Learning to March in April

Every soldier and high school band member learns to march. You start off on the right foot and focus on putting it down on the beat to keep leading you onward. The left foot will fall into place, often without really knowing how it got there.

Can you do the same? Can you focus on what is right and positive instead of getting caught up in what is wrong? It certainly is not easy, especially if those surrounding you are doing the opposite.

There are three little ways to achieve this lofty goal. And the littlest things make the biggest difference.

1. Be grateful. Negative events loom large unless you consciously balance them out. To help your brain store positive events, reflect on what you're grateful for and why, at least once a week. Write down your blessings, such as the opportunity to pursue a career you love or a family that supports you. If you prefer to do it daily then keep a log or discuss it with your family over dinner.

2. Coach yourself positive. It’s a proven fact the more often you hear a message, the more likely you are to believe it. The same goes for messages about who you are and what you are capable of doing. Repeating positive affirmations out loud or to yourself makes them more real.

Some examples: “I can handle whatever comes my way,”, “There is plenty of time,” or “I'm getting better every day.”

3. Challenge negative thoughts. Every time something negative comes up, we make a choice with our response. Our brains might like to dwell on the negativity and make it seem bigger or more significant than it really is. Separate yourself from those negative thoughts by looking at them and finding a way to grow from them.

If you have a complaint, meet it with at least two solutions for the problem.

Starting and ending on the right foot can keep the whole day in step.