Tag: Future

Change Your Attitude, Change Your Future

Posted on by andrew

Lori Stevenson (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

You know those days where you oversleep, then have a terrible morning where everything just seems to go wrong? It sets the precedent for the day — things just continue to spiral downward. Then there are days where you wake up smiling, with a spring in your step, and you own the entire day. Coincidence? Millions of people, and science, say no.

 

We are bombarded with positive thinking quotes, and for good reason. It has been repeatedly shown that a positive outlook facilitates positive results. Henry Ford nailed it — “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” Maybe that sounds like wishful thinking, but let’s take a closer look. If you honestly think that you can’t land that job, write that book or get a date with that cute barista at your favorite coffee shop — are you going to even try? Probably not. Those with a positive attitude approach challenges with confidence in themselves and their abilities — they will at least try. This doesn’t guarantee their success by any means, but they have a much better chance than someone who approaches a challenge with their inner voice saying “You can’t.”

 

The good news is that it is fairly easy to change your outlook and become more positive. All you need is some mindful intention. Here are some simple tips that you can add into your day.

 

Intentionally Increase Your Positive Thoughts

 

There is a good reason why almost any research you do into happiness, positive thinking or success will yield a common denominator — gratitude. The benefits of gratitude have been extolled as far back as the ancient philosophers Plato, Epicurus, Cicero and Epictetus, to name a few. Gratitude has been shown to increase happiness, which in turn increases positive behavior. It engages the prefrontal cortex of the brain, the area responsible for feelings like accomplishment and associated with the arrangement of thoughts and actions in accordance with internal goals. 

 

Employ a daily practice of gratitude — you can choose to journal these thoughts, or just acknowledge them mentally. I choose the mental option, highlighting three things that I am grateful for each day. If you are having trouble thinking of unique things daily, make it fun and easy by finding a theme. I like alphabetical — starting with A and working your way through to Z, every day think of three things you are grateful for that begin with that day’s letter. Other themes I have used are the five senses, different decades of my life and different areas of life, such as personal, family, professional and social. There are endless things to be grateful for!

 

To further strengthen your positive thoughts, you can also try daily mantras and inspirational quotes — there is an abundance online — or look to positive folks in your life for support and inspiration. 

 

Watch Your Internal Language

 

In line with Henry Ford’s quote above, language matters. Listen to your internal dialogue and look for opportunities to show yourself empathy or reframe a situation. Do you have a fixed mindset, where what is, is, and can not be changed? Or do you have a growth mindset, where what is may be changed or improved? Recently a colleague introduced me to the “power of yet.” This is incredibly effective in making the jump from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. I’m working on teaching myself Spanish — it is difficult and at times frustrating, but I keep telling myself that I’m not fluent yet. The next time you are up against a challenge, switch that internal dialogue from “I don’t know how to do that” to “I don’t know how to do that yet, but I can work on improving my skills.” You’ll be surprised how that simple tweak will serve you. 

 

Look for the Lesson or Opportunity

 

Maya Angelou once said “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” Positive, successful people focus on what they have influence over or can control and learn to let go of what they cannot. Think of being stuck in traffic. No one likes to be there — we have better places to be and things to be doing. It can immediately give rise to feelings of anger and frustration, maybe even helplessness. These feelings do nothing to change your situation, but effectively ruin your previous good mood, and perhaps the rest of your day. Instead, try looking for the opportunity that this may present. Maybe it gives you time to have a good conversation with your travel companion(s). Take out your phone and dictate your shopping list or your thoughts for the big meeting you have coming up. Tune out by tuning in to a great podcast or audio book. Reflect on your day. Do a body scan meditation. You are going to be stuck in traffic no matter what you do — would you rather be miserable, or peaceful and maybe even productive? The same mindset serves in those instances where you have tried something and were not successful. Instead of focusing on what went wrong or what you didn’t achieve, think instead of what you’ve learned — about yourself, others or the process. What could you do differently next time? This is growth, and it always breeds success.

 

Finally, being positive does not mean living in denial of the negative aspects of life — these things do exist, and we face them on a regular basis. Positivity enables us to manage those instances better, by acknowledging that they are part of us, but don’t define us, bringing hope and optimism that even the worst of times will improve.

 

Life is truly what you make it – what do you want to make yours?

