My social media timeline was bringing me down until I saw a touching tweet from Microsoft Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurie. She posted, “My hubby and I are both softies. Working in buildings in Redmond within a mile of each other. Before COVID, we had managed to have lunch once in ten years. Today is lunch #190. And for that, I’m grateful.” In an instant, I was reminded how much your outlook can influence your results.
In the September series, Finish Strong, we’re talking about five tips to reach the finish line. The old way to finish strong was to put your head down and push until you got what you wanted. However, the new way is to understand that how you get there matters, too. You can either look at your circumstances, curse all the obstacles you’ve overcome and finish with a chip on your shoulder, thinking, Look what I’ve had to put up with! Or, you can take a different approach and be appreciative, thinking, Look at how far I’ve come—amazing!
Let me tell you how an award-winning film director decided to change her results by changing her mind.
Ava Duvernay started in the movie business as a publicist and eventually moved behind the camera, directing pictures like “Selma” and the TV mini-series, “When They See Us.” Ava’s services are in high demand, which is good. What’s not so good are the jam-packed days and the long To-Do list that goes along with every project that Ava calls “straight up bonkers.”
Ava’s To-Do list added to her stress rather than making her feel on top of her game. That was, until Ava decided to flip the script from overwhelm to gratitude by shifting her language. Pressure-filled statements like “I have to drive my Gramma here,” became, “I get to drive my Gramma here.” An anxious declaration of, “I have to write this script today” became, “I get to write.”
That small change redirected her focus from stress and pressure to joy and gratitude. And gratitude is like the ultimate sourdough starter—it multiplies and just keeps getting better.
Like Ava, are you facing a To-Do list that never seems to end? Instead of judging yourself for what you didn’t get done yesterday or worrying about everything that needs to get done today, focus on gratitude. Appreciate all the things you get to do—all the people, places, and things that are asking for your presence and contribution.
Changing your outlook is more than random positivity or wishful thinking—it’s intentionally using the soft skill of creativity. Mix up what you’ve been saying to yourself by applying imagination to every statement. Here are a few real-world examples to spark your thinking:
When the finish line isn’t quite in your line of sight, keep going by expressing gratitude for the progress you’ve made and the opportunities in front of you. Whether you’re trying to accomplish something big or small, pour a little love on your To-Do list and finish strong!