Today’s Thought Partner is titled “Powerful Thinking vs. Positive Thinking”. In my opinion, these two concepts are different, both necessary, and often, mistakenly, used interchangeably. Powerful thinking is not necessarily positive thinking, and vice versa.
For example, if I’m laid up and out of commission because I’m sick, positively thinking I can sustain a full day of coaching sessions is not helpful. It’s unrealistic. Deciding to reschedule those clients to an alternative time ASAP allows me to prioritize my clients, calendar, and health. That’s a pretty simplistic example of the difference, yet a clear illustration that positive thinking can get you only so far, and the result, in this case, probably wouldn’t be worth much.
It’s good to be positive.
It’s great to be powerful.
Powerful thinking puts you into action.
How can you become a more POWERFUL THINKER?
Ask yourself these 3 questions:
1. “What’s the Worst that Could Happen?” – We ask this question to our friends, family, and colleagues when we’re trying to positively motivate them into doing something daunting, scary, or challenging. Asking yourself this question and really taking a hard look at the answers will reveal if taking that next action is worth the “worst”. Usually, the worst isn’t so bad after all – and it’s rarely something you can’t come back from. Assessing “what’s the worst that could happen?” and then deciding from a powerful position what your next course of action will be can be reassuring, even if something doesn’t go as planned.
2. “Do I need a Mike Tyson plan?” – The American boxer, Mike Tyson, famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” A tad violent, but poignant. Your plan may be great, and you can get punched in the proverbial mouth, so what’s your backup plan? Having a backup strategy, a plan B (or even a partial one), will make you feel more powerful in your decision-making and your strategy. At some point in your journey, you’ll feel like you were punched in the mouth, “What’s your Mike Tyson plan”?
3. “What are you teaching me, Universe?” – Every day we learn something. Some days we may not want the lesson. On those days, it’s important to ask the Universe (or whomever or whatever global presence you’d like) for what the lesson is. Maybe it’s not how to deal with a particular setback as much as it is focusing on patience, either with people or process. I’ve mentioned before, wishing things were easier isn’t going to get us farther. Deciphering the lesson we’re learning from whatever it is we’re working on allows us to think about our position from a powerful place. Learning is power.
It’s good to be positive.
It’s great to be powerful.
Powerful thinking puts you into action.
How will you be a POWERFUL THINKER today?
