Think “Best-Case Scenario” All the Time

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Let’s face it, these last few years have been really stressful, and just watching the daily news can bring you down. I often remind myself to adjust my attitude through gratitude. One simple way is to think about what you have instead of what you lack. Many people overanalyze situations, psych themselves out, and only consider the worst-case scenarios. I, for one, am guilty as charged. Let’s start this new year on a positive note and make a list of your “best-case scenarios.” What are the best things that could possibly happen to you? To your family? To the world? Have fun with this and think big.

This post is an excerpt from Badass Affirmations Habit Tracker by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Reflecting on Your Year—And Looking Forward

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The last month of this year of reflection is a good time to take stock of your life. Looking back at the year and assessing what worked and what didn’t is also an instrumental aspect of your self-development. Looking back is very healthy and a key part of your personal journey.

If something didn’t improve your life, calm your mind, feed your soul, or help you get ahead, maybe you need to just let it go. No matter what your spiritual orientation is, for true personal development it is essential to do the inner work. You must explore yourself deeply and discover what is meaningful to you, sense where you need to go, and set your spiritual goals. At the end of the day, at the end of this year, and at the end of your life, it will not matter how many houses or cars you have; what really will count is what kind of person you were and how you treated others.

Look inside and face the following questions. Can you answer them satisfactorily? By doing so, you will be able to determine and change the future course of events. The process of taking stock is an essential step in a life well lived, a life full of soul work, and a life that is challenging but ultimately joyful.

• Was the work of the last year “soul work”?
• Did you express yourself creatively?
• Did you take care of your family? Did you help others?
• What do you really want in your life for the coming year?
• What are your goals for the new year? Your resolutions?
• Who do you want to be?

This post is an excerpt from Badass Affirmations Habit Tracker by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

How to Have an Attitude of Gratitude

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• Be grateful and recognize the things others have done to help you.
• Say, “Thank you,” to someone and be specific about what you appreciate and why you appreciate it.
• Send a handwritten thank-you note. These are noteworthy because so few of us take the time to write and mail them.
• Think thoughts of gratitude—focus on two or three good things that happened today—and notice calm settle through your head, at least for a moment. It activates a part of the brain that floods the body with endorphins, or feel-good hormones.
• Remember the ways your life has been made easier or better because of others’ efforts. Be aware of and acknowledge the positive things, large and small, going on around you.
• Keep a gratitude journal to list the people or things you’re grateful for today. The list may start out short, but it will grow as you notice more of the good things around you.
• Join forces to do good. If you have survived illness or loss, you may want to reach out to others to help. This is a way of showing gratitude for those who reached out to you.

This post is an excerpt from Badass Affirmations Habit Tracker by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Gratitude Habits—Reframe Your Life by Seeing the Positive Possibilities

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I have been taught the art of reframing by my dearest friend, Nina. She is a true practitioner of gratitude and a living reminder to me of how valuable and truly life changing reframing is.

I’ll give you an example: When she was a very young mom, her workaholic husband abandoned the young family. Of course, she was shocked and reeling from this change, but she set about taking care of her daughters and herself and dealt with the considerable financial fallout. Very quickly, she reframed what happened: it was an opportunity to improve her financial literacy and learn how to manage her money. And how true this was! She has bought and sold many houses and created a rocking stock portfolio and a very happy life. When I am with her, I see her gently guide people toward reframing the vicissitudes of life and seeing the positive possibilities. In a world of Debbie Downers, be a Nina.

When we begin a daily practice of recognizing the positive events that occur and the pleasant encounters we have with others, we will start being more thankful as the days pass. Perhaps it’s someone who holds the door for you at the supermarket, the animated conversation you have with a stranger while at the coffee shop, or a hug with someone you love. These are the small moments, and often the ones we forget. Savor their beauty and what they tell you about humankind—that we do live among many good people.

This post is an excerpt from Badass Affirmations Habit Tracker by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Listening Is an Act of Love and Respect

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We don’t always have to donate time and energy to other parts of the world. Sometimes, help is needed much closer to home. Is a parent, sibling, spouse, friend, or coworker having a difficult time? Help lift their spirits by letting them experience that loving feeling. Invite them to coffee or dinner, surprise them with a simple gift, or take them somewhere they like. Lean forward and listen closely. Just listen.

This post is an excerpt from Badass Affirmations Habit Tracker by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Catch People Doing Something Right (And Make Sure They Know It)

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During difficult transitions, our natural tendency is to resist change and grow rigid. In this state, we seem to only be able to focus on the negatives. We think about the despair that follows the death of a loved one, but not the wonderful moments spent together celebrating their life. We think of the heartbreak of a relationship ending, but not the exhilaration and freedom of being unattached. We might even scold our loved ones, friends, or coworkers for something minor, when we ourselves wallow in similar negativity. But it is in these moments that gratitude can be used to alter this way of thinking.

Finding positives and accentuating them is the easiest way to turn those proverbial frowns upside down and gray skies back to blue. Try catching someone doing something right for a change, not something wrong. Giving praise for a job well done will lift all parties involved.

This post is an excerpt from Badass Affirmations Habit Tracker by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Esteem Others as You Would Esteem Yourself

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Compliment someone today and mean it. A genuine compliment can boost someone’s confidence and that is a great feeling. If you like your coworker’s blouse or new haircut (or both!), tell her. Open and honest communication works wonders for developing relationships and makes everybody’s day a little bit nicer. You can change the trajectory of someone’s day/week/month by simply asking them, “Do you know how great you are?”

This post is an excerpt from Badass Affirmations Habit Tracker by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

List Your Life Dream

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Instead of writing up and crossing things off of a bucket list, create a “life list.” Let your hopes, dreams, fears, and thoughts spill out of you and onto this list. Next to each entry, write down how that emotion or fear makes you feel—does it hold you back or empower you? This task will put you on the road to self-discovery. Knowing who you are is important in order to have relationships with others. Know thyself.

This post is an excerpt from Badass Affirmations Habit Tracker by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Badass Inspiration—Face a Fear and Conquer It

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I count myself as fortunate to not have many regrets. The ones I do have come from when I didn’t try something. There was one time when I was too embarrassed to take up an instrument as an adult because I worried about how terrible I would sound; other times I didn’t try a sport or join a group activity because I felt awkward. In hindsight, that all seems so silly to me. No one was judging me, except myself!

Let go of all that baggage and try new things. Learn as you go, and you will learn as you grow! I call this “Imagine a Day” where you think of something new and just do it!

Here is what I now know to be true: lack of imagination is the only limitation, and fear creates self-doubt. Take yourself out of “fear mode” and unlock the power of your own imagination. I urge you to imagine a day: pick something like painting, French cookery, playing piano, singing, learning a foreign language, yoga, rock-climbing, ballroom dancing, pottery, snorkeling—something that speaks to you on a profound level but scares you just a little. Find a class or experience and dive right in. Live your life no holds barred and regret free!

This post is an excerpt from Badass Affirmations Habit Tracker by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

A Walking Meditation with Benefits

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This is the simplest of rituals: one you can do every day of your life. Go for a walk and, as you stroll, take the time to look and really see what is in your path. For example, my friend Eileen takes a bag with her and picks up pieces of what she calls “future recycling” in her path. She does this as an act of love for the earth. During the ten years she practiced this walking meditation, she has probably turned a mountain of garbage into recycled glass, paper, and plastic. Eileen is very grounded. She is also a deeply happy person who shares joy with all in her path.

This post is an excerpt from Badass Affirmations Habit Tracker by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.