Renewal, Hope, and Optimisming

By Pascoe D. Sawyers

As the weather warms, long-buried seeds of possibility start to wake and strive towards the light. Spring brings new beginnings and new energy into our lives. What will you plant in your garden this year?

Optimism is a large part of gardening. You rake the ground, bury the seeds, water and weed and wait. The work you do in a garden doesn't necessarily give an immediate return, but you're sustained by the thought of your eventual harvest of succulent fruits, nutritious vegetables, or beautiful and sweet-smelling flowers.

This spring, what will you plant? Like seeds, even small changes in your life can yield large results. But remember that even though a seed planted will often grow by itself, the best crops come from well-tended garden plots. Once your garden is established - once you've made the decision to change jobs, or start a creative hobby, or improve your communication skills - don't just walk away and hope for the best.

No, that's when it's time to start optimisming. No such word I hear you say. Well, there certainly should be is my very definite response to that. Optimism is such a powerful force that it needs to be a verb, because optimism without action is dangerously close to merely wishful thinking. For those who are serious about achieving their goals in life, being optimistic has to be about action and habitual behaviours. Your positive mental attitude needs to be balanced by an "I can, I will" philosophy of life. Dynamic optimism helps to make your mind more alert and open to opportunities, your imagination and creative powers more active; it will make you more enthusiastic about the challenges of life and, in all likelihood, will help to increase your willpower to succeed. Effective optimists are rational and objective-focused, just as much as they are positive.

Good harvests come from productive activity focused on a goal, with the expectation of a positive outcome. This expectation is important: optimism strengthens your sense of purpose and clarity. You don't tend a garden with the constant thought of "I hate vegetables, and it will all rot before I can pick it anyway." Or if so, perhaps you've planted the wrong things!
Optimism is the fertiliser that nourishes your emotional and spiritual garden. Apply it regularly, in thought and deed, and watch your garden grow strong and healthy!

Pascoe Sawyers is the author of MePLC: Your Life Is Your Business. You can download a free PDF copy of this very powerful self-improvement book from http://www.meplc.co.uk
Pascoe will be leading a workshop on the power of Me FOCUS (being Fearless, Optimistic, Creative, Unique and a Storyteller) at the Mind, Body and Spirit Festival 2008 in London on 26 May. For more information or to book your place on the Me FOCUS workshop go to: http://www.mindbodyspirit.co.uk/presenter.asp?pid=162

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Positive Thinking and Belief

By Stephen Ryan

One of the most important things in trying to achieve any noteworthy goal is that of believing. Believing that you can and will achieve your goals. In fact believing so much that you expect it to happen. When you expect something to happen obstacles can then be seen not as problems but as natural events that must occur in order to for the expected outcome to manifest. Remember belief is complete and absolute faith and contains no doubts only positive thinking.

Belief is on three levels: thoughts, words and actions. If you only believe something in your mind but don't demonstrate this belief through your thoughts and actions then you are going to make little progress. If you only talk a good game then that too is not going to make great strides towards your goals, and we have all met people like that. However when you believe on all levels that is your thoughts, words and actions do not contradict eachother and are all focussed on the same goal then you are in control of a very powerful creative force.

Indeed expectation through belief via the law of attraction moves the goal towards you and actions and thoughts move you towards the goal. Thus all three combined can manifest your goals much quicker.

This process of simply focussing your thoughts works! Have you ever had a particular thought running through your mind and then noticed a group of related subjects, events, people or places showup in your life? For example, maybe you have been thinking about where to go on your next holiday suddenly all the posters in travel agents windows, adverts in glossy magazines and so on continually jump out at you and people you meet have just comeback from places you are thinking of visiting. After this then it is your turn to make the next step with your words and actions in organising the holiday.

Of course these things were always there just you had not placed your focus on that area so your mind did not let you notice them. Your mind is programmed through selective attention to get rid of all the clutter and leave you with only the relevant information. Having this ability to focus helps you continually discover new things, circumstances and opportunities to achieve your goals that much quicker as you can continually pursue them through these new avenues with your words and actions.

For example walking down a street an advertiser would subconsciously notice the blank advertising space on the side of the wall whereas the real estate agent would notice the vacant building nearby which could be renovated and sold on. You see it is the same situation for both people only our subconscious mind which we have programmed through our habitual thoughts allows to notice that which we have programmed it to.

If you wish to program your mind there are plenty of positive thinking techniques such as positive affirmations, visualisation techniques, developing positive habits and so on that will allow you to do so, however they would all ultimately comeback to belief, that inner unwavering faith. So the key message here is there are no coincidences only that which you bring about through your belief and focus. So believe and focus.

Those who think they can, can.

