You go to a coffee shop, unsure of what you want to order. The menu filled with extravagant syrups and various milk offerings overwhelms you. It all sounds good, but you just know you don’t want a black coffee. It comes your time to order. The barista asks you what you would like to drink, and you let her know that you’re unsure, but you definitely do not want a black coffee. In fact, you keep repeating it. “I’ll take anything, really. Just not a black coffee”.
The barista is busy. There is a long line of people waiting to get their drinks and the barista has a lot to deal with. She goes to make your drink and the only thing she can remember about your interaction was you repeatedly talking about a black coffee. Sure enough, she calls your name to prompt that your drink is ready, and hands you a steaming hot black coffee.
This made-up scenario is very transferable to the way we choose to face our problems and goals. This is called the black coffee theory. When we are constantly speaking about the things we don’t want to happen, the black coffee, that ends up becoming what floods the mind and ultimately becomes our reality. In the scenario with the coffee, the constant talk of black coffee became the only memorable thing for the barista. If we are always thinking about the struggles, anxieties and stressors of our lives, it will consume our minds and leave no space for the actual goals we want to accomplish.
Putting it into practice
The method of speaking positive affirmations into the universe is a key takeaway from the black coffee theory. By practicing this in our day-to-day lives as Penn State students, we can see a lot more good in our lives.
As finals week approaches, there are a lot of common goals students are trying to accomplish. For one, finishing the semester strong with good grades. Instead of speaking down on your professors’ teaching methods, your lack of time to study or your overall confusion within the course, take a more positive approach. Talk about how you have been working hard towards studying for the final. Ask your classmates what ways they are studying. Maybe even go to your professor’s office hours and get clarification on some concepts you are confused about.
With summer right around the corner, it is time to show off all the hard work from the gym over the past semester. If you aren’t there yet, hype the gym up instead of complaining about your busy schedule and laziness. It is all in the mindset.
At the end of the day, it’s the little mind switches that make all the difference. What are your goals? And how are you going to change your attitude towards them? Let us @VALLEYmag know on Instagram!
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