Physics, buckets, and positive energy
When I am teaching or tutoring high school students in physics I use a bucket analogy to help my students understand the difference between gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy (if interested in the full physics analogy let me know). As a recovering pessimist I am always looking for ways to improve my outlook on life and be more positive in all of my daily interactions and relationships. While explaining this analogy one day I realized that I could adapt it and apply it to my state of mind each day so that I could keep track of how I was feeling and how I was responding to my environment.
It works like this
1. The bucket can be filled with positive (blue) or negative (red) energy.
2. Positive responses during the day fill the bucket with blue.
3. Negative responses during the day fill the bucket with red.
4. Positive responses cancel out negative responses.
5. During the day the bucket can be overall blue (more positive), overall red (more negative), or neutral (equal positive and negative responses).
6. By the end of the day the colour left in your bucket gives you an overview of how you responded to circumstances during your day.
7. My goal is to have more blue in the bucket as many days as possible.
Over the course of the day this analogy lets me quickly assess how I am responding to the activities I face each day. I simply ask myself “What colour of a day am I having?” If the answer is a blue day I am being positive and from there it is usually fairly easy to continue on a blue pathway. If the answer is a red day I am being negative, and I know I need to change my focus and work harder on being more positive and filling the bucket with blue.
An example
Hopefully an example will help make the process clear:
Driving to school I manage to spill my coffee and roll my eyes wondering why these things always happen to me (definitely a negative response so one unit of red goes in the bucket. I mentally score my day so far as “one red”)
I get to school and have a student waiting for math help. Still groggy I comment to the student that they should not have left getting help so late. (another negative response so one unit of red goes in the bucket. I mentally score my day so far as “two red”) Now, I know my day is heading in the wrong direction so I mentally tell myself to smarten up and get some blue in the bucket.
A student asks the same algebra question for the third time, I give him a big smile and explain that for some people it takes a few tries and I help him out. (a positive response so one unit of blue goes in the bucket, this cancels out one of the red units. I mentally score my day as “one red”)
The peer tutor in the class is sitting and chatting with two students, completely off topic, instead of helping them. I call her over and ask her to mark some quizzes for me. (a positive response, so one unit of blue goes in the bucket, canceling out the red unit. I mentally score my day as “even”)
During break my wife calls and mentions that the car needs $300 worth of work at the dealer. I know we don’t have the money but realize it isn’t the end of the world and we can pay it off next month. (a positive response so one unit of blue goes in the bucket. Mental score “one blue”) I am now back on track for the day and from here will hopefully continue being positive.
By the end of the day I have a total of four negative responses and nine positive responses. My overall score for the day is “five blue”, I am feeling good, and I have had a positive day.
So, there you have it, positive thinking via “The Bucket Method”. As I write this it seems a bit complicated and maybe not all that useful (a negative response, I just got myself one unit of red) but it works well for me and will hopefully help someone else out there with being more positive (look at that positive, a unit of blue, I am back to even).
What analogies or symbols do you use to help with your outlook each day?
Check out the last Success Tool: Pessimist – Optimist Tables.
I heart The Bucket Method! So, so great. I read somewhere (I forgot where or I’d definitely give credit) of actually using marbles or pebbles, and filling a glass or a bowl with them for each positive thought you have, or when you accomplish something you set out to do. I would think it would be a great visual to see a full glass/bowl at the end of each day. Of course, we can’t bring this glass/bowl with us in our day to day activities, so I wonder what can be done in while “traveling” besides mentally counting (I do not heart math!)….
Wow I like the physical addition to the bucket idea. For a travelling idea perhaps a “positive pocket” (right pocket) and a “negative pocket” (left pocket) and you could transfer coins from one to the other to keep track of where you are in a given day. This gives me something to think about, thanks!
The pocket idea is great! If coins get confusing (ie if you put change in your pocket) you can always use buttons or something. Awesome idea, Jeremie.
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