Author Tim Ryan provides FREE guidance and training on the power of positive thinking. By following this link you will recieve over $60 worth of FREE positive thinking training and advice immediately, simply click: Power Of Positive Thinking or visit the Beyond Positive Thinking Blog now.

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7 Simple Ways To Increase Happiness

By Elizabeth Boardman

7. Got to bed early and rise early - Many people live in the fast lane, going to bed late and rising early to get to work. Most people who focus on their nightlife do not give much thought to sleeping, thus they end up sleeping for only a mere 3 hours, every single day. Others would say that sleeping or rising early is not for them. But people who do give big importance to a lot of resting find a significant and positive change in their lives, as they have more energy and brain power to deal with the things that they need to deal with.

6. Be patient - Some of us have short tempers, and the slightest things can make us upset - may it be a dent or scratch on our precious car, or a small thing such as losing your keys. Lack of patience means a lot MORE stress in one's life. This is especially true to people who are planning to be or are already parents, as they should always keep in mind that having kids and being parents are the hardest things to deal with in life. Losing one's temper is not only a potential career breaker but it also endangers one's health.

5. Seek out a hobby or passion - Your job is not the only important thing in your life that can challenge you. Finding a hobby that you love is quite important. If you work but do not play, you will be quite prone to breaking down or losing your sanity and interest in your life. But when you have something that is not only professionally fulfilling for you, but is in fact something that you love doing, it will boost your performance in everything that you do. You will not only look forward to doing your job well, but you will also feel excitement once you get home and start focusing on that hobby of yours.

4. Move your body - Walking from your front door to your car does not count as an exercise. Exercise is quite important to include in one's routine, as not only does it help one become more active, but it is also a huge step into feeling more comfortable with one's own skin.

3. keep it healthy - A healthy diet does not mean dieting. It only means that you should avoid foods which are too fatty and are made with too many chemicals. Try eating foods that are cooked at home, in retrospect of the TV dinners.

2. Try to be more organized - Though people would argue that organization is no fun compared to being messy and searching through piles and piles of their stuff, organization makes life easier. You can avoid unwanted hassles when you organize well, and that makes you more productive.

1. Think yes, not No - People have the tendency to think the worst before they think of the best scenarios. Though it is good to be cautious in your life, always thinking and believing that the worst is to come will keep you from doing new things! It is better to be optimistic.

The San Francisco Bath Salt Company specializes in luxury bath salts for skincare and relaxation with the overall goal of improving health. The website is a powerful resource of information about bathing and contains many articles and the bathing blog. For information visit http://www.sfbsc.com

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Practice Positive Self Talk and Affirmations

By Sheri Falcone

Practicing self talk means giving purpose to your positive reinforcement, motivation and recognition. This is the same talk you would give a friend so be kind and give it to yourself. Congratulate yourself when you have a success and remember all your abilities, accomplishments, strengths and skills. I suggest you make yourself an accomplishment board or journal and record all your successes - both small and large. Review your progress periodically and acknowledge where you have gone and keep an eye on where you are still going.

Use your self talk as a tool for success. Make it work for you. What you repeatedly say to yourself has a profound impact on your self worth and performance as well as eventual successes. Remember that your subconscious records all your thoughts and triggers physiological responses to match the images and thoughts you have of yourself. Make this work for you by keeping your self talk positive and reinforcing it with positive affirmations. For example, I did a great job on the research project my boss asked me to do. The research gave him the valuable information he needed to make an informed decision. I enjoyed doing this research and look forward to being asked again. My work is done in a professional manner and informative and complete.

As well as keeping your thoughts positive, it is imperative that you stop the negative chatter. Your mind records the negative chatter as easily as it does the positive talk. Your subconscious believes your negative chatter when it is repeated in your mind over and over. If you catch yourself using negative chatter, stop and rephrase what you said in a positive manner. Eliminate the negative words. Focus on using positive terms and affirmations.

Make your positive self talk and communications an everyday habit. A habit is created if you do something 21 days in a row. It is truly a very short time to focus and create a habit of ensuring positive self image. Try making small changes in your vocabulary. Substitute the phrase "I will try" with "I will", or "I should do" with "I will do". Try saying "I want or desire to" or "I choose to" instead of "I must".

"I can" instead of "I can't". Just the shift in some of our common terminology makes a huge difference in our subconscious and self image. Watch what you say during the day and see how many words that you say have a negative connotation to them. Learn how you can rephrase those statements as you acknowledge them.

Focus your positive thoughts with affirmation statements. These are the reminders that will help you achieve your goals and success. They are the positive mental sticky notes that will motive your mind to work for you instead of against you.

Here are a few tips on how to use the powerful affirmation tools as mental reminders.

" Use personal statements. Use "I" or your own name.

" Keep your statement short, sweet and to the point.

