Positive Mindshift: Making Good Things Happen in Life and Work

By Donald Sandel

Why do some people seem magnetic while others just seem to repel people? Why are some people so happy, even at those way-too-early board meetings? The answer, while seemingly complicated, is actually very simple: that individual probably has a positive mindset.

In his book Positive Mindshift: Making Good Things Happen in Li

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Degree Press
• Release date: May 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798885041836

Book preview

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Positive Mindshift

Positive Mindshift

Making Good Things Happen in Life and Work

Donald Sandel

New Degree Press

Copyright © 2022 Donald Sandel

All rights reserved.

Positive Mindshift

Making Good Things Happen in Life and Work

ISBN

979-8-88504-075-4 Paperback

979-8-88504-704-3 Kindle Ebook

979-8-88504-183-6 Ebook

Table of Contents

Praise for Positive Mindshift

Positive Reflections

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1. Launching Mindshift

Chapter 2. Problems and Solutions 1

Chapter 3. Problems and Solutions 2

Chapter 4. The Promise of Mindshift

Chapter 5. Overcoming the Negativity Bias

Chapter 6. Changing Brain, Changing Lives

Chapter 7. Intention and Choice

Chapter 8. Shifting Mindsets

Chapter 9. Going Deeper

Chapter 10. Additional Resources

Dalai Lama Facebook Post

Appendix

Praise for Positive Mindshift

Donald Sandel’s fun and sincere spirit, combined with a necessary level of intentionality, are everywhere in his writing. He shares his insights, experience, as well as relevant scientific and historical data in a personal way that’s thought provoking. In the arena of high stakes college athletics in which I work, Sandel’s book is a modern, competitive advantage.

Amanda Butler, women’s head basketball coach, Clemson Tigers.

Don Sandel has taken something people have spoken about anecdotally for years and shown the data. No more a phrase in passing, the power of positivity is truly a mindset that delivers tangible results, from business to sports to one’s personal life. This book is a game changer.

Dirk Tussing,

CEO

and president,

ELE

Group,

LLC

.

"Donald Sandel’s work on a Positive Mindshift has been a GIFT to me and the teams I’ve led towards adopting a healthier, more positive mindset. By using the tools and activities Sandel’s developed, and by understanding the link between a positive mindset and our outcomes, we’ve better understood Happiness, Optimism and Positivity as not the result of success but the reason for it. A positive mindset is a choice and Sandel provides the evidence and the tools to get you there in this easy to read, inspiring book!"

Paul Q. Ward, Senior Director North American Scientific Partnerships, AstraZeneca.

As a health care company based in California, we have some of the strictest mandates anywhere when it comes to COVID[-19] compliance. It’s a beast to manage and could have torn our culture to shreds. With his new book, Positive Mindshift, Sandel has captured the essence of his thoughtful coaching approach and workshop, and, in an incredibly smart, evidenced-based way, shows the reader how to lead a more positive life and produce more positive outcomes.

Bill George, grateful

CEO

,

IPM

Medical Group, Inc.

Just like shifting gears in a vehicle, we can shift our minds from a negative view to a positive—or truly realistic—one. Don Sandel is a terrific mindset ‘driving coach’ and this book is the driving manual. You can develop and master the essential capability for seeing positively. Study this book—and grow and go!

Barry Rellaford, cofounder of CoveyLink, the creators of The Speed of Trust and Trust & Inspire, and coauthor of A Slice of Trust.

Imagine a world where everyone had a positive mindset. Imagine what we could achieve. Alas, like many things that are so important, they are not easy. That’s why Don Sandel’s Positive Mindshift is so critical in today’s environment. He literally takes the reader by the hand, [and shows] through stories and research, how we can all mindshift! This is a must-read book for everyone to understand the science behind thinking and acting with a positive mindset. It empowers you to actually do it.

Alex Draper,

CEO

, DX Learning Solutions.

There is no skill in life more important and more rewarding than learning how to choose a positive response to the challenging situations we face. Using interesting stories and practical actions, Donald Sandel helps us develop this critical skill.

Judd Hoekstra, coauthor of Crunch Time: How to Be Your Best When It Matters Most.

I have grown and excelled in my career, and as I reflect on what attributed to that I immediately think of my time working under Donald Sandel’s leadership. I’m a very positive minded person, and am often asked, ‘How do you stay so positive all the time?’ I again think back to my time under Don’s leadership and how he influenced my positivity. Now, as a leader myself, I strive to do the same for others. Positive Mindshift shares the science behind positive mindset and how in our business and personal lives, we can make a real impact through leadership and influence by exampling positivity. Positive Mindshift is a must read for any leader looking to influence true positive change in their organization. I’ve brought these concepts to my organization and watched the team exceed my expectations. Make time to reflect and do the exercises in this book, and you too will see positive outcomes.

Amber Bollinger, Chief Experience Officer, Remarkable Health.

Donald Sandel has an insightful approach to mindset and how it shapes how we see and respond to external events. He focuses on the intentionality of being positive. His teachings are evidence-based, focusing on how positivity is both learnable and actionable. His book is an invaluable guide to making a positive shift that creates life-altering impact!

Jean Theis, Chief Relationship Officer, HomeAdvantage.

For over a decade, I’ve brought Donald Sandel in to work with my leadership team. His sessions have always been insightful, thought-provoking, and fun. He makes us think! Positive Mindshift does the same thing. With his usual style, intelligence, and humor, Sandel lays out the case for mindshift. We can make the change to a more flourishing and productive life, especially with the support of his wisdom and a boost from well-researched neuroscience. Read Positive Mindshift with a notepad. Do the activities. And observe as positive outcomes dominate your future!

