What Positive Attitude Can do

A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.
- Patricia Neal

 

Exerting One’s Strength

There are two ways of exerting one’s strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.

- Booker T. Washington, 1856 – 1915, American Educator

 

Ten Tips to Achieving Your Goals

In achieving any worthy objective, there must be consistency in the amount of hard work you put in; a day here and there just isn’t going to do it. A week of sustained effort isn’t going to do it either!So what am I saying?I’m saying if you want to achieve your goals, you must remain focused on exactly what it is you want.Starting the process is usually quite easy, especially when you have that initial excitement about a new objective or goal you’ve just set for yourself.

Here are ten ideas to assist you in reaching any goal you care to set:

1) The Right Reasons (personal to you). Doing things for the right reasons is easy; having strong, powerful emotions for reaching your goals will give you the “Get Up and Go” that is needed when things sometimes get tough. If we’re excited and full of enthusiasm for reaching our goals, then the energy and vigor naturally follow. If you don’t have a strong enough reason for doing something, then it becomes more of an effort, requires more discipline, and uses more energy.

2) Think In Ink. Use pen and paper to write down clear, concise goals. When your eyes see your goals written down, it becomes a new permanent picture in your subconscious mind for you to recall any time you choose.

3) See It, Be It. Visualize what it is you want; feel the strong emotions you associate with your goals — the smells, the tastes, the happiness, the sense of achievement.

4) Say It Loud, Say It Proud. Speak to yourself in positive, present-tense terms. I am, I have, I earn, I do, I can. The more emotion you put into this exercise, the more powerful they become, and the more energy you will feel.

5) Destination, Station. You can’t travel in the right direction unless you know where to start and exactly where you want to end up. Your route can change in many ways; the journey will almost certainly not be a straight one, so look ahead for the blind corners before you get to them.

6) Measure Your Treasure. Your goals are something to be treasured; if they’re not, then you probably don’t have “The Right Reasons” in the first place. So measure your progress. You can only adjust your route if you find out where you are; otherwise you will waste a lot of effort to end up a long way from your intended destination.

7) Peer, Steer. Associate with as many positive, motivated, and focused individuals or groups as you can. Meet with them, talk on the phone, in email, or by fax, or join news groups. Set up your own newsgroups if you can’t find any on your particular goal.

8 ) Fewer Goals, Fewer Tolls. By this I mean you should concentrate your efforts on just a few goals at any one time. You can have as many goals as you like, but only have a few priority goals to work on at any point. Don’t pay a higher price en route.

9) Pay Every Day. If you have “The Right Reasons,” you already have a powerful driving force to motivate you to do something every single day to move toward your desired goals. Taking action every day means you can break down your BIG goals into small manageable-sized pieces. You wouldn’t try to eat a whole week’s groceries in one meal. So why bite off more than you can chew?

10) Celebrate and Congratulate. When you achieve milestones, reward yourself and celebrate, even if only in a small way. You’re on the road to overall success, so congratulate yourself on your achievement. The more you do this, the better you will feel; the better you feel, the more likely you are to do it all over again.

Good luck.

About the Author:

Robert Phipps is a Management Consultant & Body Language Specialist with more than 15 years experience:  http://www.robertphipps.com/

 

Life is a Mirror

Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it.

- Ernest Holmes

 

Beating Procrastination for Good

Every one of us has 24 hours in our day — no more, no less. Yet some people manage to get an awful lot done in that time, and others just can’t seem to get anything done. These latter people fritter away their day, finding other things to do while avoiding the goals and tasks they know they should be working on. They may even want to get things done, but when the day is over, they find their goals list untouched. Especially in the case of a genuine desire to complete your tasks, procrastination can be extremely frustrating. So what can you do about it? How can you move beyond procrastination to become genuinely productive? The first step is to understand just what procrastination is and where it comes from, and that’s what I want to discuss here today.

