Deidra's First Easter Basket
April 2026
Positivity
This April is starting out as a wonderful month because we are celebrating Passover and Easter; holidays that stand for liberation and renewal. It’s a time for gratitude and hope. Don’t let the joy end on Easter Sunday. We need to develop ways to continue the positivity of the holidays in an intentional fashion. We celebrate Christmas and the New Year for a longer period of time because the media capitalizes on these holidays to promote commerce. However, the media does help keep us in touch with the fact that we are in the Christmas season of good will. The feeling is contagious and even strangers share holiday greetings.
What is your vision of the perfect Passover and Easter?
Unfortunately, the media doesn’t do much to support the Easter Season which actually lasts until Pentecost. I once heard a priest, Father Phil Egan, give a sermon about being an “Easter People." What he said was that we should make an effort to continue to share joy and hope long after Easter Sunday ends. We must nurture a mindset of renewal and gratitude every day of the week-- at least through April, if not until the end of May.
How can you commemorate Easter every day?
It’s easy to give in to negative thinking. We need to constantly monitor our own thoughts for signs of bitterness, cynicism, criticism and doubt. This is an ongoing process that can be assisted by having a ritual to perform. If I find myself slipping into negativity, I like to make the sign of the cross and say “Help me God”. I then force myself to think of anything cheerful, such as flowers, horses or puppies. Catch yourself before you fall into a negative downhill spiral.
What is your downhill spiral?
April is a time to foster new beginnings. Sometimes you need to become a new person to do new things. This means burying old resentments, betrayals, failures and setbacks. You may need to debrief this kind of negativity with a priest, rabbi, pastor, coach or therapist. We need to clear out these old, dark thoughts to make room for healthier thoughts and aspirations.
When will you bury the burdens from your past?
Visual reminders are a good way to keep up our joy of Easter and to have positive thoughts and emotions. I may just leave up my Easter decorations. They represent the power of my faith and also help me commemorate all of my past joyful memories of Easter. A bouquet or a pot of flowers could be another kind of reminder. Listening to gospel music can be another powerful reminder. It’s hard to have a negative thought while listening to Sam Cooke singing “That’s Heaven to Me." Start some rituals that spark feelings of joy and gratitude such as a weekly meeting with a friend or relative for coffee. You might take walks or go for drives to enjoy the miracles of Spring.
What will remind you to stay positive?
In business, what has helped me retain positivity is attending my weekly Business Network International(BNI) meetings. One of BNI’s core values is positivity. When I go to the meetings I make a deal with myself that I will only think positive thoughts about my business, my business associates and the future of small business in America. I also, vow to only say helpful, positive and uplifting things to my fellow BNI members. This does not mean that we are a bunch of clueless Pollyannas. Psychological research has shown the power of positivity. It means that wise people such as our BNI founder, Dr. Ivan Misner, learned that negative remarks and attitudes never lead to success. Psychological research teaches us that it is only profitable to concentrate on what we have control over and what we can change.
What weekly ritual could change your life?
I’ve learned a lot about positivity from Robert Mitchell, owner of Kwik Dry Restoration (417-812-4131) and founder of my BNI Chapter Referrals Faster 2.0. I was amazed when I noticed a certain pattern of Robert’s. Even if something dreadful or offensive happened to him, he would just go on to the next task or person at hand and “do the next best thing." He did not ruminate, feel sorry for himself or lose his temper. I asked him how he did it and he told me about the 4 S’s: Some will. Some won’t. So what. Someone’s waiting. Now, if something disappointing happens I force myself to move on and do something that can make a difference. I have hope because I know that “someone’s waiting." Let’s all practice positivity so that we can become the Easter People that keep hope and gratitude alive. Robert is always an Easter Person because he restores people’s homes after a disaster and he redeems work by maintaining a positive work culture.
What person or project could be waiting for you in the future? Originally posted by Coaching for Success via Locable