" Phrase your statements in a positive way. Remember the mind accepts the truth as it is worded. Use only positive words - leave out the negatives. I.e. I will not be late for work today vs. I will be on time for work today.

" Use a positive emotion in your statement. This excites me or I feel wonderful. Positive emotion strengthens the affirmation.

" Phrase affirmation statements as facts instead of a wish. Complete your statement as if the goal has already been attained. Your mind believes mental messages and works to make them a reality even if they are not right now.

" State your affirmations at least 6-8 times during the day. Start by waking up with a positive thought, in the shower, brushing your teeth, driving to work, taking a lunch break, before going into a meeting, cooking dinner, getting ready for bed. There are literally hundreds of opportunities throughout the day when you can think of a quick affirmative thought. It is very important to start and end your daily with positive affirmations. It sets the tone for the day and closes the day with a positive thought. Repetition is the key to habit. Repetition enhances self confidence and stimulates your mind to help achieve your goals.

I cannot emphasize enough the power self talk and positive affirmation statements can have upon the quality of your life. They propel you towards your goals that you have identified and desire to accomplish. Even if you work hard every day, without goals, your life is without direction. It is like a ship without a rudder sailing aimlessly through the seas.

Use these powerful tools of positive talk and positive affirmation statements to help speed and direct you toward your dreams and desires.

Learn how you can achieve all your goals and obtain fulfillment through a personal development business. Create a lucrative and successful home business. Visit our website listed below. "Investing in yourself today, will be tomorrow's success"

Sheri Falcone is a novice author, student of personal growth, and entrepreneur who enjoys helping others become truly empowered and achieve their dreams. She has turned her passion into a lucrative personal development, home business, http://www.setnolimits.info/. This business system provides all the tools to create greater prosperity and joy in your life. Her enthusiasm is contagious and believes laughter and appreciation are our emotional healers

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Happiness And Your Thoughts

By Kate Loving Shenk

Happiness: the elusive life ingredient we all seek and only find when letting go of the need to have it.

The need to be happy versus the act of being happy in the moment is the great balancing act of a life time.

Giving thanks for the beauty of all things and merging your limitless, infinite self with that beauty; seeking God/ess as energy that flows through everything brings the moment, the here and now, into focus.

A true sage believes in nothing other than the sacredness and beauty of all, rooted in the moment, in the special potential of each new day.

The true sage lives in the spontaneity of energy that encompasses the physical and spiritual worlds.

She does not defend or judge.

She accepts the way of people including restriction and strife.

If she truly believes she is part of the Power Source (which is God/ess), and if she can view her life and the lives of others impartially, and if she can allow everyone their reality without judgment, then she notices that her energy becomes more infinite.

As the true sage steps into this other dimension of power, beyond her circle of influence (friends and family) she learns to bend reality to suit her needs.

She learns that unseen forces in the form of angels, guides and ancestral wisdom is hers if she remembers to call on this power in times of need.

The spiritual challenge is to practice controlling the energy she has and to gradually discard the ones that pull her into negative states.

Now imagine you are the sage expressed here in this story!!

All good things exist and are waiting for you to wake up and declare your union with this power. Wake up in this sphere of infinite blessing! You do not need permission to be One with All!!

All you need is the simple courage to say "Include Me!!" and work on drawing more and more from this pool of infinite energy to fuel your boundless spirit!!

As you work on energizing your being with this energy, doors will open for you.

People will feel your heightened energy and will seek you out.

The ones repelled by your energy will suddenly and abruptly disappear without any need to control this on your part in the least.

Call forth the courage to own your power, the same power that flows through all things.

By facing your fear with courage, fear is automatically transcended.

Write down 10 things you want more than anything else. Imagine that you have them now. Create a battle plan that delineates your path to each goal.

Avoid all irrelevant sidetracks.

No one will ever give you permission and no one will ever thank you. You are doing what you must do, driven by the energy of inner guidance.

You must live your life like a warrior and breathe in every single ambition. If you are half hearted, the Universe will respond in fits and starts.

If you lack courage, the energy around you lacks vitality. If you falter, the Universal Law falter around you.

Perseverance allows you to hold on while Universal Spirit delivers. The way to develop dedication to your life Destiny (the why of what you are here to do), is to become fiercely dedicated to your self.

This means concentrating on your needs, concentrating on those projects that give you pleasure and taking the time to acknowledge that you are here on the earth plane to develop your own evolution and nothing else.

As you begin to see your life as a manifestation of energy, you will find that your best work is in consciousness.

This means that as you think and feel and indicate what it is you want in thought, reality is transformed around you.

Eventually you will perceive only the dimensions of your own creations which are beautiful and infuse your cells with happiness.

