Protect Your Space

Have you ever woke up in a good mood only to have a phone call ruin your day?  Have you ever arrived to work with a positive mindset only to have the office climate depress your spirit?

You work too hard on establishing and maintaining your mental, emotional, and physical health to allow someone or something to diminish it.  This is why you must be determined to "protect your space".  The people we come into contact with, the places that we go, and the actions and habits that we take all have the potential to affect us positively or negatively.  Here are some questions to think about to help identify the positive and negative influences in your life that may affect your space:

• How does (insert name of person or place) make me feel?  Am I in a depressed mood or negative mind state after this interaction? Or do I feel good about myself?
• Do I get excited to interact with (insert name of person or place) or do I feel a sense of dread or duty?
• Do I feel energized or do I feel physically tired and drained after interacting with (insert name of person or place)?
• Can I be my authentic self with (insert name of person) or at (insert place) or do I feel like I am pretending or putting up a front?

You may have realized that certain people, places, or things are negatively affecting you mentally, emotionally, or physically.  So what do you do about it?  The easiest solution is to cut those things off, but we know that is not always possible.  You may be forced to interact with a person because they are a relative or coworker.  You may be forced to go to a certain place, such as your job.  Here are some strategies for protecting your space from these negative influences:

1. Recognize the influence.  Understanding how something affects you is the first step to protecting yourself against it.  When your eyes are opened, you can mentally prepare yourself for what is to come.
2. Meditate.  Begin your day with meditation.  You may include positive thinking or reciting affirmations and mantras.  The more you strengthen your mental state at the beginning of the day, the better you will be at tackling the day's challenges.
3. Be kind.  Even in the midst of negativity, resist the urge to give back what you get.  Be kind to everyone, everywhere.
4. Write.  Write in a journal and reflect on how you protected your space.  Think about what worked and what did not.
5. Exercise and make healthy eating choices.  Your physical health is linked to your emotional and mental health.  Exercising regularly, eating breakfast, and staying hydrated will help you tackle threats to your space throughout the day.