In my experience, procrastination emanates from the lack of a clear life’s dream, a failure to have a scientific goal structure, and inability to manage your self. Let’s begin with the first of the three components — lack of a clear life’s dream. Procrastination is usually the result of a desire for short-term gratification. When you don’t have a long-term life goal — what I call a legacy — the kinds of rewards and sources of gratification in your life are very limited. There is only the opportunity for short-term gratification. This is where procrastination enters because when you procrastinate, you avoid doing what you need to do for the sake of instant gratification. It’s easy to avoid doing the things you need to do when there are other things that bring more instant rewards, and those are the only real rewards you have in life. Put another way, when you don’t have a legacy to guide your activities, your life-force gets sprinkled into a little of this and a little of that, but not concentrated enough to create anything tangible that evokes a sense of completion. Procrastination is a way of directing your life-force just enough so that you get a trickle of immediate satisfaction from what you do.

To fix this problem, it’s important to spend the time to get clear on your legacy. Once you have a clear life’s dream, you can see how your tasks are connected to that dream — how they contribute to reaching that dream. The satisfaction that flows from the completion of your activities, then, is the satisfaction of moving one step closer to reaching your dream. Your activities have a place in a larger goal and serve a purpose apart from, for example, just bringing in a paycheck to pay the bills. The tasks that once seemed like pure drudgery come to have a value that they lacked before, and the desire for satisfaction or a sense of completion can just as easily be fulfilled now by doing the work that needs to be done.

Without a clear understanding of your legacy to channel your creative energy, that energy is all too easily diffused. Concentrated light makes a laser beam, and a laser beam can be used to get work done that can’t be accomplished without focusing the light. Your legacy is the lens through which the light of your being becomes focused.

Having a legacy is the first and most important step in ridding your life of procrastination, but it isn’t always enough. Many people that have a legacy still find themselves falling into this pattern of distraction. Oftentimes, people will find themselves avoiding their real work because they lack a scientific goal structure. The distance between where you are now and the realization of your legacy can be daunting, and without a clear sequence of intermediate goals and a vision of how those intermediate goals will lead you to your legacy, it’s easy to misdirect your life-force. These intermediate goals plug the task that you are engaged in now into the positive energy of your legacy. The goal structure allows that positive energy to flow into your tasks, and this is what creates the sense of completion and satisfaction when you finish your work projects. Without that goal structure, the energy can’t flow from your legacy, and so the motivation for completing your projects will still be lacking.

The remedy here is to take the time to write down a goal structure for your legacy. The structure should include daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. You can then start your day by writing out how the tasks you need to complete on that day contribute to reaching your legacy. Make the connection explicit and make it real. Once you can see the relationship between today’s tasks and your life’s dream, you’ll tap into the energy of your legacy and find that you have the drive to complete your goals for the day.

Finally, having a legacy and a goal structure may not be enough if you are having difficulty managing your self. Taking care of your day’s goals is a matter of channeling your energy in the right ways, and procrastination is one form of energy mismanagement. If you’re tired, sick, or stressed out, your ability to direct the flow of your energy can be greatly reduced, and it’s much easier to fall back into the habit of procrastination. The short-term gratification of procrastination can be much more appealing in those cases as well because it acts as a sort of pick-me-up, giving a shot of satisfaction when you’re down. It’s the same effect as drinking a cup of coffee when you haven’t eaten all day — it’s an energy boost.

The response to this component of the problem is to take a careful look at your lifestyle. Very roughly, you can evaluate your lifestyle on three dimensions: diet, exercise, and the ability to balance the expenditure of energy with the cultivation of energy. For each of these dimensions, you might ask the following questions:

Diet:

a. How often do you eat quality, organic foods?

b. How many times do you eat each day?

c. Do you skip meals?

Exercise:

a. How frequently do you exercise?

b. What kinds of exercise do you engage in?