Link the positive energy to the Eternity you feel in your soul. Celebrate each success from day to day, however small. Each small success leads to personal triumph.

Every task is part of your heroic quest for transformation.

As you take time to honor each success, you experience power in a world where most do not.

Breathe in the fresh air near an old growth tree. Experience the diminishing physical world while the infinite world within you expands.

The choice is yours: whether to look at the world from a finite egocentric view and see mayhem and disaster and say: " This is terrible," or choose to look at it from the infinite view and see the beauty that exists in the learning process.

Negativity provides the opportunity to be more God/ess-like and heroic provided we do not resist the lessons waiting to be imparted to us.

Take a benign view of the world and detach from mankind's violent history. This allows the negativity laid down over the years to lesson, allowing you to transcend history.

The Light Force will permeate your thoughts.

Develop your own philosophy. Do not look to others for approval.

When you express your own individuality, you free yourself.

True happiness is the result!!

Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator of the e-book called "Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover Your Calling and Destiny." Click here to find out how to order the e-book: http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com/ Check Out Kate's Blog: http://www.nursehealers.typepad.com/

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3 Steps To Your Best Attitude

By Rich Vosler

Two summers ago my then 8-year-old daughter Sarah was away at camp and was bit by a deer tick. As a result she contracted Lyme Disease. She also experienced severe paralysis on the left side of her face as a side effect, commonly known as Bells Palsy. The condition usually remedy's itself but Sarah's took a very long time. Even now, 18 months later, she still has some paralysis and our neurologist is not sure if it will ever be completely healed. Her Lyme Disease was treated successfully with antibiotics.

Several weeks after she got the Palsy and her Lyme Disease treatments were completed, her and I were talking and having fun. We were poking fun at each other and having a really good time. She would laugh and smile her half smile at me and it touched my heart. I said to her, "Just think Sarah, in a few months your smile will be back to normal!" She looked at me confused, and said, "Oh, you mean I'm not going to be like this forever?" I was floored. I couldn't believe that she had accepted that she was never going to get her full smile back and yet was content and happy and had a great attitude regardless. I firmly believe that children are given to us as OUR teachers even though we mostly think that we are their teachers.

Sarah gave me the gift of attitude that day. I know how important attitude is but this incident gave me insight on a whole different level. Here are some things you can do right now to get the kind of attitude that will propel you toward your goals:

--Learn To Be Thankful For What You Already Have

One of the best ways to be thankful for what you already have is to start keeping a Gratitude Journal. This is a simple notebook or journal where you spend time daily or several times a week writing down what you're thankful for. If you've never tried it, give it a shot. You'll be shocked at what you are really thankful for. You'll find that little things will bring the most gratitude - a hug, smile or facial expression from one of your children. Or your dog's wonderful attitude (that's a whole separate article!). Or the way your spouse leans their head on your shoulder as you sit together. A journal like this allows you to really appreciate the little things that, in our busyness, we overlook. Resolve that going forward you're not going to let these gems of time slip away unnoticed. Resolve now to spend time remembering them, appreciating them and giving thanks for them. When you know what's important to you and you're thankful for them, you become happier.

--Stop Wasting Idle Time Doing Unimportant Things

This one is a favorite of mine, one that I still struggle with. For some reason, we use this one to avoid what we know we should be doing. And let me clarify what we should be doing. In his excellent book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" Dr. Stephen Covey talks about urgent vs. important things. Urgent things are usually things that are important to others but they need our involvement to complete them and they expect us to make them urgent too. You should never let other people's priorities become your emergencies. You have important things to be done as well. Things like goal setting, dream building and relationships. When we let unimportant urgencies dominate our time we never have time for the important things that really make the difference in our quality of life. Doing the important things in life creates in us a great attitude because we know that we're doing what we should be.

--Start Worrying Less And Enjoying Life More

In his "Little Red Book of Selling" Jeffrey Gitomer says, "Resign your position as general manger of the universe. The less time you spend in other people's business, other people's problems, and other people's drama, the more time you'll have for your own success." How true is that? Especially as salespeople we think we have to fix everything from manufacturing and processing problems to our customer's personal problems. Forget that and start working on yourself. That's the only thing you can affect. This gives you more time to enjoy your life and what you've already accomplished. If you have children, nothing in life will even come close to the love and gratification you get from watching and being with them. We spend all this time chasing other things looking for that certain "something" that's going to make all the difference. If you have children, you already have it. You just haven't realized it or spend enough time with them to realize it. When you continually work on yourself, you improve your attitude because you're making progress in your life.

