1 The Power of Initiative: How to Take Control of Your Mental Health Presented by CIGNA Employee Assistance Program

2 Seminar Goals Understand that we have the ability to choose how we respond. Identify roadblocks that may be getting in our way. Discover how to “re-frame” self-defeating thoughts. Identify our priorities

3 What is Initiative? Taking responsibility for making things happen in our lives. Operating in a proactive manner. Realizing that we have the ability to choose how we respond to a situation. Reacting based on our values rather than feelings or impulses.

4 Choosing to Take Control We may not be able to control the events or the people around us. We cannot control what kind of family we grew up in or what happened to us as a child. We can choose our responses to current and future events.

5 What Road Blocks May Be in Your Way? Fear Unrealistic goals Negative beliefs about yourself Assuming that happiness just means disappointment is around the corner Rebellion or revenge A lack of direction Relying on others to take care of you

6 Negative Thoughts and Irrational Beliefs Holding pre-conceived notions Thinking in absolute terms Making a mountain out of molehill /molehill out of mountain Playing the blame game Being a negative magnet Drawing emotional conclusions Living under a dark cloud

7 Fighting Back Against Negative Thoughts Consider the evidence Find other explanations Give yourself credit Don’t make hasty judgments Surround yourself with positive people Use your imagination Smile until you mean it Be realistic

8 Practicing Proactive Thinking Negative Thought: 1. There is nothing I can do 2. That’s just the way I am 3. He makes me so mad Balanced Alternative:

9 Eliminate Should, Ought, Must, Have To from Your Vocabulary What happens if you use words such as these instead? I choose to… I want to… I prefer I am going to…

10 Your Statement Of Purpose Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. -Carl Jung

11 Other Suggestions to Help With Initiative Set realistic goals Break things down into reasonable steps Do not wait to “feel” motivated Let go of your fear of failure Visualize your end result Do not live for external rewards only Use affirmations

12 Change is Possible People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something that one finds. It is something that one creates. -Thomas Szasz