“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”
― Roy T. Bennett
How important is gratitude and affirmations in interviewing? Have you even considered these subjects when you think of interviewing, your work, or your life? This first session will focus on gratitude. Studies have shown that when we practice gratitude, we are more empathetic, sleep better, and strengthen our immune systems. Quite frankly, this is just the beginning of the list of positive results.
You’ve probably seen positive affirmations across social media, posters, and cards. They’re all over Facebook and Instagram, even sometimes on LinkedIn, and they can seem a little cheesy or insincere at times. But did you know that positive affirmations can be powerful tools for change?
What are Affirmations? And How do They Work?
Simply put, affirmations are anything you say or think. They make up a large part of the mind-talk that everyone has running in their heads all the time. We all use affirmations, though we don’t do it consciously. This inaction allows our default, negative thoughts to run our lives, and sometimes run our mouths.
Think about the messages that are part of your regular self-talk. Do you have kind, positive, encouraging self-talk, or does your Inner Critic dominate with harsh words of criticism? Think about those that you are around most frequently, are they positive or negative speakers.
Many of your messages will have been seeded during your childhood. Were you encouraged and supported to give it your best shot, or were you told you were lazy, or no good? Those messages are still affecting your current mindset. This information is essential to keep in mind when you are interviewing others. You should assess that mindset.
Whether you have a positive or a negative script running through your mind, those thoughts and beliefs shape your reality. Negative thoughts feed self-doubt and discourage you from trying to reach your full potential. If you believe you’re no good at giving presentations, you’re not going to feel confident enough to give it your all. If you reflect on your introverted nature and decide interviewing is too difficult, your success rate will be damaged. Remember the importance of confidence and credibility to your interviewing success.
Change up Your Self-Talk
The good news is that you can change your self-talk by choosing to use positive affirmations to rewire your brain to have a positive mindset. Consistency says with the positive mindset change toward positive affirmations should be a parallel increase in displaying gratitude.
The process is pretty straightforward if you stick to some basic premises:
- Always use the present tense. Your brain reacts in the moment, so make that moment as positive as you can.
- Keep it positive and simple. Saying short, positive phrases like ‘I am calm’ is much more effective than telling yourself, “I mustn’t get upset.’
- Use repetition. If you repeat your affirmations regularly and consistently, you will strengthen those neural pathways in the brain. Your habitual patterns of thought and belief will become more positive. Try to repeat your chosen affirmations three times a day for at least five minutes.
- Show more gratitude in your interactions with others. Use positive wording and don’t be afraid of using the term “thank you” often.
Choose to Change your Life
You have the power to control and choose your life experience. Whatever you tell yourself affirms that you want to have more of it in your life. So, if you’re angry or resentful, you’re setting yourself up for more of that in your life. If you’re confident and hopeful, if you expect things to go well, then that’s precisely what will happen. And even when it doesn’t, you will be better positioned to handle the waves that life cascades against the shore.
You can choose to feel good and positive about your life. Using conscious affirmations is a great way to start making those positive changes today.
When it comes to gratitude and affirmations have you thought about whether you are handling these effectively or not? Or do you care about this enough (see a few weeks’ past blog on having passion)? Do you plan for opportunities to display gratitude and practice affirmations? If not, why not?
Anderson Investigative Associates is positioned to custom-tailor training to your specific needs. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the issue of gratitude or positive affirmations or any training need, please reach out. Additional issues pertaining to interviewing, auditing, and investigations can be found in other blogs and videos that I have produced and are contained in most blocks of instruction that our company presents.
If you have additional questions, comments, or have an interviewing topic you would like me to address, give me a shout. In the meantime, be well, stay safe out there, and find a way to stop worrying….it will get you nowhere fast.
Mark A. Anderson
Director of Training and Development
Anderson Investigative Associates, llc
114 Loucks Avenue
Scottdale, PA 15683
manderson@andersoninvestigative.com
tel:912-571-6686
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