Attitude Alchemy
Alchemy was the ancient science and art of transmutation — the idea that with the proper knowledge one could convert universal matter from one thing into any other thing — primarily the pursuit seemed to focus on changing base metals into gold. The tool thought to unlock these secrets for the alchemist was an item referred to as The Philosopher’s Stone.
When I was just beginning to work on my ability to speak in front of large groups, one of the biggest breakthroughs for me was the realization that I could take any nervous energy I might be feeling and convert it into enthusiastic energy for my presentation. I was changing one form of energy into another.
About a year after that revelation I had another. The formula I’d created worked for any sort of emotion. I’d discovered the secret of transmuting negative emotion into positive emotion. Worry, fear, depression, etc. could all be converted into positive energy. Emotional lead magically transformed into an attitude of gold.
Here are five stepping stones to give yourself a more philosophical outlook:
1. Focus your energy
Fear and confusion is usually caused by panicked, chaotic thought. Your brain is jumping from one negative emotion to another and causing you wild worry and worst-case scenarios. Take a minute or two to quiet your mind and let the many worries drop away until there is only one. That single thought that so panicked you that it set off a mental fire alarm that drove all your feelings into a frenzy. It’s much easier to deal with a single voice of internal dissent than to let a crowded cacophony of chaos shout down your voice of reason.
2. Nothing is permanent
Know that no matter how worried or fearful you might be in this very moment, time is fluid. If you wait but a moment the situation will change, and in that change lies other possible outcomes and solutions to your situation.Yesterday’s challenges are different than the ones you face today. The fear you face this second could be an opportunity to smile another second from now.
3. Stress gives strength to your weaknesses
A funny thing about our personalities, our individual emotional weaknesses are the shadowy reflections of our dominant characteristics. The normally exuberant people-person becomes quiet and withdrawn when faced with stress. The confident and assured individual begins to fear and doubt themselves when their shadow self takes over. The happy and creative soul turns sour and overly analytical when faced with a situation that takes them out of their comfort zone. Take a minute for yourself and head to a restroom to calm down. When you gaze upon your reflection in the bathroom mirror, remember that your opposite self is exerting control and send it back through the looking-glass.
4. Stay in the present
If you take a moment to think about the things that worry you, you’ll realize they are always things that take place in the future. Fear of what might happen a day, a week, a month from now. You worry that there will be strife in your life, but living is in the moment. You don’t live in the future — live in the now. This is where all the possibilities are. The action and choices you make now will transform the future you fear into one you look forward to.
5. Positive energy attracts positive energy
When you strive to be positive you will see the positive things around you and positive things will happen to you. When you work to become better at what you do, everything around you becomes better. If you constantly worry about getting sick, you will inevitably make yourself ill. If you instead focus on how good you feel today, about how the blue sky and shining sun are recharging your spirit, then you stand less chance of getting sick. If you far sleeping in late and falling behind at work all day, then that is what will happen to you. If you tell yourself that you’re going to awaken bright and early in the morning and get a jump-start on your day, then you will inevitably wake-up 15 minutes before your alarm clock sounds. Stay positive to be positive.