These are just a sampling of the things that you can do to improve your attitude but I think they are foundational. Getting back in touch with what's important to us aligns us with what's right with the world. I love this quote from author Jack Anthony, "I have never been a millionaire. But I have enjoyed a crackling fire, a glorious sunset, a walk with a friend and a hug from a child. There are plenty of life's tiny delights for all of us." When you're focused on what's important, your life can only improve. I know you can do it and I definitely believe in you!


Rich Vosler is a Sales Success Coach who coaches clients in groups or individually. He was a mortgage professional for 18 years in New York, New Jersey and Georgia. He is also a speaker and author. Rich can be reached at 609-790-8757 or by email at rvosler@verizon.net. His website, Sales Training & Motivation, is at www.RichVosler.com and is full of sales success tips as well as his brand new blog. He is also running a special on his brand new DVD, Secrets of Sales Power sold there. Call today!

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Planting Positive Seeds

By Susanne Gaddis

In a room of fifty participants, Katie was one of the quiet ones. I could tell she was with me, by the way she nodded frequently and the way her eyes followed me around the room. Still, all morning she hadn't said a word. The discussion that day was about the characteristics of people who are ego boosters and ego busters.

After covering ego busting behavior such as being overly critical, being a micro-manager, and gossiping, we progressed to discuss people who always seem to be in a bad mood. Suddenly, Katie's hand shot up. She said, "I was in a bad mood once." She followed with, "for about a year. And I remember the day I snapped out of it."

Katie said she was incredibility sour-spirited that day. She hated her job, she was mad at the world, and she wasn't afraid to let others know exactly how she was feeling. That day, when I came home, she said, "my Grandmother greeted me at the door. Seeing the scowl on my face, she sat me down, looked straight at me, stuck her finger in my face and said, "Katie, I love you. But if you keep spitting negative seeds, you're going to walk in an awful ugly forest one day." To make sure it would sink in, she repeated herself. This time she spoke slower, putting emphasis on each word, "If you keep spitting negative seeds, you're going to walk in an awful ugly forest one day."

As tough as it was to admit," Katie said, "Grandma was right."

Katie was well aware that she had been spitting negative seeds. She knew that what she was doing wasn't working, and yet she, like so many others, continued her negative behavior. The result was that Katie was having to walk daily down the path that she'd paved herself - one that looked less and less like the life she truly desired.

Grandma's advice may very well be some of the best I've ever heard. In my opinion, it is advice worth committing to memory and sharing with others, because it can have a profound impact on the way that we choose to behave.

With every word and every action, we are either building a relationship up or tearing it down. We are either planting a positive seed or planting a seed that will grow up to block the sun one day.

Knowing this, how can we share words intended to intimidate and harm an individual and expect for them to react with kindness and consideration? How can we criticize, belittle, lie, manipulate or be sarcastic without expecting an equal and opposite response? Similarly, how can we with our actions -- ignore others, show up late or not at all, wear a frown, roll our eyes, grit our teeth in anger, and not expect others to respond in kind? The answer is - WE CAN'T.

We are all gardeners of our own life. What we sow, we will one day reap, so we need to choose our seeds wisely. Of course, the flip-side of Grandma's advice is, "If you keep spitting positive seeds, you're going to walk in a beautiful forest one day."

What will you choose? What seeds will you plant? It's your choice. Think about it.
Susanne Gaddis, PhD, known as the Communications Doctor, is an acknowledged communications expert who has been speaking and teaching the art of effective and positive communication through workshops, seminars, keynote presentations, and career saving executive coaching across the United States since 1989.

Dr. Gaddis has appeared on nationally syndicated radio, TV and video programming and has authored articles appearing in The Journal of Training and Development, The Whole American Nurse, and Shape Magazine. Past clients include: NASA, Oracle, Schlumberger, and the American Nurses Association. For free articles written by Dr. Gaddis, or to purchase her book Communication Booster Shots: Prescriptions for Effective Communication visit http://www.CommunicationDoctor.com

To book Dr. Gaddis for your next conference, retreat, or workshop call 919-933-3237.

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Positive Attitude Tips To Motivate You

By Ko Su Piow

Ko Su PiowLevel: BasicMr Ko Su Piow is the expert in Blue Ocean Strategy, Strategic Management, Sales, Marketing & Manufacturing Productivity. He hold MBA and Bachelor Degree ...

The Positive Attitude are a very powerful thing in your life, belief me I have done it and I believe that everybody can do it too. I have suggest the following tip to for you to consider as the first step to go toward the positive attitude.

What people really want in life is to change one of two things: either the way they feel about something (e.g., to move from being frustrated to confident, from sad to happy, from depressed to emotionally strong) or they want to change a behavior (e.g., to stop smoking or drinking, to start taking massive action, to exercise and enjoy it, to follow through on their commitments). But the only reason we want to change our behaviors is we're hoping that if we lose that weight, stop procrastinating, take that action, we'll feel good. Everything human beings do is merely an attempt to change the way they feel, to "change state."

