Motivation Monday | 3 steps for overcoming negative thoughts

It’s Monday. Time to go back to that place called work and deal with those people who have no regard for the amount of hard work you do. You roll out of bed simply because you don’t have a choice. The weekend flew by so fast as usual and you barely had time to do anything fun. “Why did I ever want to grow up?” Le sigh… You think to yourself, this adult life struggle is oh so real and to add insult to injury, you are underpaid and unappreciated. What is life?

If that’s how you’re feeling this morning, here’s a word of advice for you: SNAP OUT OF IT!

I mean we’re entitled to feel how we feel but there comes a time when you have got to tell your feelings to have a seat and put a stop to your tendency to complain about not feeling appreciated. We can’t seriously expect to be praised for everything we do right and even less so for doing the things we are supposed to do. Are we selfish to the point of doing good simply to be rewarded? No bueno!

Here are 3 simple steps to help you overcome your negative thoughts and slay all 52 of your Mondays every single year.

Decide not to be stressed out

One of my favorite preachers, Priscilla Shirer, once said that you’re either in 1 of 3 places in life: either you’re in the middle of a trial, fresh out of one or you’re about to step into one. But one thing is for sure, if you’re breathing, you will face hard times. Truer words have never been spoken in my opinion. If they’re guaranteed to come along at one point or another, doesn’t it make sense to prepare your mind to deal with life’s challenges instead of complaining and dwelling in your misery when they do happen? Listen, I have come to realize that the condition of your mind and thoughts determine the direction of your life. I encourage you to use your sound mind, evaluate the situation at hand, prioritize, don’t be to proud to ask others for advice, do your best in everything and decide every morning that no situation will stress you out. Such a postive attitude can singlehandedly change your thoughts which will in turn change your life. And hey! Your blood pressure will remain stable.

Trust your struggle

This one is a bit self explanatory so all I will say is bottom line, no situation is permanent. Some days will be rainy and others will be sunny. That’s just life! Trust that there is a lesson to be learned in your current situation. God allows you to face certain things today so that you are better equipped to handle tomorrow. So trust that your struggles have a purpose. Fight the good fight and have faith that brighter days are not far ahead.

Do good, anyway.

I’m sure most of you have heard the paradoxical commandments by Dr. Kent M. Keith. They illlustrate my last point perfectly:

“People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.”

If necessary, copy these commandments and post them somewhere you can see daily. People’s reactions should never dictate your actions and that’s a lesson I’ve learned over the years. What someone does is their responsibility and prerogative. Be responsible for your actions and do good whether or not someone is watching, whether or not you will be rewarded and whether or not you feel like it. That’s how you slay your Monday and everyday!

Now your turn: What part of this post resonated with you the most? Which of the three steps are you going to work on this week?

Will you be so kind to share this post with your friends and help them slay their Monday too? Let’s all be great this week!