Balancing energy expenditure with energy cultivation:

a. Are you drinking enough water?

b. Do you get eight hours of sleep each night?

c. How often do you take time out to enjoy yourself?

d. How often do you allow your mind to focus on the negative aspects of life as opposed to the positive?

e. Do you have a way to relieve stress?

The fundamental point here is there is an intimate connection between the health of your body and the health and strength of your mind and your will. If you don’t have a healthy body, it’s going to be much more difficult to focus and direct your energy. Asking the very basic questions I describe above can help you to see how your lifestyle aids in or detracts from your ability to focus and direct your energies. So learn to manage your self, and you’ll find that you accomplish your tasks much more frequently and effectively.

In sum, the formula for removing the control that procrastination has in your life is to find your legacy, connect everything you do to your legacy, and manage your body, mind, and spirit so that you have the energy and the will to direct your life-force in the way that you want. When you’ve addressed the factors that I’ve discussed here, not only will you find that you’re more productive, you’ll be healthier, happier, and much closer to living a life that is genuinely satisfying!

Paul Chek is an internationally renowned holistic health practitioner, consultant to some of the world’s most elite athletes and business professionals, and founder of PPS Success and the C.H.E.K Institute: http://www.ppssuccess.com and http://www.chekinstitute.com. His workshops and seminars have helped thousands of people from all walks of life to go after and reach their fullest potential.

 

Do It Now

Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now!

- Michael Landon, 1936-1991, American Actor

 

Seven Steps to Maximizing the Power of Association

There is a saying that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. And one negative person can affect everyone they come into contact with.

I was recently sharing some of my short-term business Goals with someone in my professional peer network.

While I do have a tendency to aim high and set some outrageous Goals, I also have the drive and determination to take decisive action, advance them at a rapid pace, and see them through to completion.

When I shared my exciting Goals with my “friend,” their response was not encouraging and enthusiastic. All I got was negativity and discouragement. I knew this friend was having some personal struggles, but I intuitively realized I needed to separate myself from them for the time being.

I realized a pattern had been developing, where every time we talked, I felt emotionally drained after the conversation.

Have you ever had that experience?

There are times in life when some of the people around you become a bit toxic to you.

They complain a lot, they whine, their attitudes are poor, and they act helpless. I have a tendency to try and shine the light on all of the good around them and within them, but sometimes even that is unwelcome. There is a wall of resistance. You can tell because they would rather have a big old pity party, blame others, and be the victim than transform themselves into a more positive resourceful state.

I love coaching people in how to turn things around. It’s easy to do with coaching clients because they pay for that expertise and are typically looking for change. There is nothing wrong with being stuck; however, no one is obligated to be on the receiving end of someone else’s drama or drain.

I believe in serving others, but sometimes the people around you are not receptive to your kind efforts. No matter how hard you try to serve them, sometimes they try to drag you down. I could not remember even one recent conversation where I felt good after a discussion with this particular person.

That’s when I knew… it was time to limit my association with them.

Often when you share your Goals with people, they see everything from their own lens, from their own perspective, and ultimately from their lack of vision and their own limiting beliefs. This is one of the reasons it is so important to have a coach and/or a mentor. Your coach’s job is not to judge, but rather to guide you and help you find the way to your Goals.

Seven Steps for Maximizing the Power of Association

1. Be selective about which Goals you share with which people. Whenever you share your Goals or ask for feedback, consider the source. Ask yourself, Is this the right person to share this particular goal with? Will this person be objective, or will they be negative, cynical, and critical?

It is inevitable that some people around you right now might not understand what you are trying to accomplish. Perhaps they are even a little (or a lot) competitive with you. Sometimes they are downright jealous. Sometimes they are afraid if you become successful, you will leave them.

2. Do not allow other people to determine your chances of success. Ever. What seems impossible for them may very well be within your reach, range, and ability, especially if it is something you are passionately committed to achieving.

If I allowed other people’s opinions to sway me from my Goals, I would have never become a cadet (junior firefighter) at the age of 13.