Moment to moment, what we do is powerfully shaped by the state we re in. When we're in a frustrated state, we tend to behave very differently than when we're feeling confident or excited or determined. One of the most important things we can do to create the power, joy, and passion we really want in our lives is to learn to manage our states of mind.

You can do this immediately through two primary vehicles, the first of which is physiology.

1. You can change how you feel instantly by changing the way you move, breathe, use your facial expressions, or make any new demand on your body.

2. The state you're in determines your behavior and also your performance. If you want to change your performance in anything-business, sports, relationships, etc.-the first thing to do is to change your state. In any situation, if you put yourself in a peak state you will be able to utilize more of your true capabilities in life.

3. Remember, you're always responsible for your own states. After the next few days of learning, you won't just be responsible; you'll know how to quickly and easily change how you feel about virtually anything and move yourself into peak performance at will.

Here's how to use your physiology to manage your state.

1. Move your body differently, and develop some "power moves": deliberate, strong, unhesitating movements that give you an immediate sense of certainty. You can also use your voice to put yourself in a peak state. Speak stronger, more rapidly, with a bit more volume from deeper in your chest than you usually d0.

2. Changing your breathing can immediately change your state. Deep, diaphragmatic breaths create radically different emotional states than shallow breathing that begins in the upper chest.

3. Radical changes in facial expressions will immediately change the way you feel.

4. Changing elements of your diet can maximize your health and energy.

5. All of these put together can make significant changes in the patterns of the emotional states you experience day to day.

A second way to manage your states, in addition to using your physiology, is to control and direct the focus of your mind.

1. The way you feel and what you experience in your body comes from what you focus your attention upon during a given moment.

2. At any moment, you are "deleting" most of what is going on aroundyou. That is, to feel bad, you have to delete (not focus on, not think about) everything that's great in your life. And vice versa. For you tofeel good, you have to delete the things you could feel bad about. This process of deleting is an important part of how the mind maintains the balance in one's emotional state. Undirected, however, it can wreak havoc in your day-to-day experience.

To manage your states, there are two things you can control with respect to focus. When you change either of these, you immediately change how you feel.

1. What you're picturing in your mind

2. How you're picturing it, (e.g., dimension, brightness of mental pictures, etc.)

At this moment, how you're evaluating things determines what you focus on.

1. Evaluations are nothing but questions you ask yourself.

2. Your state-and ultimately, your life-are the result of the questions you ask.

To manage your states via focus, you must control the questions you ask yourself.

1. Eliminate limiting, "endless loop" questions.

2. Continually ask yourself questions that empower you.

ECO MAX Training & Learning Center provides self development training for public, public listed companies, private held company, small businesses and Government body.

The author can be contacted via the web-site http://www.ecomaxmc.com/

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How to Change on Purpose

By Paul Kearley

Changing on Purpose

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. ~Leo Tolstoy
We just got home from the airport where we dropped off Audrey, our 15 year old french exchange student, who has been at our home since September. Of course there were many tears, and many times saying and waving goodbye, but when she went through the security gate, you could tell that while she was crying, she was glad to be going home.

The day she walked off the airplane and into our lives was very memorable for us, as I'm sure it was for her.

She was scared.

No, it was more than that, she was petrified. Here was this 15 year old child who had grown up in the middle of rural Quebec in a very French community, and who spoke very little English who was placed in our care a thousand kilometres away. Our job was to be her host home and to attempt to teach her about our way of life. Her challenge was much greater than ours. She had to overcome shyness, she had to speak a language that she didn't really know, she had to endure our customs and habits, and she had to live with another family who didn't really know her. She stood up to the pressure of change like a pro. The first couple of days, there were a lot of tears and long distance calls home, but she stuck it out and is so proud of herself, as well she should be. Audrey has taught us that change can be achieved, if it is looked at in the right way.

We were so fortunate to have had her. If we could have written a letter and described the perfect kid to be twinned with our daughter, it would certainly have been Audrey. With her perpetual smile that would just melt you in your shoes, to her hilarious sense of humour, she was always pleasant. She had the courage to laugh at herself when she made mistakes with her language. Especially the time when Judy asked her to get the lettuce from the fridge and Audrey got the Plum Sauce. Since that day, we still call the lettuce Plum Sauce. Judy and I often wondered when she was going to crack and show at least some kind of adolescent attitude, but she never did. While we were not her parents, we were so proud of her accomplishments.

Like Audrey, we have all faced great changes in our lives, and if we choose to, instead of waiting for a change to be thrust upon us, we can change on purpose.

