While it is tempting to measure career transition success by a single metric examining whether or not we have secured our new, desired opportunity today, that thinking actually tunes us into a mindset of “not enough,” or even “failure.”

If a person’s next professional step is securing a new, desirable position or establishing themselves in an entrepreneurial endeavor and their process takes 100 days, for 99 of those days they will not have their new opportunity and on only 1 of those days they will have the new position or started their business.

Since manifesting the vision we have for our professional lives is a process, I suggest shifting your mindset to accentuate the positive, focusing on all the things that work in your favor along the way. Gratitude steers us into the positive energy of already having and receiving. One way to practice a gratitude mindset -being present to the people, places, and things that go in your favor and appreciating them -is to keep a daily journal where you list 3 things for which you are grateful. To energize their effects even more, express your gratitude out loud, call, send a letter, or text someone. The person receiving your message will also benefit from a positive neurochemical boost. Some examples are:

• I am grateful for the former colleague that emailed me today to check in and see if there is any way they can be helpful to me.
• I am grateful for the recruiter who reached out to me on LinkedIn. While the opportunity wasn’t a close enough match, it gave me a chance to practice talking about my experience, strengths, and career interests.
• I am grateful for the way my spouse was patient and kind with me while I was having a tough day.
• I am grateful for the idea I had to call ____.
• I am grateful for my consultant’s support and expertise that made my resume much better than what I had done on my own.
• I am grateful for ___ taking my call and agreeing to have a networking meeting with me.
• I am grateful that the sun was shining, and I enjoyed a walk/workout that helped clear my mind.
• I am grateful that I had a good laugh with a friend and focused on things other than my career for a while.
• I am grateful for the nourishing meal I had for dinner.
• I am grateful that my family and I are safe and healthy.
• I am grateful for the people who demonstrated their love and confidence in me today.
• I am grateful for the play time I had with my dog.
• I am grateful for the beautiful flowers that are blooming!

A gratitude mindset keeps you focused on all aspects of your career transition journey as each comes into place and supports you as you work to achieve the end goal you are manifesting for yourself. A gratitude mindset transforms the journey into a treasure hunt rather than an exercise in combating fear, anxiety, and self-doubt.

Multiple studies show the tangible effects of practicing a gratitude mindset on our physical and mental health -results that are comparable to, or exceed, pharmaceuticals. People who practice gratitude are happier, sleep better, tend to do more physical exercise, have more motivation, experience more meaning and joy in life, have better quality relationships (across all relationships), and are more resilient to trauma. Science shows us that practicing gratitude is a very potent way to direct our mental and physical health in positive directions and that the effects are long lasting. The neurochemicals and neurotransmitters affected generate positive results on par with high intensity interval training! 

Additionally, the process of neuroplasticity -how our brains and nervous systems change and adapt in response to what we experience -amplifies our gratitude mindset. The more we are grateful the more attuned our brains become to notice things for which we can be grateful.

I encourage everyone to be their own science experiment. Try a gratitude practice -even three or so times a week for a few weeks and see what changes you, and the people around you, notice.

You can borrow from the wisdom and experience of two of the many well-known people who acknowledge that they practice a gratitude mindset, Oprah Winfrey (one of the wealthiest and most beloved people in the media) and Jack Canfield (self-esteem author, success coach, and co-author of the Chicken Soup for The Soul books).

Oprah says, “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Canfield comments, “Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilled life.”

A gratitude mindset helps us be more enjoyable and attractive people to be around. Focusing on noticing and appreciating the good in people and circumstances is not only a bonus for us and anyone that we interview or network with, but nice for those loved ones who are sharing our career-transition journey with us.

In my coaching work with job seekers and developing leaders, I see primary emphasis placed on the external aspects of acquiring a new position or skill -developing an effective resume, LinkedIn profile, or consulting well-known authors on leadership principles. While these can all be key to achieving your professional goals, there is an often-overlooked set of inner techniques you can use to accelerate and strengthen your other efforts and help you move forward when your progress is stalled. One of these inner techniques is positive affirmations.

Positive Affirmations -What They Are

Jack Canfield (internationally recognized leader in personal development and peak performance and New York Times bestselling author, who also made use of positive affirmations in his own success journey) defines daily affirmations as, “simple, positive statements declaring specific goals in their completed states.”

These brief, positive phrases, repeated frequently, can have profound effects on your conscious and unconscious mind. They help you achieve your goals, gain confidence, and develop qualities you value.

