Cool, Calm and Collective

Superpowers are a cool thing to think about when you understand what they are. I will never forget when the CEO of the company I intern for asked me what mine is, and I asked her to give me an example first – I was clearly worried about answering her question incorrectly. After we had a lovely conversation on the matter, I can’t stop asking my friends, family and co-workers what their superpower is. There’s this personable sense to the question that I like because it makes you think about yourself for a split-second. In most cases when you’re asked what your strengths are, you immediately start to think of what they want to hear- in this case you’re forced to dig deep and find a quality that not everyone can pull off.

Being cool, calm and collective in a stressful or unexpected situation is an important trait to have, and I’ve worked hard to call this my superpower. I think the six years of college, three years of coaching a high school cheerleading team, and everything else that involves your early-to-mid-twenties attributes to this superpower.

The reason I choose to remain positive in these situations is because it’s the most productive thing to do. I say “choose” because we all have an option once things hit the fan. We may not have control over what happens to us, but we certainly have control over our reaction to it. Being positive means, you’re being productive and moving on. Most often than not, staying in a negative state of mind keeps you in the past.

Let’s back up a year and talk about how credible this would be then. A year ago, I put the Ana in “over-analyze”, and rarely gained any happiness from it. I would overthink what people thought about me, what others would say, if my crush liked me back, etc. I can’t tell you why, but I can tell you that overthinking can break you more than a bad decision will, and it can lead to it being the most self-destructive thing about you. Guided by experience, I tell myself almost every day that I will feel worse by overthinking something, than I will by going for it. It’s not a great feeling at all, but moving on from that and now putting the Ana in just “analyze” is the greatest sight to see.

Everything Happens for a Reason

Due to recent events, my graduation is postponed (like everything else in the world) and at first, I wasn’t the most positive I could’ve been, but told myself everything happens for a reason. This concept has become more and more true for in the last year, along with the past week. Seven days ago, I dropped a class because my professor advised me to and couldn’t believe I let it come to this. After slapping myself on the wrist a couple times, I quickly figured out that my ceremony was pushed back for me to try again. I believe in doing things right if you’re going to do something, therefore am forever grateful for a second opportunity at finishing school before graduation.

My ceremony was pushed back for obvious reasons, but I’d like to believe that these two situations parallel and I was able to create that everything-happens-for-a-reason narrative. One thing that became crystal clear to me is that it doesn’t have to be a good reason or bad reason, it’s just a reason. In other words, shit happens and when it does, it’s up to you to decide whether it’s good or bad.

Physically and Mentally Healthy

Today’s common theme is health. The idea of remaining healthy and well has come to the surface and is all that’s talked about nowadays. Although physical health is important, I’ve learned that it’s not everything. I used to be so picky about what I ate, what I put in my body and the amount of exercise I did. Being fit and in shape was an obsession of mine because I was convinced that it would make me the happiest person, but thanks to learning the hard way, I know that’s not entirely true. Health isn’t just physical, it’s also what you think and what you say. I truly feel a lot of happiness when I seek out the silver lining or bright side in any situation – it brings me some sort of peace.

Much love!