Paying attention to what’s working
It’s often much easier to notice what we’re doing wrong, rather than what we’re doing right. Military and first responder roles rely on critical analysis of potential shortfalls in order to maximize safety.
Even when our actions are not motivated by the desire for recognition, it’s always satisfying to know when we got it right or that our efforts are making a difference.
The problem of focusing on our missteps and passing over successes, however small they might be, is that is fosters a bias to overlook the good when we are confronted with challenges.
I like to think of the person who came up with the idea of building the first boat. They may have thrown many items in the water and examined what made them sink, but chances are they spent more time examining what made things float in order to come up with the winning formula. It can often be easier to focus on our weaknesses rather than our strengths. But how much healthier would we be if we mastered the habit of noticing what we do well?
How might your day be different if the focus was on all the little things you are doing that are having a positive impact? Can you identify three in this moment?Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.Executive Director, Landing Strong
