The journey to a positive life isn’t easy, it never has been. It’s not a quick fix because this change is meant to last, but when a journey isn’t simple and straightforward, that means there are bound to be setbacks. Getting rid of old patterns comes with some resistance, and there may be times when you find yourself falling into old habits and bad habits. When that happens, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, take a moment to recalibrate and take the following steps to get back on track.
Sometimes, you’re off track and four steps back down a dangerous path before you even realize what has happened. Old habits feel comfortable enough that you can stay in them for a while before the reality of your backslide hits you. When this happens, it’s critical to take a moment and reflect. Reflection makes it possible to identify just where you got off track and allows you to pinpoint what contributed to the misstep. Knowing these provides the foundation to put that negativity behind you.
In our guidebooks we talk about the importance of planning and planning SMART. It’s important to set yourself up for success, and it’s even more important to get yourself back on track when things get difficult. SMART plans are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. If you stop and focus on these few things when you’re off-balance, you can quickly devise a plan that avoids the mental chaos of spiraling into negativity. Find the next step back toward being where you want to be and take it. Then celebrate it, plot, and take the next step.
If there’s one thing we want you to learn on this Personal Positivity journey, it’s this: You are not alone. Having a strong community around you is the key that many greats over the years have attributed to their success, and it’s only a matter of time until you’re on that list, too! Just like the greats, when you find yourself wandering back toward a negative mindset or dealing with an overwhelming circumstance, you have to draw on the power of your community to get you through. You’re not alone, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. We would recommend that you keep the help you ask for within the circles of positive influence you’ve cultivated, but it’s important to remember that reaching out is not weak. In fact, it’s one of the strongest things you can do.
And finally, in order to get back to where you want to be when you’ve fallen off track, take a small step. Don’t expect to blink and be right back to where you were before, ready to forge ahead. Give yourself some grace as you’re climbing back to your previous point. Know that small steps make up entire journeys, and there is no shame in starting small. In fact, sometimes taking one small action a day is the only thing you can do to get back to a place of consistent Positivity. And that’s more than fine – it’s great. The important thing here is that you’re committed to getting back on track, you’re committed to your journey. That’s what matters most.
We’re not like other programs – we don’t expect you to be perfect from the moment you say “Yes” to this Personal Positivity Adventure. There will be things that pull you back, there will be things that surge you forward, there will be sticky moments and quicksand and old habits that just refuse to let go. That’s okay. We’ll equip you with not only the tools to move forward, but the tools to deal with falling back, too. What are you waiting for? Let’s do this.