Reciting affirmations has the power to release you from negativity, worry, and fear. They provide a simple strategy for taking charge of your thoughts, changing your pattern of thinking, and ultimately changing your life.

What Affirmations Do

Similar to exercise, positive affirmations can actually increase the amount of feel-good hormones in your brain and strengthen certain neural pathways. Positive thoughts create positive emotions, which can actually change our physiology and improve our mental, emotional, and physical health. They give you a means of taking charge of your own self-concept rather than defaulting to however the world may define you.

Repeating affirmations fosters a broader sense of yourself, reduces stress and rumination, and makes you more resilient to challenges.

How to Create and Use Affirmations

Keys to creating affirmations:

• Starting with “I am” is powerful.
• State the desired quality or goal in the present tense.
• Focus on qualities and goals that align with your personal values.
• Make them believable -focus on your real strengths or strengths you consider important.

While there is not one right way to use affirmations, you can think of it like a workout for your brain. The best results come from repeating them daily. The start, middle, and end of your day are particularly potent times. To make them even more powerful and effective, write them in a journal and practice saying them to yourself in the mirror (especially to start your day in the direction you want it to go). Another technique is writing them on cards you can keep with you and use them to recite aloud during the day. Affirmations said with enthusiasm energize them even more.

For a relaxing and soothing experience that can help with sleep quality, you can incorporate your affirmations into your meditation.

Sample Affirmations

I am a talented professional with strengths that make a positive difference.

I am enough and appreciate my natural strengths.

I am healthy, wealthy, and wise.

My contributions and perspective are valued and compensated well.

Inside me I feel calm; no one can disturb my peacefulness.

My worry doesn’t control my life; I do.

This is just one moment in my life, and it doesn’t define who I am.

I have come this far and I am proud of myself.

I believe in who I am.

I am consistent in the things that I say and do.

I am always learning, growing, and getting better.

My best is always enough.

I’ve got this!

I can do this.

I am kind to myself no matter what.

I deserve good things.

I am a confident and capable person.

I am resilient and can handle problems with expertise.

Helpful Apps

ThinkUp -an app featuring affirmations that are personally used by dozens of notable people, including coaches, athletes, authors, and more. If it seems difficult at first to think of a meaningful set of affirmations, here is a great source of inspiration. You can also easily record your own affirmations and upload your own photos, and choose background music to make it more personalized.

I am -Positive Affirmations -an app that will send you viewable uplifting texts and reminders on a schedule you customize. They offer a 3-day free trial.

Suggested Affirmations from Louise Hay, Positive Thinking Expert

Life brings me only good experiences. I am open to new and wonderful changes.

I feel glorious, dynamic energy. I am active and alive.

Every experience I have is perfect for my growth.

Today I create a wonderful day and a wonderful new future.

Abundance flows freely through me.

My self-esteem is high because I honor who I am.

Positive Affirmation Guided Meditations on YouTube

Positive Thinking Meditation: Endorphin Meditation with Positive Affirmations -by meditation teacher and personal development coach, Linda Hall

Guided Meditation for Success, Confidence and Self-Esteem -by internationally known speaker, author and psychotherapist,  Marissa Peer

Book on Affirmations

“You’re Strong, Smart, and You Got This” by Kate Allan. Her book is a source of validation and encouragement for those moments when you need a reminder of your worth.

Crafting Your Own

If you want to get yourself energized for something, or just want to be more optimistic in general, try coming up with your own affirmations.

What works for one person isn’t always going to work for the next. Feel free to create your own positive phrase. If you’re feeling a lack of some quality or focused on an uncompleted goal, affirm the quality, perspective, or completed goal that you desire. An affirmation can be one “for now,” it doesn’t have to be one “forever.”

A Success Story

A professional at one of my presentations told a story about how she had been frustrated and discouraged with her lengthy job search and decided to try using an affirmation. She affirmed something like, “I am a talented, capable, and knowledgeable professional. Prospective employers are seeing how I can make a valuable contribution to their organization and are compensating me well!” Within three weeks of using her daily affirmation she was offered, and accepted, a job she was excited about.

She said that the affirmation caused her to practice focusing on, and envisioning, what she wanted to have happen rather than what was not yet happening. Action and emotion follow thought.

You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.  – Louise Hay

Enjoy this nourishment for your mind and adding a simple and profound inner technique that will supercharge your focus, confidence, and ability to make progress on your professional goals!