All through my professional work history as a child abuse social worker, psychotherapist, corporate trainer and career/leadership coach, I have always embraced the power of positive emotional health. It is critical in all areas of our lives. And we as individuals have the responsibility to protect but also strategically develop our emotional well-being each and every day.

Taking care of ourselves in this way has a wonderful positive ripple effect on our families, our work and in our communities. Here are my favorite 3 ways to retrain our brains each day.

• Before you get out of bed in the morning – identify 3 things that you are grateful or thankful for in this new day.
• Do a small act of kindness each day . . . and don’t tell anyone else about it.
• When you go to bed at night – identify 3 things that went well that day (Seligman’s What Went Well exercise).

Do these three things for a full week. What do you notice? How has your thinking shifted? I hope you are noticing less negative thoughts and a few more positive ripples in the chatter we all hear in our heads during the day. Enjoy the change!