lifted and so did the traffic.
Although I still had some nervousness, I started to look forward to the day. I felt relieved to remember that at any moment we can decide what we focus on. If we are willing to open our mind to the evidence that life is working on our behalf, we get to see a more inspiring picture. We begin to move in the direction of success and satisfaction. As a result, we also become an inspiration to others and life becomes a more delightful experience.
If you are struggling with life, it is time to take a breather. Set aside a few moments to examine your beliefs. Is there an old story active, possibly something you inadvertently bought into as a child? If so, you now have an opportunity to write a new story. Start by making a list of everything that is going well in your life. Relax and say a silent “thank you” to all the good people and happenings that you might have been feeling tempted to overlook. This simple exercise will lighten your mood and open the way for new, inspired action.
As you tap back into a sense of freedom and joy you will unlock new ideas and outlooks that will catapult you forward into wonderful new experiences. Life will feel particularly satisfying as you recognize that you made a choice to experience the good. As you see that the choices you make matter, a new sense of enthusiasm will bubble up. It is always refreshing to realize how loved and supported you really are.
Edward Biagiotti is the Inclusion Specialist for Culver City Unified School District. For questions, comments, and ideas for future columns, send an email to: EdwardBiagiotti@ccusd.org