Running a boutique design studio can feel quite isolated at times. Breaking away from the office environment to meet clients, network with like-minded individuals, and to take a little time out is vital for our wellbeing and sanity.
Staying positive is another task that can be difficult to achieve when you spend the majority of your time alone. How do we hold onto those brief moments of happiness, humour, or gratitude? How can we build on the good days where we might sign up a lucrative new client, or present our work to appreciative customers?
Positivity is beneficial to our wellbeing, whether that’s associated with our business or personal dealings. As a creative person, it’s essential to build on those positive emotions so they can feed that creativity for the good of the business. When we embrace those feelings, we begin to see our work through new eyes and are better able to operate from a place of calm and focus.
As described in the book, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, the power of positive thought is well documented and universally accepted. When we nurture those positive emotions, they attract more of the same helping us to become the best version of ourselves.
“Thoughts become things. If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand.”
Bob Proctor, The Secret.
Any service provider who has come from a corporate background may remember the elation felt when a project you and your team worked on received a heartfelt thank you from the boss. That positivity can be carried forward into the next assignment on a wave of teamwork and pride.
It feels good to be positive, but as a freelancer, and without the benefits of an office full of motivational colleagues, what can we do to inspire positivity on a daily basis? Here are some ideas:
Re-discover the Fun
It’s essential to make time in your day to discover the hidden opportunities for positivity, joy, humour, and tranquillity. Think of how a small child finds the fun in every aspect of their life, from splashing in puddles to hearing the chime of an ice-cream truck. Did you know a child laughs over four-hundred times a day and yet as an adult, we laugh only four times on average? Re-discover the fun and find your inner child.
Banish the Stress
It’s worth noting that by valuing our positivity we can reverse negative psychological emotions such as anger, frustration, and stress. Not only can we help our mental health, but embracing positivity sparks a greater need to look after our physical needs too. We focus our attention on living a healthier lifestyle, getting more exercise, and in turn adopting better sleep patterns. All of this benefits our working day as well as our personal lives.
Pay It Forward
Doing a good deed is a great way to increase positivity in your life. By doing something for another person, be it a fellow freelancer, a client, or a stranger, it prevents us from dwelling on negative emotions or overthinking and gives us a boost.
Networking
Networking groups can be a hub of positivity. Finding a group where you can connect with the member’s on a personal as well as business level generates positive emotions that last long after the session has finished.
Seek Help
Working on your own means that everything falls at your door. Having to cope with this on a daily basis can be a significant drain on our positivity, so it’s important that we ask for help when we need it. That assistance could come from collaboration, referral, or a simple chat over coffee with a like-minded friend.
Search for the Positives
We all have an off day once in a while. Rather than beating yourself up about not feeling inspired, grateful, or joyful try searching for the positives in your day. Remind yourself of your strengths, skills, and achievements and then choose one of the ideas above.
I’d love to hear how you value your positivity or embrace positive emotions in your working day, so if you’re a freelancer, a web designer, or a creative entrepreneur, please get in touch.
