This ad for a personal sauna just cracked me up.
I know, COVID has required us to stay home and a lot of us are investing in home–based self-care products. I bought a Peloton bike. It’s awesome, but I could have purchased TEN personal saunas and given them to friends and family. I don’t have a real point here. Sometimes I just have to shake my head at what is marketed to us and wonder, “Who buys that???”
A crazy fixation I have, and judge as negative, is when people attempt to shape the perceptions of others with denials. President-elect Biden got the coronavirus vaccine and said, “There’s nothing to worry about.” OK, that’s not so bad. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, upon not getting votes needed for re-election as Speaker during a federal corruption probe said, “This isn’t a withdrawal.” Let’s use that as an example and come back to Biden. “This isn’t a withdrawal.” Really? What is it? Whatever – you didn’t win and you won’t. Why deny what everyone knows – you lost. Now people think that Madigan lost, AND he’s a liar. What should Madigan have said? He still got the most votes, even though not enough so maybe, “OK, my caucus is still considering its best path forward.”
My point: stating your view as a negative is reflexive. We want to deny – and that’s not as wise as stopping to think about how to reframe to a positive statement.
Back to the President-elect. With more thought was there something positive he could have said about getting the vaccine? How about, “This is great! I can focus on the business of the people knowing I and those around me will stay healthy.”
Avoid the easy negative statement and replace it with something that’s truthful, authentic and positive.