 

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My name is Lori Stevenson and I am a management professional living in the beautiful Okanagan. In my spare time I enjoy reading, writing, yoga, teaching myself Spanish and walking my dogs. I am pleased to share my ideas, thoughts and knowledge here with the Low Entropy community!

Don’t Forget

Posted on by andrew

Nour Saqqa, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

We all want to own better quality items, eat the highest quality foods and live happier, more meaningful and balanced days. Some of us even want to take a step into the extraordinary — yet, we don’t want to face the experiences we often label as “failures” instead of challenges.

 

These failures remind us of what we believe went wrong in our lives, the emotions we try to avoid and the thoughts we would rather not relive. So, many of us choose to leave the past where we believe it belongs: in the past. What if, instead, we looked at these challenging experiences as dips — masked, invaluable growth opportunities that we can benefit from when we learn to ask the right questions? A lot could happen, including giving ourselves a chance to discover the full potential of our past and invaluable lessons that can help us create a more prosperous present and future.

 

Don’t just learn to face and make peace with your past. Learn to value questioning it — especially those experiences we label as “failures” — before you choose to move on.

 

But how do we ask the right questions? And what can we discover from doing this? 

 

Asking the right questions begins with having the right mindset: the right set of attitudes or beliefs about yourself. When you have a fixed mindset, you believe that your failure is a dead end. You see that you tried. You didn’t get the results you wanted. And you think you only lost time and can’t move forward. Your focus on the outcome clouds your ability to learn from what happened. 

 

That’s one way to look at the world. But, like everything else in life, there is also another way. It’s called viewing the event from a growth mindset. When you have this mindset, you think you’re capable of growth and development. You don’t fear failure, and you’re not hesitant to take risks to advance personally or professionally. Unlike those with a fixed mindset, you see opportunities and challenges instead of obstacles. As a result, you allow yourself to learn from your experiences, especially those that did not yield the results you wanted.

 

Once you believe you can learn a lot from these experiences, you develop the foundation needed to navigate them and uncover valuable lessons that can help you grow and become more knowledgeable and resilient. With a proper foundation, you can now begin the second most crucial part of learning to ask the right questions: reflection with the intent to go beyond the obvious and superficial reasons leading to your undesirable results.

 

Here are three questions to guide you on your journey to becoming more skilled at asking the right questions:

 

  1. Did I set myself up for failure or success?
  2. Did I understand and firmly believe in my “why”?
  3. Did I have a detailed and efficient plan? And did I follow it or change it when necessary?

 

When used well, asking these questions will help you learn more about how you think — and how you can think more deeply. And writing your responses can help you find more clarity, especially since this task is viewed as a thinking tool.

 

No matter how you think more deeply about these experiences, you will also learn more about yourself and who you want to become. And you will also become more aware of the following:

 

  • Weaknesses and hidden strengths that you can strengthen
  • Unhealthy habits you need to break and healthy habits you need to build
  • Distractions taking up your time
  • Unhealthy relationships that hold you back
  • Healthy relationships that help you thrive

 

The more of the right questions you ask, the more meaningful answers you’ll get. Like reading and writing and team-building, asking the right questions is a skill that requires lots of deliberate practice. Reflecting on your past “failures” can help you develop this skill. 

 

So, instead of moving past your challenges, face them and embrace them for what they offer. Some of them will introduce you to reservoirs of strength, others to courage. Each dip is a bump on the road, not a dead end. If you don’t reexamine your past, you will never know what you missed.

 

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Nour Saqqa is a Toronto-based writer, editor and purpose-driven communications professional. When she is not at work or volunteering, she’s either on LinkedIn Learning or creating new products for DM Tees Designs, her eco-friendly business on Etsy.

(looking back to believing forward)

Posted on by andrew

RCP, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

A long night’s road trip. This is called life.

 

We have no recollection of when we began riding, but the facticity of it is peculiar and beyond doubt. This is called our condition. 

 

In this drive under nightfall, most of life is hidden mystery. Our headlights and taillights brighten a small area immediately around us, but darkness shrouds most of the path and we are unsure of its size and nature. This is called uncertainty. 

 

We’re often caught looking in the rearview mirror, trying in vain to straighten the road behind us in its dim red light. This is called regret. 

 

The trip cannot stop or pause, and behind us lie irrecoverable scenes of joy and people we don’t know anymore. This is called grief.

