Activities Department Update
October 20-October 30
Shift Your Paradigms
What do you see when you look at the picture to the right?
The black dot? Most people notice the black dot, not the white space around it. That is exactly how negativity works. Negativity, whether on a team, individually, or in a system, jumps out at us and overshadows all the positive things. We become comfortable and accustomed to the positives in our lives and often grow numb to them. But the moment negativity appears, it immediately captures our attention. Negativity can take many forms, but when it shows up, our brains tend to exaggerate it and make it seem worse than it really is. When we allow that negativity to linger or grow, we start to believe that there's nothing positive left in the situation. In reality, there's always something good, something positive, in every situation and within ourselves, whether we recognize it right away or not.
If you want to see the power of negativity, imagine you're about to undergo serious surgery and the head surgeon says, "Well, I suppose let's get to it, not that any of us want to be here or that it'll help this poor sap anyway." Imagine how you'd feel in that moment. The nurses' and doctors' confidence would plummet, and the surgeon's own performance would likely suffer because he's already decided there's no point. That's what negativity does, it spreads, weakens confidence, and limits effectiveness. It's a habit that we either feed or we cut out and replace it with positivity. This is a constant internal battle.
As individuals, when we focus on our shortcomings, we invite self-doubt and insecurity to take over instead of confidence and grit. When we dwell on the negatives in life, we lose sight of the blessings and positives around us. We begin to feel self-pity and envy rather than joy and gratitude. Practice, jobs, family obligations, these aren't burdens we HAVE to do, they're blessings we GET to do. As a team, when we allow one negative attitude to take root, it drains the energy and confidence of everyone. When we focus on negatives, whether it's a bad play, tough opponent, or poor conditions, we lose effectiveness and start pointing fingers instead of executing solutions.
So, how do we cut out negativity? We build effective habits- like the 7 Habits of Leader in Me. We practice gratitude, which not only reminds us of our blessings but also spreads positivity to others. When challenges arise, we see them as opportunities for growth rather than failures. What our culture tolerates is what will grow. Choose positivity and teamwork over toxicity and negativity. Don't allow "Energy vampires" (The Energy Bus) to drain the good things your team is doing. Finally, stop voicing complaints and excuses, spreak encouragement instead and face each challenge with confidence and determination.
(Based on post-game interview of UAB head football coach, Trent Dilfer.)