I would have never become a firefighter/EMT at the age of 18.

I would have never painted works of art in my early 20’s that are now hanging in government buildings and on the walls of some pretty remarkable people.

I would have never started a business of my own, not to mention built the network of companies that were once only a dream and are now a bright, shining reality, and been working with amazing people from all over the world.

I would not be talking to you right now.

I want you to think about the people in your peer network right now.

3. Make a list of your current associations (both professionally and personally). On paper, write down the names of everyone you came into contact with in the past few months.

On the list include all of your friends, your family, your coworkers, and acquaintances.

Everyone.

4. Determine who among them is positive and encouraging. Thank them.

Seriously, write them a note, send them a card, or even give them a phone call and just say “Thank you. Your support and encouragement mean so much to me.” Tell them what it means to you.

5. Determine who among the list of people is negative, draining, and toxic to you. Perhaps it’s time to limit your association with them. Limited associations mean you still love a person, but you do not obligate yourself to spend time with them or talk frequently with them if they repeatedly have a negative impact on you. Sometimes the only way to salvage a relationship is to take a break from it.

6. Get rid of the energy vampires. I mean it. I’m talking about those dream stealers. Don’t give them your time anymore, and if for some reason you must interact with them for professional reasons, limit your time with them. You be the judge on whether or not they are adding to or taking from your energy and what level of interaction seems wise.

You will become like the people you surround yourself with.

You need to continually monitor the effect of the people around you. Sometimes you need to reduce the time you spend or sometimes drop the dead weight and excess baggage in your life in order to expand your network and make room for new, empowering people.

Your time and your energy (both emotional and physical) are two of your most precious resources.

7. Get around people who have Goals. Get around positive people. Get around people who want to help you achieve your dreams and help them with theirs every chance you get.

The most amazing people in my life are usually the ones who read, who hunger to learn, to grow. They are kind and enjoy making positive contributions to the lives of others. They are honest, and they have passions and Goals. And sometimes we have to make room for more of them to enter our world.

Live Your Dreams!

Jill Koenig, the ‘Goal Guru’, is America’s Top Goal Strategist. A best-selling author, coach, and motivational speaker, she is an expert on the subjects of Goal Setting, Time Management, and Business Success. Her passion in life is helping you UNLEASH your full potential. Get your FREE Goal Setting CD at http://www.GoalGuru.com

 

Control of Happiness

No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.

– Barbara De Angelis, American Author and Expert on Relationships and Personal Growth

 

Weakness of Attitude

Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.

– Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German-born American Physicist

 

Visualize And Affirm Your Desired Outcomes: A Step-by-Step Guide

You have within you an awesome power that most of us have never been taught to use. Elite athletes use it. The super rich use it. And peak performers in all fields are now starting to use it. That power is called visualization. The daily practice of visualizing your dreams as already complete can rapidly accelerate your achievement of those dreams. Visualization of your goals and desires accomplishes four very important things.

1. It activates your creative subconscious which will start generating creative ideas to achieve your goal.

2. It programs your brain to more readily perceive and recognize the resources you will need to achieve your dreams.

3. It activates the law of attraction, thereby drawing into your life the people, resources, and circumstances you will need to achieve your goals.

4. It builds your internal motivation to take the necessary actions to achieve your dreams.

Visualization is really quite simple. You sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes and imagine — in as vivid detail as you can — what you would be looking at if the dream you have were already realized. Imagine being inside of yourself, looking out through your eyes at the ideal result.

Mental Rehearsal

Athletes call this visualization process “mental rehearsal,” and they have been using it since the 1960s when we learned about it from the Russians. All you have to do is set aside a few minutes a day. The best times are when you first wake up, after meditation or prayer, and right before you go to bed. These are the times you are most relaxed. Go through the following three steps:

1. Imagine sitting in a movie theater, the lights dim, and then the movie starts. It is a movie of you doing perfectly whatever it is that you want to do better. See as much detail as you can create, including your clothing, the expression on your face, small body movements, the environment and any other people that might be around. Add in any sounds you would be hearing — traffic, music, other people talking, cheering. And finally, recreate in your body any feelings you think you would be experiencing as you engage in this activity.

