Weekly Assignment: Shift Your Attention

March 14 - This week's assignment: Shift your attention. Rather than be consumed by negative stuff (angry boss, spilled coffee, lousy commute), take a moment each day this month to think of good things in your life: a finished project, a fun conversation, a delicious meal with friends, or even just a good night's sleep. By tuning in to happy events (or the upside of anything), you crowd out bad news, generate positive emotions, and bust stress hormones.

More from WholeLiving.com:
+ Good-Mood Foods
+ Quiz: Test Your Gratitude Level
+ Daily Rituals to Keep You Balanced
+ How to Stay Happy in Hard Times

What attention-shifting strategies do you use often? When you find yourself in a bad mood or feeling down on yourself, how do you cheer up and focus on the positive? Share your thoughts and questions below.

For more healthy strategies and previous weekly assignments, return to the Action Plan group page.

Tags: action-plan, happiness, mood

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Permalink Reply by Teresa on March 14, 2010 at 10:36am

It's been very gloomy and foggy where I live and it's hard to feel up and energized some days. I bought a small bouquet of yellow tulips for my kitchen table. I put them in a fun spring colored vase and everytime I walk past them I feel hapy! It really boosted my mood!
Teresa in Miinnesota

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Permalink Reply by chaya goldberg on March 14, 2010 at 10:57am

What do I do to shift my attention when something gets me down? I laugh out loud, I put a smile on my face when I don't feel like smiling, I pretend even if that means going through the motions & nothing more. It is not difficult to do with the "small stuff" like spilling coffee or a harried commute, etc. Also, conscious breathing, paying attention to posture helps.
What is challengeing for me is finding equaninomy & comfort & peace & relaxation in the face of health issues. In these trying times, I need to tap into some inner courage & strength & faith. I meditate, do yoga, try not to isolate, reach out, eat healthy, exercise, read, take sauna's, seek inspiration, see a therapist, cry. I write about my progress in my blogs.
I scored high in the gratitude quiz, yet still have a long way to go.
Chaya

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Permalink Reply by Rosalie Weber on March 14, 2010 at 10:58am

It's been a long and gloomy winter here too. I am starting at one end of my house and doing some spring cleaning and minimal redecorating. I repainted a small bathroom in a upbeat blue and added a new picture and an orchid. When I feel overwhelmed by the gray wet climate outside, I go turn on the light in there and feel uplifted. Rosie from Nebr