What we focus on grows. Where’s your attention going?

Although I’m mindful about how and when I take in news (I highly recommend not jumping on media first thing in the morning as this can really affect the tone of your day), when I woke up last Wednesday, I felt called to pick up my phone and check in on the day’s headlines. I paused and got really choked up when I read about the police response to a protest in North Carolina.

The police in Fayetteville, NC were face to face with protesters in an intense exchange when they asked the crowds to step back and they took a knee (read more) as a show of understanding and recognition of the pain everyone is experiencing right now. Some protesters and police began crying and others shook hands or hugged. 

That morning I found many other stories like this across the country and while things are still really amped up (understandably), it jolted me back into the reminder: “What we focus on grows.”

Our brains are hardwired to focus on the negative (read more).  I, like many, have been feeling overwhelmed from all the heaviness in the world and in my life and too often I’ve been spiraling into, “What if?” down, instead of, “What if?” up.

If we are going to wake up, transform and grow from all of these tragedies and unrest, we have to focus on what we DO want … not what we DON’T want. We have to keep seeking out hope and sharing stories filled with acts of courage, inspiration, hope and kindness.

Wherever we put our attention, our energy goes. What have you been focusing on?

This week observe if you’ve succumbed to a negativity bias and with compassion, gently shift your thoughts to what’s working rather than what’s not. Perhaps take 5 minutes first thing in the morning to list these things out loud. We are powerful co-creators. Let’s manifest good.

SEEKING SUPPORT FOR YOURSELF OR YOUR TEAM? HERE ARE TWO OPPORTUNITIES:

• Consider hiring me to create a workshop to help your team, organization or employees feel less stressed and more resilient, energized and focused.My primary work is speaking to professionals worldwide on how to find balance through practicing the art/science of self-care. Whether it’s an in-person workshop, keynote or via a Zoom session, I’d love to support your team now or in the future. Learn more here.
• Could you use a day-away focused on extreme self-care? Me, too! I’m exploring options for intimate, one-day retreats in beautiful natural settings (social distancing). Have a home or venue to offer in TX or interested in getting a pre-invite? Email info at reneetrudeau dot com with the subject: “YES! Summer self-renewal retreats!” to be added to our inner circle list. Learn more about all retreats.

Subscribe here to Live Inside Out, a weekly blog written by life balance author/speaker and self-care evangelist Renée Peterson Trudeau. Passionate about helping men and women find balance through the art/science of self-care, her work has appeared in The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, US News & World Report, Spirituality & Health and more. She and her team have certified more than 400 facilitators in 10 countries around the globe to lead self-renewal groups and women’s retreats based on her work. She’s the author of two books on life balance including the award-winning The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and 18-year-old son. More on Renee here.