Of course some of us have faced more than others: going from high school to college, from being single to being married, from having no children to having children, from having no job to having a job, from being married to being divorced etc. Most changes are usually from the known to the relatively unknown and it may not always be our first choice in which way it goes. Even though the change may not always be our first choice, we still have a choice as to how the change will pan out.

I have discovered that to be successful with change, there are a few principles that should be followed:

Always be searching for something new; Resist the temptation to become rigid in your thinking and in your life.

Be willing to take a risk. Ask yourself what's the worst thing that can happen, and then improve on it.

Be open and willing to make mistakes because it's through the making of mistakes that we learn how to progress.

When you have reached success in your change, reread number 1.

This week, re-examine your life and dare to ask yourself if you are truly happy with where you are, with what you have or with whom you are. If you think that there are things that are in need of some kind of change, then do it. You are the only one who can! You have nothing to lose, and a more fruitful and productive life to gain.

Make this your best week ever!

Paul

© 2008 Paul Kearley CS, For 22 years, Paul Kearley has thrived in the personal development and coaching business. As a Master Business Coach, Paul's passion is in developing and creating increased potential, and coaching people to create success.

A newspaper columnist, and editor for "E-Motion", his own weekly ezine, and author of 3 e-books, Paul writes articles that address the everyday challenges we all have and face in life and in business, and offers suggestions for success.

If you'd like to connect with Paul to discuss your personal or business strategies or to subscribe to "E-Motion" , simply visit http://www.mustthinking.com or send an e-mail to carnegie@nbnet.nb.ca, .

Visit http://www.mustthinking.com to review and purchase my NEW E-Book MUST Thinking: An easy four step guide for creating the results you want"

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How to Have the Greatest Attitude Any Day

By Vincent Kituku

Human Hair in My Chicken Meal - A Blessing in Disguise

"You cannot tailor-make the situations in life but you can tailor-make the attitudes to fit those situations." Zig Ziglar

Your attitude toward everything in life will determine your peace of mind and both your short and long term success.

In the fall of 1986, God blessed me with a situation that should have been a depressing experience. I found a human hair in my food. That was a blessing in disguise. I had been in the U.S. for less than a year when I asked a friend of mine to take me to Denver, Colorado to look for a car for my family. We shopped way past lunchtime and about 3:00 p.m., we decided to take a break to find a restaurant. My friend took me to a place where chicken meals were sold. The good smell and the appetizing look of the food were beyond my imagination.

Chicken in Kenya, were I grew up, was very expensive and many people could hardly afford it. Then, here I was at a well-known fried chicken restaurant. I enjoyed every bite with an intensity words cannot describe. But before I cleared my plate, I noticed a person's hair. I just wanted to put the hair aside and continue with my lunch. However, my friend saw it and immediately asked for the manager and showed him the hair in my almost finished food. The manager was so apologetic, but I couldn't understand what was the big deal.

Then the manager said the most heartwarming words of the day, "I will give you another plate of food. We are sorry for the hair." I was not sorry for the hair. I was thankful for it. (Now I wonder how many other times I visited a chicken restaurant and looked for another hair just to be blessed with an extra plate of chicken).

On reflection, I have thought of the many situations where we focus on trivial inconveniences and overlook the blessings that might be disguised. We complain about a rainy day at the expense of being thankful for the food that will be harvested, as a result of the rain, for our survival. We complain about our jobs instead of being thankful for our employment, especially in these times of massive downsizing. We complain about what we don't have instead of appreciating what we do have.

Having an attitude of gratitude is a choice we make as individuals. You can choose to see the "social hairs" in your life or the extra plates of blessings you get because of the hairs. Think of the clean water or the fact you may not have to worry about your next meal or your family or your health. And don't forget that if you are reading this article, you have been blessed with another day that many people didn't live to see.

A leaders motivational keynote speaker and trainer, Dr. Vincent Muli Kituku, CSP works with organizations and individuals who want to increase their productivity, stay focused and have a sustained desire to make success a lifestyle and a choice. Vincent's inspirational speeches are catalysts for unlimited results that have led to Dr. Kituku being described as a research-based motivational speaker/trainer. His storytelling skills have won awards for both spoken and written words are attributed to improved morale, accountability, motivation and ownership by all employees. Dr. Kituku is one of the less than 7% speakers to earn the coveted Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) recognition, the highest designation presented by the National Speakers Association.

Wherever he speaks, people from all backgrounds agree that words cannot describe Vincent but that he must be experienced. His ability to captivate audiences with content, interaction and entertainment has made him not only a sought after speaker but an annual presenter for key organizations. No one is ever the same after listening and applying Dr. kituku's strategies and wisdom into their work and life endeavors.