 

Sometimes we glance over our shoulder and think of the times when the road was smooth and beautiful. This is called nostalgia. 

 

Whatever it is behind us, it was done as best as it could be, and we are better off to not even bother to look at it. This is called acceptance. 

 

The beam of the headlights reveals to us but a small area in front of us that is continually moving forward, yet always in the same place. This is called the present.

 

That which lies ahead of the light is completely concealed. This is called the future.

 

Our journey has given us bumpy road before and we know not if we can stay on track the next time. This is called fear.

 

The road doesn’t go on forever, and we know the car will eventually break down, despite the sweetness that the path is paved on. This is called despair. 

 

The road has been smooth behind us, and even though we must drive slowly when it is bumpy, the nature of the road is to vary in its evenness. This is called hope. 

 

The car only moves forward and does not pause for our sake. This is called fate.

 

We concentrate on what our headlights reveal to us and let the future take care of itself. This is called faith.

 

—

 

Leave your thoughts for RCP in the comments below — better yet, start up a dialogue with the Low Entropy community in person at a Conscious Connections meeting or online at our community site. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Race to the Bottom

Posted on by andrew

Rushmila Rahman, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer 

 

Over the last two years, I noticed my voice slowly starting to fade. 

 

At first I blamed it on the pandemic – like most things – but that didn’t seem to deter the casual and undeniable shedding of the confident chord that held my sentences together. In a panic, I started focusing my energy on making my voice louder, my thoughts clearer and my words more polished. Yet I felt less heard than ever, and the more I looked in the mirror, the more I started to imagine pixie dust in place of words coming out of my mouth. 

 

I couldn’t help but wonder: was it really just the pandemic? 

 

The last two years have also seen me transition from one stage of life to another: I graduated and traded my “student” status for an “unemployed” one. With so many recent reports of employees resigning, combined with LinkedIn declarations that the future lies in hybrid work options, you’d think that it would be easy to find a job in my field. 

 

Not exactly. 

 

Job postings nowadays have a few common keywords that stood out to me: dynamic. Diverse. Detail-oriented. Expert demonstrable knowledge. Digital expert. Marketing expert. Regardless of the company’s use of such nouns and adjectives to describe their perfect candidate, they all seemingly wanted the same thing: expertise. 

 

If you search for “entry-level jobs requiring experience,” you’ll read that applicants like myself are supposed to ignore the minimum two-to-four year requirement and “just apply anyway.” Yet, before submitting the application, a little pop-up box asks me to put down (in numerical figures only) my years of experience doing X, Y and Z. 

 

Most organizations claim to be diverse in their hiring practices but their cultures are still quite static and old-fashioned. As more complex, dynamic job-seekers flood the market, companies increasingly seem to respond by shrinking their office spaces and boarding up their windows. It’s like something out of Shakespeare: “No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change.” 

 

My academic and professional background may not be a long scroll, but it does showcase my skills in this field. Despite my work experience and a highly specific degree, I’m weeded out as an under-qualified candidate because of the ancient and quite paradoxical practice of judging someone’s qualification for an entry-level job based on their years of experience. This tells me that all this community really cares about is that numerical value that tells them how long I’ve been doing what I’m applying to do. As if qualified people cannot be dynamic, non-linear individuals who have the tenacity to explore various interests and still climb up.

 

In his book Think for Yourself, Vikram Mansharamani writes that our love affair with specialization has surpassed all limits and imposed mental conditions (or walls) that box us in. According to his research, “experts are less accurate predictors than non-experts in their areas of expertise” because it’s difficult for them to “successfully navigate the vague situations that are more prevalent today than ever before.” As Mansharamani puts it, “breadth of perspective trumps depth of expertise in uncertain domains.” And since organizations nowadays want people to unlearn and relearn continuously, generalists are better suited to navigate the ever-changing future of any company. 

 

Yes, experts are valuable; and no, it’s not a fair world, but are companies really being “dynamic” and “diverse” by asking for years of experience for entry-level positions? Or are they just carrying out the age-old tradition of using their hiring practices to exploit periodic surges in the number of those unemployed in the market? 

