From Spiral to Sparkle: Flipping Your Mindset!

Resilience is as much about mindset as it is action. I used to think this was bogus advice. That was until I met my husband. My husband was the guy that always saw the positive side of any situation. He could find the golden nugget in the pile of burning rubble every time. I miss having that side of him around every day, so I really hold on to those memories. His mindset was like a well oiled machine — his engine of perseverance was always firing on all cylinders.  

Positive thought patterns are not my norm. I often find myself falling back into negative thought patterns. However, learning to pause during tough times and ask yourself what lessons you can learn from the experience is incredibly valuable. Changing how you think isn't about ignoring problems or pretending they don't exist. It means acknowledging the challenges while still recognizing that even in tough times, there can be small moments of positivity.  

It took me a long time to realize that your mindset plays a huge role in building resilience. I write about my father in my upcoming book. My father struggled with negativity, and it impacted him deeply. Negativity was such a regular part of his life that it became comfortable, causing him to lose sight of his goals and what mattered most to him.  

When negativity becomes a pattern, it can disrupt our thinking, and we get stuck in negative behaviors. My father, despite being very intelligent and talented, let the negativity and shame he carried from his past control his life. In the end, it was part of what took his life at the early age of 49. 

Resilience involves being an active participant in your life. Sometimes this also involves adaptability and being open to change.