There are many ways to live life. One view is that people can aim to follow positive cycles rather than negative circles. They can do this as individuals, teams or organisations.
The following sections focus on how individuals may follow these approaches. As mentioned, however, these can also be followed by groups of people.
Positive Cycles
Looking back, can you think of a time when you aimed to follow a positive cycle? You may have chosen to have a positive attitude, translate this into positive actions and, as a result, achieve positive things.
You may have been developing a healthier lifestyle, recovering from a setback, tackling a challenge or doing another activity. This may have led to you encouraging both yourself and other people.
Different people follow this approach in different ways. Here are some of the ways that people may describe how they follow positive cycles rather than negative cycles in their life and work.
Positive Cycles – I Can Choose:
To take responsibility for shaping my future … To follow a structure in my daily life … To do something each day towards achieving my life goals … To eat nutritious food … To walk several times a day … To do things that gave me positive energy … To spend time with positive people.
To get an early success each day … To do more of the work that gives me satisfaction … To set goals and get a sense of success … To be kind … To build on who I am rather than worry about who I am not … To reflect on the positive things that have happened that day.
Somebody who puts themselves into positive cycles may find these can lead to a tipping point. They may reach a stage where the habits they follow can create a transformational effect. They may follow the habit of living a positive life.
Negative Cycles
Some people put themselves into negative cycles. They may have a negative attitude, translate this into negative actions and, as a result, achieve negative things. They may hurt themselves or other people.
Different people follow this approach in different ways. Here are some of the ways that people may describe how they may follow negative cycles in their lives and work.
Negative Cycles – I May Sometimes Choose:
To not take responsibility … To see myself as a victim … To say the world is to blame … To let myself drift rather than follow a structure in my life … To fail to exercise … To eat poor food … To stop doing things that I enjoy.
To compare myself to other people … To focus on what is wrong in the world … To not manager triggers that can lead to me going into a downwards spiral … To feel there is no hope.
Somebody who puts themselves into negative cycles may reach another kind of tipping point. They can get to the stage where they fall into a state of negativity, cynicism or depression.
Positive Cycles In The Future
Let’s return to your own life. Imagine that you want to follow positive cycles in the future. How can you make this happen?
You may want to maintain a sense of gratitude and encourage other people. You may want to create and follow a structure in your life. You may want to do things that give you positive energy.
You may want to build on your strengths and do satisfying work. You may want to be the best you can be rather than compare yourself to others. You may aim to do something each day towards achieving your life goals.
How to respond if you get into a negative cycle? One approach is: a) to recognise what is happening; b) to do something to put yourself in a positive cycle; c) to get a quick success. It is then to build on this momentum and get positive results.
You will have your own approach towards following positive cycles rather than negative cycles. Taking these steps can sometimes benefit both yourself and other people.
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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