 

Anyone can learn the skills that a given job requires. That’s why there is orientation, a probationary period and a hierarchy of positions in a company – these act as safeguards for the production line and the company’s coffers. And yet they want us to believe that hiring experts at entry-level wages is the most sustainable way to move forward? Unfortunately, even in 2022, the term “diversity” only runs skin-deep, and individuals with non-linear backgrounds are destined to fall through the cracks, leaving a trail of pixie dust in their wake. 

 

I believe Tinker Bell is a great analogy in this situation. As a job-seeker, I feel my voice getting increasingly silenced and my personhood gradually erased the more jobs I apply to. When I apply for positions that line up with my skills and interests, the same ones with long-drawn posts and application methods, with pages of questions on top of a resume and cover letter requirement, only to be weeded out by a little pop-up box, I might as well sprout a pair of wings and fly away to Neverland, because all those words mean nothing next to that numerical figure used to determine my qualification. 

 

The sheer lack of trust on the part of companies when screening potential employees places applicants in a position of absolute submission (mostly through arcane application processes) and otherization. Just like how Tinker Bell’s existence relied on the collective faith of those around her, the growth of the hiring company relies on having faith in those who want to work for it. 

 

As a community, enough emphasis needs to be placed on diversity and non-linear backgrounds, in the truest sense of these terms. Only when we are able to foster an environment that celebrates risk-takers and dreamers will we keep the Tinker Bells of this world from vanishing into thin air.

 

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Rushmila Rahman is a writer, editor and communications professional based in Vancouver, BC.

Despite Change

Posted on by andrew

Bethany Howell (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Throughout my life, I have only had people who stayed for short periods of time. Excluding family, my longest relationships always lasted under a year. Never by choice, but instead, circumstance. Quarantine and switching between schools easily broke apart any relationships I had. That is, until he came along.

 

He was my first partner and the only person to stay with me through the change, not leave me because of it. We became inseparable and soon, a year had passed of us being together. With the exchanging of anniversary gifts — a beautiful promise ring he spent a good portion of his paycheck on — I realized that this may be the first “forever” in my life. Yes, others have said it, but years of disappointment and broken promises made the word automatically untrue in my mind. The months wore on, as good and as bad as they always are, still filled with pain, but I withstood them better with him by my side. He held me and comforted me and, even when we were hundreds of kilometers apart, somehow managed to be near me in spirit.

 

I have realized now that new beginnings do not necessarily mean new people, and that one can find new things to explore with those they’ve come to know so well. My partner continues to stick with me through moves, stay-at-home orders and the personal drama that seems to follow me throughout my life — something I never expected another person would be able to handle. To have someone hold your hand and not only walk with you, but guide you through problems that arise, is a wondrous thing. 

 

New beginnings with the same person can be difficult, regardless of the excellence of the relationship. Strains are added with distance and time between meetings; we often find ourselves bickering more as a result of this. Though new scenarios may be beneficial — such as myself moving back for another year at university — issues can still arise. With change comes hardships, whether they be simple or more complex. Even through these hardships, through months of being unable to see my partner in person and through the arguments that we stumble into together, we have still stayed strong as one. 

 

To maintain a relationship, stability must be found, even in unstable times. These large periods of change shook me, but my partner was able to help keep me steady. “Throughout everything,” I would say to myself, “At least I know he is here.” There have been many nights spent awake due to stress about the future, asking myself where I will end up living and who will stay with me, but never once have I questioned his place by my side.

 

It must be noted that staying close is not a one-sided action. Along with my partner’s fierce loyalty comes my own, and only together have we been able to make it through each new scenario. I would like to believe that I hold onto him just as tightly as he holds onto me. I also would like to say that I am the same stabilizing force in his life that he is in mine. I know that he would agree with both statements, assuring me that I am, of course, just as — if not more — useful to him as he is to me.

 

The months will continue to wear on, just as they are known to do, and I hope that my partner shall stay near me regardless of what life brings our way. I once told him, after a particularly rough day, that I no longer see the world in terms of “him” and “I,” but “us”; I believe that it is this mindset that will keep us strong. We have loyalty, not only to each other as partners, but to each other as separate parts of ourselves. New beginnings may come along for me and, for once, I feel equipped to truly embrace them. With my partner, I have the stability and comfort I need to not only accept, but adopt change. 

 

Finally, to my partner: Thank you, darling. Thank you for everything you do, especially supporting my writing (and agreeing to me sharing our story). Here’s to many more years of us.

