Lost Your Flow? Try This Remarkable Little 5-Minute Fix
The link between desire and flow is greater than you think.
When you've got momentum, getting into flow is easy.
But when you don't like what you're doing, your productivity disappears and everything feels harder.
The key is either liking what you're doing or finding a way to change how you feel about it.
Back when I was a junior consultant, everyone used to say if you can get two out of three things right – interesting work, a great team of people, or a brilliant location – you're on a good project.
But what about when you can't change these things? That's where my favourite mindset tool comes in: The Book of Positive Aspects.
If you're an Abraham Hicks fan, you'll recognize this immediately. For everyone else: it's a way to turn your feelings about a situation from bad to good.
Life’s too short to be miserable
This is your chance to create your reality instead of just living in it.
I use this game all the time, especially for boring tasks like housework. But one time it really saved me was in Jan-Feb 2024 when I found out I had no job to go back to after maternity leave. I sat down for 5 minutes and wrote down everything positive about the situation. Here's what came up:
My gut instincts are right all along
This is helping me refocus my mind
I'm finding energy I didn't know I had
I'm finding support in unexpected places
I'm spending more time with my husband
I'm growing and learning through this experience
Of course, these might seem obvious now. But when you're feeling lost and overwhelmed, actually believing these positive thoughts is a real achievement.
What makes this exercise special is how it helps you feel better faster than you would on your own. And when you feel better, you naturally get more done.
That dreaded phone call? They call you first.
That thing you were waiting for? It appears.
That task you were avoiding? Sometimes it just resolves itself.
If you’d like to give it a go, it’s really easy to start:
Get a notebook just for positive thoughts
Pick something you're not happy about
Set a timer for 5 minutes
Write down every good thing you can think of about that topic
Notice how different you feel
If you're finding it difficult, try taking a broader view.
Sometimes looking at the bigger picture feels better than focusing on details. For instance, when I was staying up late dealing with legal matters while exhausted from looking after children, I shifted my perspective to "I'm finding energy I didn't know I had."
Remember: only you know which thoughts truly make you feel better. If a thought lifts your spirits, you're on the right path. If not, look at the bigger picture until it does.
The takeaway
Life becomes easier when you feel good. Your to-do list transforms from an overwhelming mountain into manageable steps. Whether you're navigating a significant change or managing daily tasks, this simple notebook can help you shift from reluctance to engagement.
Once you make that shift, something wonderful happens - your mindset improves, your productivity increases, and everything starts to flow naturally.
I hope you get as much from this playing this game, as I do.
See you next week.
-Selda
P.S. If you found this article helpful, don’t keep it to yourself - spread the word! Share it with your friends, family and colleagues, and let’s help each other get through each day with a little more joy!
P.P.S. If you’d like to learn more about how to build a life you love, when you’re ready, here are a few ways I can help you:
Personal guidance and coaching to find more hours each day:
🤝Work with me 1-1 - A recent testimonial: “Selda is an expert at what she does, and it shows in her work. Her advice can save you hours of painful thinking and planning." – H.A.
Double your productivity and do more of what matters to you:
🚀2 Hour Efficiency Supercharger: Achieve the same amount of work in half the time using my 6 step Supercharged Productivity Toolkit.
⚖️90 minute Work Life Balance Cheatcode: Attain your optimum work life balance in a fraction of the time it takes to plan your week using my 7 step framework.
I’m putting together a masterclass on how to get started in AI (aside from just using ChatGPT). Would you be interested in this? If so, what would you like to know?