Where you place or direct your attention can make a significant difference in the quality of your mood and your stress management outcomes. So here are some ideas and questions to consider.
Are you more intentional in your focus or more susceptible to reacting to what is “out there”?
When faced with a problem, how much time is spent on the problem (and your reactions to it) vs the solution? Since a plan of action is needed to pursue solutions, are you more likely to do that fairly quickly or take your time? I know that depends heavily on the kind of problem it is and your ability to solve it with the resources you have available.
When faced with a problem how likely are you to spend time blaming yourself and losing focus on the problem itself? (again, influenced by nature of problem quite often).
How likely are you to take control of a plan vs giving control to others?
While we are on this topic, there is something else to think about regarding attention. Are you more self or other focused? In general, people who are more self-focused face a slightly higher risk for depression. Being more other-focused increases your chance of experiencing anxiety. Anxiously trying to please others or struggling with oneself. The balancing point can be tricky to find and maintain, that sweet spot for your in the world of people.
Putting yourself first or last can create imbalance. But, the depressed person often finds that focusing on others, helping others in some way, improves their mood. Anxious people find that quiet time and solitude is a much needed break and good for their soul.
Are you more intentional in your focus or more susceptible to reacting to what is “out there”?
When faced with a problem, how much time is spent on the problem (and your reactions to it) vs the solution? Since a plan of action is needed to pursue solutions, are you more likely to do that fairly quickly or take your time? I know that depends heavily on the kind of problem it is and your ability to solve it with the resources you have available.
When faced with a problem how likely are you to spend time blaming yourself and losing focus on the problem itself? (again, influenced by nature of problem quite often).
How likely are you to take control of a plan vs giving control to others?
While we are on this topic, there is something else to think about regarding attention. Are you more self or other focused? In general, people who are more self-focused face a slightly higher risk for depression. Being more other-focused increases your chance of experiencing anxiety. Anxiously trying to please others or struggling with oneself. The balancing point can be tricky to find and maintain, that sweet spot for your in the world of people.
Putting yourself first or last can create imbalance. But, the depressed person often finds that focusing on others, helping others in some way, improves their mood. Anxious people find that quiet time and solitude is a much needed break and good for their soul.
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