 

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My name is Bethany Howell and I am a third-year university student majoring in psychology and minoring in family and child studies. I have a passion for writing and mental health, and my ultimate goal since age 13 has been to make a difference in the world through helping others, which is how I ended up here at Low Entropy!

The Future . . . and How to Look Forward to It

Posted on by andrew

Tristan Goteng (he/him/his), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

The future. It is such a common term, yet it is so complex and difficult to wrap our heads around because we don’t quite understand what the future is. We don’t know what is planned for us in the future, if we can alter fate, or if the future even exists at all. That unknown causes humans to be anxious and fearful about the future. Thinking about the future is addictive, and it is hard to stop worrying. But constantly focusing on the future pulls our attention away from what is more important: the present. 

 

While I am no expert in psychology and I definitely haven’t invented a time machine, I do know some strategies to fight against the stress of the future. Every person is different, so some methods I will mention will for sure work for you, and others might not. But I have to warn you right now that the solutions in this blog aren’t just a one-time thing. Changing away from fearing the future requires dedication, reflection and mental consciousness. Don’t worry though! Even if it may seem difficult and tedious, it really isn’t. It just takes some time to get used to, but once you make a habit of these methods, you won’t notice it anymore! Hopefully, by the end of this blog, you will have learned how to avoid having fear of the future, and in turn, live your life with less stress and more joy! 

 

Alright, so where do we start? Well, I think we need to first clarify that we are not forgetting about the future. Rather, it is about not overthinking it. Avoiding the future completely doesn’t help, because it just makes every moment an unprepared panic. That is why I recommend creating two planners: one yearly calendar for important events, and one weekly/daily planner for routines and specific details. The key to this is organization. Being organized without being obsessed over the future is very important to reducing fear. Organization is knowing ahead of time what you have to do; it is planning ahead so everything goes smoothly and then leaving it be. Being obsessed is planning ahead, but then constantly thinking about your schedule or being scared that you might forget something. So how do we move away from obsession and towards organization? We write things down. Once it is on paper or your phone, it stays, so unless something needs to be desperately reordered, leave it be. That way you aren’t scared about forgetting something because it is right there in front of you like a checklist. You don’t need to doubt it because your whole day, week, even year is planned and everything will work out just as scheduled.

 

Maybe you aren’t the forgetful type, and missing out on something isn’t the reason you are scared of the future. It could be that not knowing the outcome of things causes you to fear. I can relate, because I honestly don’t know which university/college I will study at. Will I be accepted to any school? Did I do enough? What am I doing wrong? All I have to say here is to work hard. Do your best in everything you do, no matter how large or small the task is. Then you don’t have to worry, because no matter what the outcome will be, you’ll know in your heart you did all you could do, and there was nothing more that could change the results. More often than not, if you try your hardest, you will be rewarded with the outcome you wish for. However, sometimes the desired outcome simply is unattainable, and that will be easier to accept if you gave your all to it. You couldn’t control the events that happened any further, so let it be. I can promise you, once the results come in, whether good or bad, if you put your best foot forward, then you will live without regrets. 

 

If you aren’t forgetful, and you aren’t worried about the outcomes of the future, then the third most common fear of the future relates to time. Time is always ticking away, and it always feels like there is a shortage of time. We all know that the amount of time for humans is limited, and we never know when we have run out. This is probably the biggest fear in most people, and it can really take a toll on your mental health. How do we deal with this? The answer is actually more simple than you may think. Take the time to do things that you enjoy. Spend time with your family, complete your bucket list. Use the time you have and live life to the fullest. Yes, you may be thinking, “But I don’t have enough time to do these things!” You may have work, or school, or something else to do. This is why you should practice the first solution. Manage your time, and set some time aside to do enjoyable things, because you don’t want to have any regrets. You don’t have to worry about fulfilling your purpose if you take advantage of every second you have. 

 

So plan your schedule and write it down. Always work hard, no matter what you do. Make use of all the time available, and set time aside to do what you want to do before it runs out. Try them all, see which ones relate to you, and live a stress-free and fulfilling life!

 

The future can be scary, so let’s change that together. 

 

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My name is Tristan Goteng, and I am currently a high school student studying at St.George’s Senior School. I love writing and helping others overcome common obstacles that block us from growing!