As a professional writer of grants and appeals, I pay close attention to my mindset while I’m at my craft. When building my case, if my optimism wavers, I stop and investigate.
In Marianne Williamson’s Law of Divine Compensation‘s chapter entitled “Positivity,” she describes three kinds of positivity necessary to open to abundance: positivity towards self, positivity towards possibility, and positivity towards others.
When I get stuck, my first step is to take an objective look at what I’m getting snagged on, to determine whether it’s internal (I can work on) or external (to work on with others).
EXTERNAL: Do I lack positivity because it’s a long-shot? Because this material isn’t complete or compelling? Am I trying to fit a square peg into a round hole?
or
INTERNAL: Do I feel discouraged because of my thoughts about the project, my own capacity or broader forces like the economic climate?
I can do something about cultivating internal or external positivity.
I apply Williamson’s concepts and ask myself these questions:
POSITIVITY TOWARDS SELF:
- What are my thoughts about myself and this project?
- What would positive thoughts be about myself and this project?
POSITIVITY TOWARDS POSSIBILITY:
- What do I believe about what will happen?
- What is the highest good that I can imagine for this work?
- How can I expand my thinking?
POSITIVITY TOWARDS OTHERS
- How am I thinking about other contributors involved in the project?
- What would thinking about this project look like if I cultivated positive emotions (hope, confidence, joy, gratitude etc.)?
George Bernard Shaw said, “Best keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you see the world.”
Here’s to wiping the glass!
Stephanie
