Shift Your Mood: 5 Tips to Change Your Narrative and Create Possibilities

"It is not the things themselves that trouble us, but the opinions we have of them."

~ Epictetus 🤯

Hi!

Freelancing often requires us to navigate new and uncertain paths, which can feel overwhelming.

Whether you're in the early stages of considering freelancing or are already on the journey, the narrative you create about freelancing, like all your experiences, influences your progress.

How we interpret life's situations can propel us or hold us back.

Life happens, and then we make sh** up about it.

We all carry a background of life experiences, teachings, judgments, and moments that inform our narrative about life. Depending on our narrative, we form opinions about what is happening, which determine our reactions.

But what if we purposely cultivated narratives and chose our reactions?

What if we invented our narrative of the next chapter in our lives regardless of life's happenings?

As a freelancer and coach of thirty years and someone who has moved her life from the appearance of comfort and stability to a life abroad, I have experienced and learned the importance of narrative building.

The power to produce effective action lies in our understanding that life is what we make it and how we make it by inventing narratives that propel us toward the life we want, not sitting in "what it is."

*NOTE — None of this is to say that the life you're living isn't the one you love, but too many don't question their situation, feel captured, and tell themselves what they must put up with before they can "get to the good stuff."

Without my ability to build a narrative about possibilities, life abroad would've been, at times, too different, complicated, and uncomfortable.

The following tips are ones I use regularly to shift my narrative and make new possibilities:

Tip #1 -- Reframe the Situation: When encountering a difficult time, consider asking yourself what you can learn from it. This transforms a difficult time into an opportunity for growth. "What positive thing is possible?"

Tip #2—Practice Gratitude: No matter the situation, find one thing to be grateful for. Focusing on gratitude can shift your attitude from seeing what's missing to seeing what's good, opening yourself up to new possibilities.

Tip #3 -- Focus on What You Can Control: Instead of feeling stuck and frustrated, accept your power to choose and act. By doing so, you empower yourself to move forward, no matter the circumstances.

Tip #4 -- Visualize the Positive Outcome: Imagine the best possible scenario from your current situation. Stop for a moment and visualize a different outcome, or write it down. Both of these practices can help you see beyond the immediate circumstance and, instead, think about what could be.

Tip #5 -- Seek Support: Talk about your situation with a mentor, friend, or coach. Collaboration brings new perspectives and opens up possibilities you hadn't considered before. Going it alone leads to stagnation and invites loneliness and isolation.

When we invent different narratives about what's possible, instead of being stuck in how it appears and living in a bad mood, we choose our reactions and can form new possibilities.

Freelancing is a narrative and offers a pathway to possibilities—where you can earn on your terms, stay engaged and purposeful, and build your "what's next." Whether it's leaving the

9-5, earning extra income, supplementing your retirement, staying engaged and purposeful, or just wanting to learn a new and vital skill, having a new pathway forward is exciting and can lift your spirit.

Ready to change your narrative and step into your "what's next?"

With love and encouragement,

Jeanne 🌺

I'm a freelancer and certified freelance coach living abroad. I guide people in navigating the next chapter of life through freelancing, whether their goal is earning an income, staying engaged, finding purpose, traveling, or living abroad.

Together, we embrace your strengths, learn anew, and get you to your "what's next."