By Angie Coole
Brand Manager, Greene Resources
Greene Resources had the wonderful opportunity to be the presenting sponsor for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce's Professional Women's Luncheon on April 27, 2016. At this luncheon, Valorie Burton presented on the topic, "Successful Women Think Differently."
Valorie Burton is a best-selling author, speaker, and life coach, dedicated to helping people be unstoppable in every area of life. She has appeared numerous times on television programs, including the TODAY Show, Dr. Oz, CNN, and has written for Oprah Magazine, Essence, and many other magazines. Valorie earned her master's degree in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a master's degree in journalism from Florida A&M University.
Valorie's discussion included six different habits to cultivate a healthier, happier and more resilient mindset. These habits originate in positive psychology, a study of the strengths that enable people to thrive and have happier, more successful lives.
1. Believe You Can Do It
Adapt a thinking style that combines reality with a positive outlook. By viewing failures as an opportunity to learn something and by taking credit for your successes, you become more likely to succeed in the future.
2. Get Off The "Hedonic Treadmill"
The "hedonic treadmill" is the idea that human beings adapt to improvement. When something great happens, whether it is a promotion, new house, new relationship, or some other achievement, we quickly grow accustomed to this new, positive change, and it loses its value. To prevent this from happening, reflect on your life over the past few years. Some of the things you only hoped for 2-3 years ago may be things that you have right now. By reflecting on these past achievements and creating simple changes and goals, you can create a reservoir of joy and excitement in your life.
3. Stop Trying To Fix Your Weaknesses
Stop focusing on everything that is wrong about you and start focusing on what is right. Remember, there are hundreds of things you do not know how to do or cannot do well, and that's okay. By reflecting on the things you like about yourself and your strengths, you will grow and continue to improve.
4. Build Your Muscle Of Self-Control
According to the Marshmallow Study by Stanford University, your ability to develop self-control and discipline has a much greater impact on your ability to thrive and succeed than talent or intelligence. If you do not have a purpose, it is very easy to give up. Create goals and make yourself work towards them, and do not let failures stand in your way of trying again.
5. Be Prepared For Battle
Recognize that there are some thoughts that can be controlled, as well as some that cannot be controlled. By noticing when you have negative thoughts and taking steps to combat them, you can develop a positive outlook that will lead to greater success. When a negative event or challenge occurs, instead of jumping to the worst case scenario or the craziest negative thought, think of the best case scenario or the craziest positive thought. By recognizing "crazy thoughts" or negative thought patterns, you can break them and cultivate newer, more helpful thought processes.
6. Cultivate Positive Emotion
Negative events inevitably occur in life and can often outweigh any positive events that happen simultaneously. To counteract this, you must constantly cultivate positive emotions, even in small ways. Create anticipation for something in the future, like a vacation, treat, or outing, or volunteer your time and service to those in need. Find an activity you like to do simply for the fun of it. Smile. By always looking for opportunities to create a sense of joy, you can prepare yourself for those inevitable negative moments.
Being successful in today’s world requires the development of unique thought processes, a commitment to follow through and the ability to never give up. At Greene Resources, we are always eager to meet candidates and clients who demonstrate these qualities because we know that these attributes will allow them to reach their career goals, contribute to a positive business culture and allow both them and the company to achieve greater success. Learn more here.
Opportunities for Professional Women
The Chamber offers several opportunities for education and networking for professional women. Reserve your spot at the next Chamber Professional Women's Luncheon on July 21 here.
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