- Full Potential Zone
- Posts
- 15 Reasons You’re Not Happy—And How to Fix It
15 Reasons You’re Not Happy—And How to Fix It
Justin Mecham
August 12, 2024
In partnership with
Hey Full Potential Zoners!
Negativity affects your life more than you think.
Studies show that negative thinking can reduce your productivity by up to 40%. (Harvard Business Review)
You're less productive.
You're less motivated.
You're less creative.
You're less healthy.
You're less happy.
First, a BIG thanks to this week’s sponsor:
Ease into investing
Ease being the key word. With automated tool like portfolio rebalancing and dividend reinvestment, Betterment makes investing easy for you, and a total grind for your money.
In contrast, positivity boosts creativity by 50%. (Journal of Experimental Social Psychology)
You're more motivated.
You're more productive.
You're more creative.
You're healthier.
You're happier.
Negativity isn't just a mood.
It keeps you stuck, harms relationships, and slows your career.
So, how can we be more positive?
Today we are going to help leaders master this by using:
‘15 Types of Negativity to Stop'.
Let’s dive in!
How to Overcome Each One
Perfectionism:
Set a strict time limit on tasks to prevent overanalyzing. Accept "good enough" as a standard to break the cycle of perfectionism.
Self-Doubt:
Keep a thought journal to track and challenge negative self-talk. Replace doubts with evidence-based affirmations.
Judgment:
Practice seeing the positives in yourself and others. Acknowledge at least one strength for every flaw you notice.
Worry:
Use mindfulness techniques like deep breathing to bring your focus to the present moment, reducing the space for worry.
Living in the Past:
Set a "thought stop" trigger—when past regrets come up, redirect your thoughts to a present goal or task.
Holding Grudges:
Write a letter of forgiveness (you don’t have to send it) to release the emotional hold that grudges have on you.
Overcontrolling:
Delegate one small task each day to someone else to practice letting go and trusting others.
Blaming Others:
Reflect on your role in a situation before assigning blame. Own your part, no matter how small, to regain control.
Assuming the Worst:
Challenge catastrophic thoughts by asking, “What’s the worst that could happen?” and then plan for that outcome.
Comparing:
Focus on your personal progress by tracking your achievements regularly. Celebrate your own milestones instead of comparing them to others.
Procrastination:
Break tasks into smaller, actionable steps with immediate deadlines to reduce the overwhelm that leads to procrastination.
Fear of Failure:
Reframe failure as a learning experience. After every setback, identify at least one lesson that can improve future efforts.
Overthinking:
Set aside a specific "worry time" each day where you allow yourself to overthink. Once the time is up, move on to another activity.
Complaining:
Implement a gratitude practice by listing three things you are grateful for each time you catch yourself complaining.
Negative Self-Talk:
Replace self-criticism with self-compassion by asking, “Would I say this to a friend?” and then rephrase your thoughts accordingly.
Perfectionism
A marketing team I was consulting with was struggling with project delays and burnout.
I almost immediately noticed the issue stemmed from a culture of perfectionism.
Team members were hesitant to submit their work unless it was flawless, leading to missed deadlines, constant revisions, and increased stress.
This was creating a very toxic work environment.
I wanted to help the team break free from the cycle of perfectionism.
Here's what I did and you can too:
Set Realistic Standards:
I worked with the team to define what "good enough" looked like for their projects. We set clear, realistic goals that prioritized progress over perfection.
Implement Time Limits:
I introduced strict time limits for each phase of a project. By enforcing deadlines for drafts and final submissions, the team learned to focus on what was essential and let go of unnecessary details.
Encourage a Growth Mindset:
I led workshops to help the team reframe mistakes as opportunities to learn rather than failures. We discussed the benefits of making progress, even if it meant submitting work that wasn’t perfect.
Provide Feedback Loops:
To maintain quality while reducing the burden of perfectionism, I established quick feedback loops. Team members would share their work early and often, receiving constructive feedback that allowed them to make improvements without the pressure of having to be perfect from the start.
Results:
Within a few weeks, the team’s productivity improved significantly.
They were able to meet deadlines without sacrificing quality, and their stress levels decreased.
The atmosphere in the office became more positive, and clients noticed the improvement in turnaround times and quality.
The team’s morale improved as they felt more confident in their ability to deliver results without the crushing weight of perfectionism.
Here's how you can make it real over the next 4 days:
Day 1: Awareness
Choose one of the 15 lessons you want to work on this week.
Start by becoming aware of when and how this negativity shows up in your daily life.
Keep a small journal or use a notes app to jot down every time you notice the behavior or thought pattern.
Be specific—what triggered it, how you reacted, and what the outcome was.
The goal today is just to observe without judgment.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Help me become aware of when and how [insert the negativity you chose, e.g., ‘perfectionism’ or ‘self-doubt’] shows up in my daily life. What are some common triggers, and how can I recognize this pattern in the moment?”
Day 2: Small Shift
Today, focus on making a small shift when you notice the behavior or thought pattern creeping in.
For example, if you chose “Perfectionism,” when you catch yourself obsessing over a minor detail, take a deep breath and move on to the next task.
Write down what you did differently and how it felt to make this shift.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "I want to make a small shift today when I notice [insert the negativity you chose, e.g., ‘procrastination’ or ‘negative self-talk’] creeping in. What is one simple action I can take to change my reaction in the moment?"
Day 3: Action Step
Take one concrete action that challenges the negativity.
If it’s “Procrastination,” tackle a small task you’ve been avoiding.
If it’s “Self-Doubt,” write down three positive things about yourself or your abilities.
Whatever the lesson, choose an action that helps you confront it head-on.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "What’s a concrete action I can take today to directly confront [insert the negativity you chose, e.g., ‘comparing’ or ‘worrying’]? How can I make sure this action is manageable and effective?"
Day 4: Reflect and Reinforce
Reflect on the past three days and identify any changes in how you feel or act.
Write down any progress you made, no matter how small.
Then, plan one more action you can take to keep reinforcing this new habit or mindset.
This could be setting a reminder for the future or sharing your experience with someone to keep yourself accountable.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Help me reflect on the progress I’ve made over the last three days in dealing with [insert the negativity you chose, e.g., ‘overthinking’ or ‘holding grudges’]. What’s one more step I can take today to reinforce these positive changes?"
We often underestimate the power of our thoughts and habits.
Each negative pattern identified is an opportunity to reclaim control over your life.
By consciously working to break these cycles, you’re not just avoiding negativity—you’re building a stronger, more resilient self.
It’s not about erasing flaws, but about understanding and improving them.
With each small victory, you’re shaping a better future for yourself.
Until next week and with lots of love,
Justin
This Week’s Growth Recommendations
Book To Read:
"The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown (see it here)
TED Talk to Watch
"The Power of Vulnerability" by Brené Brown (see it here)
I have built and sold 4 successful companies and I have over 20 years of executive experience.
I have grown my LinkedIn audience to 245,000+ followers in 11 months.
Let me share my secrets and help you:
Grow/make money on LinkedIn
Increase sales
Create positive cultures
Streamline operations
Wow your customers
Develop leadership skills
And much, much more
Book an “Ask Me Anything” meeting by Clicking Here
Download today’s PDF by Clicking Here
Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe and get my free eBook Click Here
Want to Sponsor this newsletter or a LinkedIn post? Click Here