Cook up a storm of positivity

DWELLING on negative thoughts can sabotage a worker’s career as they begin to doubt their ability or see themselves as unworthy of their goals.

Successful people do not ignore negative thoughts but reframe them to be more positive and even helpful.

Relaunch Me career coach Leah Lambart says there are six common toxic thoughts that hold workers back.

EVERYTHING MUST BE PERFECT.

This is an impossible goal. “At the end of the day, there’s no perfect resume, no perfect interview and no perfect job,” Lambart says. She recommends workers embrace missteps as opportunities to improve.

I’M DESTINED TO FAIL.

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by obstacles or daily stresses but you are never destined to either fail or succeed — your future is in your own hands.

“Rather than focusing on the end goal and whether you will fail or succeed, focus on the process and what you can achieve along the way,” Lambart says. “This could mean completing an online course, meeting a new industry contact or getting positive feedback from a recruiter.”

I NEED OTHERS’ APPROVAL.

“Many people fear what others will think if they transition to a career with less status or lower pay,” Lambart says. “(However) what’s very important for one person may not even rate on the scale for another,” she says. “You will be far happier if you’re doing something that’s meaningful to you.”

I “ALWAYS’’ OR “NEVER’’ DO THAT.

“[Use] positive language that shows you’re in control of your future, and that you’re open to opportunities and adaptable to change,” Lambart says.

MY PAST DICTATES MY FUTURE.

If a worker has had a negative experience, such as losing a job, they may lose confidence but just because they have had hardship in the past does not mean they will not achieve in the future. “When your confidence is restored … you’ll feel ready to take the action that’s required to move forward,” Lambart says.

MY EMOTIONS ARE MY REALITY.

“Sometimes your inner critic will raise its ugly head at the worst possible times,” Lambart says. “For each negative comment, have a counterargument prepared so that you can fight the inner critic when it appears.”