Gratitude is en vogue for good reason. No stronger antidote for unhappiness exists than the daily review of what we are grateful for. Remembering to be grateful is not always easy, however, especially when we get busy and confront numerous challenges throughout the day.
I remember exactly when this happened to me. It was 1991 or 1992 while I was attending Riverside Community College. I remember telling myself I 'have to' go to class or 'I have to' do my homework. Then one day I realized that it was my decision to go to school and that I was paying for it. Why would I volunteer to 'have to' do anything? From that day on, I started using 'get to' and it has made a world of difference.
During the winter break, I was with some friends of mine that work with my wife at the local high school. It was Sunday night and they were all still on their winter break. It was getting late and one of the people said, "Oh, that's right. You 'have to' go to work in the morning, don't you?" with a sad look on her face. My response was instinctive and I replied, "I get to go to work in in the morning." Someone else called BS but my wife and a close friend of mine shook their heads and said, "No, he's serious. That is just how he is."
Funny thing is, one of the teachers told me a few weeks later that he remembered what I had said and that it has been helping him get through a rough period in his current role.
Yes, it does. Another one I consistently use is "Good for them". This one helps dissolve feelings of jealousy or envy when I see good fortune fall on other people or when someone is gossiping about another person as in, "Did you hear so and so got promoted?" I'm probably on the low end of the jealous/envy scale to begin with, but saying "Good for them" out loud seems to help me maintain a positive mental attitude.
I remember exactly when this happened to me. It was 1991 or 1992 while I was attending Riverside Community College. I remember telling myself I 'have to' go to class or 'I have to' do my homework. Then one day I realized that it was my decision to go to school and that I was paying for it. Why would I volunteer to 'have to' do anything? From that day on, I started using 'get to' and it has made a world of difference.
During the winter break, I was with some friends of mine that work with my wife at the local high school. It was Sunday night and they were all still on their winter break. It was getting late and one of the people said, "Oh, that's right. You 'have to' go to work in the morning, don't you?" with a sad look on her face. My response was instinctive and I replied, "I get to go to work in in the morning." Someone else called BS but my wife and a close friend of mine shook their heads and said, "No, he's serious. That is just how he is."
Funny thing is, one of the teachers told me a few weeks later that he remembered what I had said and that it has been helping him get through a rough period in his current role.
Thanks for the share David!
For you, did the behavior lead the overall mindset?
Was saying this regular lead it into being this kind of person consistently?
Yes, it does. Another one I consistently use is "Good for them". This one helps dissolve feelings of jealousy or envy when I see good fortune fall on other people or when someone is gossiping about another person as in, "Did you hear so and so got promoted?" I'm probably on the low end of the jealous/envy scale to begin with, but saying "Good for them" out loud seems to help me maintain a positive mental attitude.