Turn that Frown Upside Down- It's Not the Hogwash You May Have Thought

Has someone ever said to you, “You just need to turn that frown upside down”? Ugh! The sheer Polyannaness of this statement and seemingly oversimplification of being happy is maddening. But hold on a sec- there is far more depth and truth to this statement and many of us just pass on by, mistaking a flippant cliché for the sheer brilliance that it is.

It has been said that in the end the only regrets we have are the chances we didn’t take. How many times have you thought to yourself that you should have spoken up and didn’t? How many times have you wished you would have taken a chance on going for something that seemed out of reach? How many times are you going to relive these moments from the past?

Turn that frown upside down! This isn’t just some stupid psychobabble phrase, it’s a reminder that everything is perspective- and there are times when we need to just shift- turn away from self-pity, doubt, regret, fear, and what could have been and smile at a wide open world of opportunity.

We only regret because we choose to focus on the past. We choose to focus on lack and what we haven’t achieved. We just haven’t got there yet! Keep going. Keep trying. Turn that frown upside down means, SHIFT! Shift MUST happen if you are to recognize that although we can learn from our past, we can’t stay there if we want to move forward.

Every time we stop and say to ourselves, I wish I had…. fill in the blank….we are moving backwards, no matter how hard we are trying to move forward. I wish I had is a binding statement of regret that holds us to the past. Let it go. Shift.

Your new opportunity statement then becomes I am. I am going to take advantage of the next opportunity to….. I am going to create an opportunity to….. The power of I am, shifts you into an opportunity perspective and away from a regret perspective.

Benjamin Franklin stated, “To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.” Shift! And shift quickly! Turn that frown upside down! And make people wonder what the heck you are smiling at.

Opportunity is a beautiful thing. Carpe Diem. Seize the day by letting go of what you can do nothing about. Shift to see the world of what you have not yet achieved. Shift to realize your opportunity awaits. You are only confined by the walls you build yourself.

Now go turn your frown upside down and see how different your world looks! Have a productive week full of opportunities and possibilities.

Jolene Church is currently working on doctoral research on critical thinking in organizational leadership. She is an accomplished motivational speaker, success coach, and the co-author of the newly released, Thinking 101: Fundamentals of a Successful Mindset- available now on Amazon in paperback and Kindle or at www.successfulthinkingmindset.com