I have been thinking about candles lately. Maybe that’s because my dear husband, Mike, presented me with a dessert yesterday dotted with candles for my birthday (no need for anyone to count how many!). He is so good at spoiling me, and I am lucky to celebrate another trip around the sun with him at my side.

Candles will also be an important part of many Easter celebrations this weekend. Whether it’s lighting the Paschal candle at church or the bunny-shaped candles at your family’s dinner table, we celebrate the light of Jesus’s resurrection overcoming the darkness of death.

So much about this time of year reminds us of new life. The sun shines longer into the evenings, the trees erupt in blossoms, and daffodils pop up from the ground. It feels like our reward for enduring the dark, cold winter days.

This idea of finding light after darkness can also be applied to our professional journeys. The candles we lit when we began our paths will inevitably flicker as we encounter obstacles. But the good news is, you do not need to extinguish that flame!

Challenging periods are a normal part of virtually every business professional’s experience.

Back when you started your business or landed a new job, you were excited to get up and go every morning and stay motivated to work long into the evening.

But at some point, you no longer feel the drive that you once did. You find yourself in the “another day, another dollar” mentality.

When you’re speaking with clients or coworkers, you act like it’s business as usual. But privately, you’re discouraged. You don’t feel the joy behind your smile that you once did.

Maybe you’re discouraged because it’s taking longer to reach your goals than you thought it would. Your definition of success continually eludes you.

Or maybe you’ve become disillusioned that you can ever make the difference in the world that you set out to make.

You may have real and justifiable reasons for feeling down. But just because it’s normal and reasonable doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Because the problem with a negative thought pattern is that those thoughts will keep you from where you’re intended to be and what you’re meant to achieve.

The key to moving beyond challenging moments is to not let the negativity undermine you.

If you have been thinking yourself into negativity, it’s time to think yourself into positivity. Easter reminds us that we must never lose our way in darkness, because there is always light, even when it seems impossible to find.

You can dig down deep, take control of your mental attitude, and remain hopeful.

How? Don’t wait for your mood to magically improve. First, get endorphins – or feel good chemicals in your brain – working for you:

• Get outside and take a short walk. Enjoy some sunshine.
• Take a quick nap so you can wake up refreshed. Or better yet, make sure you get a good night’s rest.
• Hit the gym or have a 15-minute dance break.
• Take a few quiet minutes for meditation or prayer.
• Spend some time with uplifting friends who will cheer you up.

Then, once you’re in a better headspace, put your negativity into perspective. Think about all of the people who would happily take your place. Compared to someone who is just starting out in the same industry, the place that you see as discouraging might make them green with envy of your wisdom, your connections, and your achievements.

Tell yourself, “I’m not going to get discouraged. Tomorrow will be better than today.”

Remind yourself that your big break could be right around the corner – the next new client you’ve been hoping for, the breakthrough in innovation or creativity you’ve been needing, or a new professional contact who could change everything.

When you change your attitude from blah to abundance, your business will experience the same shift.

Remember, every business owner and sales professional goes through down periods like this, but it’s the ones who stay positive and faithful who prosper.

Are you feeling discouraged about your business?

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through the invisible barriers that have been holding them back. If you want to “double-plus” your income this year, all while creating a lifestyle that allows you to spend time doing the things you love with the people you love most, contact me today.

And above all else, I wish you and your family an Easter celebration full of light and joy!

 

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus™” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with more than 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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