Rounding out the final chapter of our June 30-Minute Slow Down series on positivity, Jenn Endries, Founder and Owner of JennEd, LLC and Academic Dean at Rasmussen College, shared her last two Powerful Positive Habits: The Power of Choice and The Power of Contribution.
Harnessing The Power of Choice in your life is an effective practice Jenn recommends to increase positivity. There are endless ways to choose to be positive, but Jenn suggests starting with one of the simplest and joyous acts: smiling. Challenge yourself to smile at least 50 times a day, and notice if others smile back. This small act has substantial effects on our health—from reduction of stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, to an increase in feel-good hormones such as endorphins, serotonin and oxytocin.
Jenn also points out that we have total control over our mindset. Will you choose that of a victim or that of growth? To work toward a growth mindset, ask yourself three questions when you shut your computer down at the end of the day: 1) What did I learn today? 2) What went well today? 3) What could I have done differently today? With a focus on growth, we can take control of our lives, steer them toward the positive and begin to evolve as human beings.
The final habit Jenn shares in her series is The Power of Contribution. What we put into the universe, we get back. Ask yourself, how am I currently contributing to the world? Make a list of five ways, then consider—which of these are the most effective? What are five new things you could add to the list? Your contributions can be big or small, from simply listening to someone without placing judgement to starting a non-profit, and anything in between! When we all give a little bit we have the power to make the world a happier, healthier, more accepting place.
This summer, we will be taking a short hiatus from our SLOW series, but keep an eye peeled on our social channels for updates!