Fran Paradiso-Hardy, Vice President of a global pharmaceutical company.

Don Sandel’s workshops have always been moving and impactful. Then I read his book and see he’s done the same thing in Positive Mindshift. The science is interesting, but his stories pull me in! This is a great read! You won’t be able to put it down!

Crystal Officer,

CEO

, Beverly Farm Foundation.

Positive Reflections

Consider the description written by the Dalai Lama in The Leader’s Way of the jewelry net of Indra:

The jewelry net of Indra provides a beautiful image of interdependence. Indra is the Hindu god of the universe. He has a net in the shape of a ball. At each knot is a jewel. When one jewel emits light, that light is reflected in all other jewels. The reflections are then returned to the emitting jewel, and then reflected again. Imagine yourself as one of the jewels.

This image brings clarity to the idea that how we lead our lives not only affects us, but also those around us. We are constantly reflecting and re-reflecting our behaviors and the consequences of those behaviors as part of a larger, interconnected system. When we act benevolently, we create a system that opens the world of abundance, flourishing growth, and success. Our happy, optimistic, and positive mindset becomes a North Star, directing not only our lives but also the lives of those around us.

This book seeks to encourage these positive reflections.

Acknowledgments

A book such as this is indeed a community effort, yet the sincere thanks on this page still seem unequal to the effort and support offered by those listed below. I am especially grateful to:

My wonderfully supportive wife, Georgi, who endured over a year of my distance while I toiled over this book. She became a book widow, yet her support never wavered.

Erin Nichole Smith, a positive psychology savant, my mentor, friend, and sage.

Dr. Peter Bonate and Dr. Beatrix Kovacs, brilliant scientists and awesome people.

Jim Hutton, Emily Harper-Guerra, Sharon Arnold, Ken Strickland, Linda Hawkins, Danny Bader, and Scott Flanders, whose inspirational stories became the best part of this journey.

Lori Magnoni, Matt Barry, Chris Abboushi, and Amity Cutaia, who warmly shared stories and memories about our dear friend Chuck Pearson.

Mark Sandel, Geeta Solanki, Fabian De Rozario, and Matt Sandel, whose selfless time and input as beta readers raised the book from term paper to impactful message.

My tireless editors at New Degree Press, Jesse Rivas, Ty Mall, Morgana Watson, and Linda Berardelli, who were dedicated to this project beyond expectation.

Finally, to the many that aren’t listed here who supported this book, sent me notes of encouragement, and shared belief in the message. I know who you are, and I am grateful.

Foreword

You’ve likely walked into a room, met someone new, and been immediately attracted to their energy and how they process their world and the situations that arise. Don Sandel is one of those people for me. We met many years ago when he was leading Talent Development for a global pharmaceutical company. I visited often to lead workshops for corporate employees, which allowed me to work closely with Don, watch him in action, and admire his close connections with others. We quickly knew we were kindred spirits in our curiosity and quest to learn, study, and refine the human principles that lead to a life of vision, focus, resilience, and, ultimately, fulfillment.

How do you do this? Through your approach. Approach is defined as that which moves us closer to something. Your approach to living could produce suffering, fear, regret, complacency and all the other negative modes of existence—or the opposite! If you’re stuck in life or experiencing any—and one is too many—negative feelings, emotions, and interpretations of your life and its challenges, this book is for you. Or, if you are just trying to get better, this book is for you.

In Positive Mindshift, Don has taken the age-old principles vital to creating a thriving life and offered them to you, the reader, with the intention of slowing you down to examine your approach. Don will help you identify where you’ll want to strengthen this approach and build stronger thinking, feelings, and actions.

When you begin to experiment with your approach to creating what Don calls HOP (Happiness, Optimism, and Positivity), and develop new mental habits and beneficial self-talk, you create the ability to dramatically and positively impact all areas of your life—career, relationships, health, spirituality, and more.

Don provides the science-backed data to support his work in an easy-to-understand fashion. This is not an academic book. Don uses stories of athletes, business leaders, and everyday people to teach and support the science and the principles that lead to positive emotions and then positive outcomes.

So, dive into this book. Mark up the pages with notes. Complete the exercises. Talk with others about it. And above all, allow yourself the vulnerability and courage to identify where you need to work on your approach to grow stronger and live a life of fulfillment. Because, after all, that’s what you’re here for, right?

All the best in your time ahead.

Peace,

Danny Bader

January 2022

Author, Back to Life: The Path of Resilience

Introduction

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.

Aristotle

If you are like most, you notice positive people. How can you not? Somehow their attitude, mindset, approach, and even the language they use serve as a beacon or a light, attracting us like moth to bulb.

Perhaps they stand out because they and their approach are so rare these days—the CDC reports that anxiety and depression have risen by 5 percent in 2021, and in the same year the US dropped another level in the latest World Happiness Report (Vahratian 2021, Helliwell 2021). In fact, during August 2020–February 2021, the percentage of adults with recent symptoms of an anxiety or a depressive disorder increased from 36.4 percent to 41.5 percent, and the percentage of those reporting an unmet mental health care need increased from 9.2 percent to 11.7 percent, (Vahratian 2021). With numbers like this, noticing a positive person in the wild can elicit the same response one might think spotting a unicorn would cause! Their positivity tends to rise above the masses, pulling us into their orbit.

Chuck Pearson was