What is right, right now?
What is right, right now?
What is one thing in your life that is right, right now?
Is your family healthy? Do you have someone that loves you? Are you safe?
Day-to-day life can be hard. There are stressors, to-do lists, chores, and more to do than time to do it. When we are in the middle of it all, it’s easy to find all of the things that are wrong.
My friend, Stephanie Dalfonzo, shared this simple question in a Facebook Live discussion. It’s a small question with a big impact.
Take your home for example. Whether you live in an apartment, house, or on a friend’s couch, it’s easy to look around and find all of the things that you wish were different. The walls might need to be painted, carpet might need to be replaced, or maybe you are dying to get rid of the wallpaper you’ve had since 1985. I’m sure you can look around and find quite a few things you wish were different.
But when was the last time you looked around your home or living space for the things that are right? Do you have electricity? Running water? A comfortable place to sit or sleep?
When we zero in on what’s right in our life, our brain begins to scan the environment for whatever is top of mind. If you’re looking for good stuff, you’re much more likely to find it. Doing this often will literally change the neural structure and function of your brain, offsetting your negativity bias. It also produces dopamine and serotonin which will lift your mood and calm your nervous system. You’ll find yourself in a positive spiral, rather than a negative one.
So, here is your assignment (should you choose to accept it):
Write the following on a piece of paper or a sticky note and display it somewhere you will see regularly (computer monitor, refrigerator, bathroom mirror, etc.): WHAT IS RIGHT, RIGHT NOW?
Since our brain cares more about our survival than our happiness, it is constantly looking around every corner to find what’s wrong. Unfortunately, we tend to find what we look for. This week, try looking for what’s right about your home, job, kids, family, and life.
Then next time you find something wrong, counter it by finding something that’s right.
Be intentional about finding the good in people and situations. Take notice of little moments, appreciate small gestures, and communicate your gratitude to others. The more specific, the better. Your brain becomes primed to start finding the good stuff out there, and there is plenty of it — even in difficult times.
You can double down on these positive emotions by taking time to savor them. Every time you sit in a positive moment, you embed it more deeply into the neural structure of your brain. Whether it is savoring the first sip of coffee, snuggling with your pups, sending a text of gratitude to a friend, or binging a new Netflix series, delicious moments are all around us if we just take time to experience them.
Leave a comment on social or send me an email at [email protected]. Let me know one thing in your life that is right, right now, and as always, share your delicious moments!
Stay brave and resilient,
Anne
And don’t forget…every single day for the month of November, practice at least one random act of kindness. We rarely know at the time what a huge impact a small act of kindness may have on someone’s day or even someone’s life. Let’s make kindness go viral this month!
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Anne breaks down the daily habits and skills needed to grow and cultivate RESILIENCE.
I had an incredible time chatting with @dr.cindyspeaks on Positively Altered about one of my favorite topics >> resilience!
💪 We covered everything from how stress affects the brain to actionable strategies for resetting your resilience and reclaiming balance. Plus… we even talked donkeys!
🎧 Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-23-the-resilience-reset-transforming-stress/id1773804535?i=1000699134975
In this episode, we dive into:
🧠 How to train your brain for resilience
😩 The power of sitting in the “suck”
💡 Simple strategies to reset stress and find balance
If you’re ready to transform stress into strength, this one’s for you!
What is on your to-do list for the week? ✅
I’m sure it includes meetings, tasks, personal chores, and follow-ups, but does it include things that bring you joy?
Instead of waiting for happiness, create it.. You can even focus on enjoyable things while doing the have-to do things.
Slogging through paperwork? Light a candle and listen to your favorite tunes.
Going for a drive? Listen to a stand-up comic or a great book.
Don’t neglect what brings you joy and happiness—make it a ritual and part of your resilience-building routine.
You know that heart-stopping moment when you try to change lanes, only to realize that someone is in your blind spot?
Blind spots aren’t just for driving. In life and leadership, we all have blind spots—things others see clearly that we don’t.
The tricky part? Blind spots aren’t always glaring flaws. Often, they’re our good intentions getting lost in translation. So, how do you uncover them?
Here’s a simple twist that will make a big difference: Ask for advice instead of feedback. 🗣
This slight shift makes people more likely to offer constructive, actionable insights—without triggering defensiveness. Plus, it builds trust and strengthens relationships.
Rather than trying to make drastic changes, pick one behavior and integrate it into your day.
Want to start a gratitude practice? Do it while you brush your teeth. Want to take deep breaths? Practice while you make coffee. Adding a new habit to an existing one makes it easier to stick with it.
#mindfulmonday #habitstacking #atomichabits #jamesclear
Humor changes your biochemistry, emotions, thoughts, and behavior. 😆
A positive mood boosts your immune system! Whether you find your laughter through being around friends, going to a comedy show, watching funny movies, or just being goofy, don’t underestimate the power of a belly laugh and a sense of humor.
When something stressful happens, there are really 2 different things taking place.
There’s the thing that is happening, and then there is the story that you tell yourself about the thing that’s happening.
The story is where criticism, judgment, self-doubt, and shame come in.
Whatever you have going on in your life right now, take a step back and try to view it from a third-person perspective. See if you can separate the facts from the story you tell yourself about it.
If we can start to separate the situation from the story, the story becomes much less scary because we realize it is one we’re telling.
This makes it easier to accept where you are without judgment, self-doubt, and shame. What we practice grows stronger. 📕
Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #TruthBomb Dropper.
Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 52 Strategies for Life, Love & Work and Strong Enough: Choosing Courage, Resilience and Triumph.