The Power of Positive Thinking
Happy New Year!
A new year is a time for renewal, but also for reflection, goal-setting, and fresh starts. As humans, we tend to dwell on the past and forget how vital it is to be present and to relish the relationships in our lives. I refer to this as flexing our gratitude muscle.
As an avid CrossFitter and health and fitness enthusiast, I have found that there is much more to be gained from an average one-hour exercise session than its physical benefits—the time we spend working out often helps shift our mindsets. As a parent, athletic director, teacher, and spouse, I feel it is essential for us to continue working on how we think and what we think, and maintaining a positive outlook on life.
With so many items on our plates, it can be exhausting to juggle everything: from parenting to sports, to taking our kids to events and extracurricular activities, to keeping the house in order, working, and grocery shopping—the list goes on. I often feel like I am walking a balance beam, and sometimes it feels like I am just surviving the day, instead of enjoying life and being present. It’s hard not to play those to-do lists over and over in our heads rather than being in the moment and relishing the simple joys of being parents.
I’m sure this sounds familiar to many of you. It is easy to get caught up in the spiral of life, draining your vitality, leaving you tired, and sometimes feeling negative. Many things help us recharge our batteries, or help us shift our mindsets to get us back on track.
A mentor at my CrossFit gym has helped me a lot in what I am referring to as mindset-shifting. It is a simple change that has made a huge difference in how I parent, as well as how I approach my daily life. It is about changing the perspective and the internal conversations from “I have to” to “I get to.” Instead of saying “I have to take my child to soccer practice,” simply shift the sentence to “I get to take my child to soccer practice.” This can also be applied to things like “I get to make dinner for my family” or “I get to take my kids to school.”
As a parent, I get to just be with my kids, which is something we often take for granted, especially when we get caught up in the minutia of our long and full days.
We have a good friend whose 11-year-old son has terminal cancer. They are embracing each day with him. They have shifted their perspective, and instead of living with misery and fear, they embrace each day with fullness and gratitude, celebrating each day as a gift.
I view their strength as a great lesson. We get to teach, mentor, and role model for our children. We get to appreciate their talent and uniqueness, foster their hopes and dreams, and nurture them throughout childhood and beyond. My mother used to say to me that our “jobs” as parents never really end, they just shift in their responsibilities and expectations.
We all go through different stages in our parenting journeys—always making memories. Even the challenging times are worth it! So, next time you are exhausted, feeling like you have no time to yourself, and feel you “have to,” just slow down, take a big breath and change your words in your head to “I get to” take you child(ren) to school, to practice, to dance class, to an appointment, and so on. It is very powerful and will change your perspective for sure, not just as a parent but as a human being.
Sam Landau
Middle School Athletic Director
Lower School Physical Education Teacher