Why being grateful and postive matter for a healthy business

Two things

Being grateful and positive. These are just a couple of things I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. It’s something our team talks about and what we each of us strive to do in our work and personal lives. This is often much easier said than done (at least where I’m concerned). It’s so easy to get caught up in the negative stuff that’s happening instead of staying rooted in what’s positive. Positivity and gratefulness take intention. Intentional thought and planning are important for so many areas in our lives, especially where our businesses are concerned.

As a freelance creative, if I am not intentional about how I plan my days and ultimately my goals, then my time seems to slip through my hands like sand. For me, being intentional makes all the difference in how my days go. And being intentionally grateful and positive has become important in how I do my work and live my life day-to-day. Focusing on the positive things and remembering to be grateful for those things allows me to appreciate the inevitable ‘bumps in the road’ that are sure to come about from time to time. 

Here are 5 things I do to be intentional about being grateful and staying positive.

1. Think positive

It might sound cliché, but I can promise you it isn’t. In pretty much every situation we’re faced with, we have two choices. We can either see what’s positive or we can see what’s negative. That’s not oversimplifying, that’s just the reality of our lives. There have been times when work was slow for me. Being a freelance artist is much like owning an Etsy shop. There are super busy times and then there are times when I wonder if work will ever pick up again. Instead of thinking about it being slow and freaking out about all the “what if’s”, the best plan during the slow times is for me to use my time wisely. Am I tempted to complain? Yeah! Do I ever give into that? Definitely. But I do my best to make the most of the slow seasons when they come. After all, when things slow down I get a chance to catch my breath and focus on details I don’t have time to focus on when I’m slammed.

As an Etsy seller, the slow times give you an amazing opportunity to practice NOT getting caught up in the negative and instead, working on all the things you’ve been pushing aside. Pictures need to be revitalized? Do it! Been feeling like your descriptions are not quite what they should be? Rewrite them! Don’t let yourself get caught up and bogged down in the fear that slow times won’t pick up again. Which brings me to my next point…

2. What you dwell on manifests

So it’s slow and you’re doing a great job staying productive, but that’s not all you need to do. During the down times, instead of constantly thinking about what will happen if business stays slow, be excited for all the days ahead which will be SO busy and filled! Think about how you’ll feel when you have the perfect number of orders coming into your shop. Imagine over and over the dollar amount that you’ve had in mind as the perfect income and be grateful for it even before you have it! This isn’t some kind of hocus-pocus thought process, it’s a tried and true method. There have been MANY times in my life where I’ve experienced dwelling on something I didn’t even have yet and then watched it become a reality in my life. This is something I practice as often as I can because it truly works. Maya Angelou once said, “Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it.”

3. Write it down

Another way that helps me stay grateful and positive is to write down what I’m grateful for. Literally. Take out a journal or make a list of all the things you’re grateful for in this moment. Honestly, we have SO much to be grateful for that we don’t think about. For me, it can be as small as appreciating a sunny day! This is also a beautiful way to remember we generally have way more to be grateful for than naught. It’s also a fantastic way to dwell on what you want to happen and be grateful for it before it becomes reality.

4. Create a vision board

I’d heard and read of people doing this, but I’d never tried it myself. I thought it was kind of unnecessary. Boy was I wrong! Being able to see pictures of what I want (for me it’s places I want to travel) is a constant reminder of all the amazing things that are possible for my life! I’m such a visual person that seeing actual images of what I want really helps me focus on my goals and on what I need to do to get where I want to go.

5. Spend time meditating

Whether it’s time spent in prayer or meditation, the benefits of being still and quiet are proven to help us stay positive and be more productive. Setting aside time to be still and quiet are also proven to increase concentration and improve focus, attention, and the ability to work under stress. On days where I wake up early and start my day with meditation, I can see a clear difference in my overall productivity and feelings of well-being. 

What are some ways that you stay positive and grateful in your life and business? I’d love to hear what they are in the comments! And for this post, let’s create a place we can all encourage each other to pursue gratefulness and positivity.

Happy selling, everyone!