2. Get out of your chair, walk up to the screen, open a door in the screen and enter into the movie. Now experience the whole thing again from inside of yourself, looking out through your eyes. This is called an “embodied image” rather than a “distant image.” It will deepen the impact of the experience. Again, see everything in vivid detail, hear the sounds you would hear, and feel the feelings you would feel.

3. Finally, walk back out of the screen that is still showing the picture of you performing perfectly, return to your seat in the theater, reach out and grab the screen and shrink it down to the size of a cracker. Then, bring this miniature screen up to your mouth, chew it up and swallow it. Imagine that each tiny piece — just like a hologram — contains the full picture of you performing well. Imagine all these little screens traveling down into your stomach and out through the bloodstream into every cell of your body. Then imagine that every cell of your body is lit up with a movie of you performing perfectly. It’s like one of those appliance store windows where 50 televisions are all tuned to the same channel.

When you have finished this process — it should take less than five minutes — you can open your eyes and go about your business. If you make this part of your daily routine, you will be amazed at how much improvement you will see in your life.

Create Goal Pictures

Another powerful technique is to create a photograph or picture of yourself with your goal, as if it were already completed. If one of your goals is to own a new car, take your camera down to your local auto dealer and have a picture taken of yourself sitting behind the wheel of your dream car. If your goal is to visit Paris, find a picture or poster of the Eiffel Tower and cut out a picture of yourself and place it into the picture. With today’s technology, you could probably make an even more convincing image using your computer.

Create a Visual Picture and an Affirmation for Each Goal

We recommend that you find or create a picture of every aspect of your dream life. Create a picture or a visual representation for every goal you have — financial, career, recreation, new skills and abilities, things you want to purchase, and so on.

When we were writing the very first Chicken Soup for the Soul® book, we took a copy of the New York Times best seller list, scanned it into our computer, and using the same font as the newspaper, typed Chicken Soup for the Soul into the number one position in the “Paperback Advice, How-To and Miscellaneous” category. We printed several copies and hung them up around the office. Less than two years later, our book was the number one book in that category and stayed there for over a year!

Index Cards

We practice a similar discipline every day. We each have a list of about 30-40 goals we are currently working on. We write each goal on a 3×5 index card and keep those cards near our bed and take them with us when we travel. Each morning and each night we go through the stack of cards, one at a time, read the card, close our eyes, see the completion of that goal in its perfect desired state for about 15 seconds, open our eyes and repeat the process with the next card.

Use Affirmations to Support Your Visualization

An affirmation is a statement that evokes not only a picture, but the experience of already having what you want. Here’s an example of an affirmation:

I am happily vacationing 2 months out of the year in a tropical paradise,
and working just four days a week owning my own business.

Repeating an affirmation several times a day keeps you focused on your goal, strengthens your motivation, and programs your subconscious by sending an order to your crew to do whatever it takes to make that goal happen.

Expect Results

Through writing down your goals, using the power of visualization and repeating your affirmations, you can achieve amazing results. Visualization and affirmations allow you to change your beliefs, assumptions, and opinions about the most important person in your life — YOU! They allow you to harness the 18 billion brain cells in your brain and get them all working in a singular and purposeful direction.

Your subconscious will become engaged in a process that transforms you forever. The process is invisible and doesn’t take a long time. It just happens over time, as long as you put in the time to visualize and affirm, surround yourself with positive people, read uplifting books and listen to audio programs that flood your mind with positive, life-affirming messages.

Repeat your affirmations every morning and night for a month and they will become an automatic part of your thinking — they will become woven into the very fabric of your being.

Jack Canfield, America’s Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance. If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com