Don't worry, be happy

By ASHLEY CAMPBELL

It's Monday morning and raining.

You've had a great weekend, and as you sit in the traffic at yet another red light, all you can think is: "I really don't want to go to work today."

Before long your mind is filled with thoughts of pointless paperwork, irritating colleagues, demanding clients and all the things that make work a chore.

You know it's not exactly a helpful way to start the week, and chances are you'll be less productive as a result, but you can't get out of this negative frame of mind.

Never fear. Ron Lee, corporate Ninja and executive trainer, has some easy steps to help you to think positively and get on with your life.

When you're feeling negative, says Lee, you have to drill down to find the specific issue that's setting you off then deal with it.

He gives the following example.

"I'm feeling negative. What am I feeling negative about?

"Work. What, about my work situation, am I feeling negative about? Paperwork - I'd rather be out selling.

"What part of paperwork specifically?

"Filling out forms and doing stuff that's unrelated to selling. Why? It's time-consuming and I'm not making any money while I'm doing it."

Now, says Lee, you have your real issue and you can take one of two approaches.

You can try to change the real cause of the annoyance (the time-consuming paperwork that keeps you from selling) or you can change your attitude to it.

Let's take the first approach. Some real estate agents employ PAs to do all their paperwork so they can be out and about doing what they're good at - selling.

In the example Lee gives, this could be a solution to the issue.

The second approach is to change your attitude to the problem. You do this by focusing on "the big picture", or your purpose in life.

"People only become upset with the negatives if they are focusing on themselves," says Lee. "If you have a big vision in mind for yourself or your life, any small negativities become insignificant because you have got this big thing happening.

"Once you've got that clear you just go for it and any negatives will be reduced.

"For example, my big picture is to get my message of empowerment out to as many people as possible.

"If I'm going to work and I'm not feeling like making a phone call, I look at the big picture.

"I think, 'I've got to start working. If I don't get active then the message isn't going to get out there."'

Suddenly, what was a negative is simply a small step to take on the way to achieving your major goal.