The impact of Dr. Kituku's memorable speeches and workshops has propelled him into a league of his own. He has given presentations to Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 Companies including HP, CISCO, MICRON, and GENWORTH FINANCIAL. His insights have been sought after by Workforce Development Agencies, Association of Corporate Executives, Chambers of Commerce, Realtors, and National and International associations. He has worked with college football teams including the perpetual champions, the Boise State Football Team since 1998. He can reached at http://www.kituku.com or (208) 376-8724

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How Positive is Your Perspective?

By elizabeth Savino

If asked to visualize your future, is your perspective filled with excitement and possibilities? Or do you envision the life you would like to have but are burdened with the distractions of the obstacles you may have to overcome to create it? If asked to describe yourself, what comes to mind first? Are you quick to sight your shortcomings or would your more attractive qualities come to mind first?

Sadly, many of us are living lives defined by negatives. Such negative thoughts are beliefs as to what we cannot do and have in our lives. Though there is no doubt that negatives, hardships and individual limitations exist in our lives, clearly positives are present as well. Perhaps we are more programmed to look at what is wrong, so we can correct it, as opposed to having love and appreciation for the positive aspects of our lives and the relationships associated with it. By merely acknowledging and focusing on what is right, what is positive and what is a gift in our lives, we actually promote feelings of happiness. The truth is, if we look carefully, both positives and negatives exist all around us. Why not shift our focus to what is positive?

According to Dan Baker and Cathy Greenberg, in their recent book, What Happy Women Know, when one engages in any positive emotion they cannot simultaneously be miserable. This is so because the brain is not wired to process both positive and negative emotions at the same time. Thus, by consciously practicing focusing on gratitude and the joys that are present in our lives, our level of happiness increases. The more we practice such gratitude, the more we are open to the positive possibilities both in our present and for our future.

In moving on or transitioning after any hardship in life, possessing a positive perspective is crucial in allowing us to build the momentum needed to recreate the lives we envision for ourselves. To begin practicing gratitude and focusing of the positive that exists in your life, follow these tips below.

1. Be an optimist- Hold fast to the possibilities that are always available to us. Look for the joy in life and allow yourself to wonder about what possibilities exist in any situation.

2. Believe in the power of you- Despite any hardships that come your way, have faith in and tap into the inner power you possess. Dig deep and pull from the tremendous strength that lives within you. We all possess this strength, but it is up to each of us to grab on to it and use it as our fuel.

3. Know your true passions- Give thought to what really excites you. What do you love? Know what your passions are and what brings you your greatest joy. Once you are aware of what this is for you, do everything in your power to hold fast to living out your passion.

4. Take personal responsibility for your life- Life is about choices. Make them wisely and with thought. Then, understand that you and you alone are responsible for the choices you make and the life that you create for yourself.

5. Learn From your mistakes- Though most of us strive to do what is right, mistakes are an inevitable part of life. View mistakes as an opportunity to grow and learn. Assess what happened and take proactive steps to remediate what caused such a mistake to occur.

6. Look for the joy that already exists in your world- Make a commitment to taking a five minute break each day to focus of gratitude. For five minutes do nothing but acknowledge what is positive and what you are grateful for. The more you do this the higher your level of happiness will become.

7. Be courageous- Life is a wonderful journey! Follow your dreams in the persuit of happiness while holding fast to the knowledge that fear is merely an emotion. Feel the fear, and do it anyway!

Elizabeth Savino is a Life Coach and Founder of Sole Life Coaching located in Pennington, New Jersey. Elizabeth specializing in recreating your life after divorce by promoting clarity and empowerment to promote positive changes in the future. She has studied through both Mentor Coach and Coach U which are coaching schools that train individuals to become Certified Coaches recognized by the International Coach Federation. Sole Life Coaching, Pennington, New Jersey 609-737-9980. Email:elizabethsavino@elizabethsavino.com http://www.elizabethsavino.com

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Modeling Beliefs

By David M.

The beliefs that we each have about ourselves, others and the way the world is have a major impact on the quality of our experience. Because of the 'self-fulfilling prophecy effect', beliefs influence behavior. They can support particular behavior or inhibit it.

This is why modeling beliefs is so important.

One of the simplest ways to model the beliefs of people with outstanding abilities is to ask them questions about why they do what they do. The answers they give you will be rich with insights into their beliefs and values.

There is a story of a child in Rome who spent hours watching a strange young man work intently. Finally, the boy spoke, 'Signore, why are you hitting that rock?' Michelangelo looked up from his work and answered, 'Because there is an angel inside and it wants to come out.'

Beliefs will generally take one of three main forms. They can be beliefs about what things mean. For example, if you believe that life is basically a competitive struggle and then you die, you are likely to have a very different experience of life than if you believe that it is a kind of spiritual school with many rich and fulfilling lessons to offer.

Beliefs can also be about what causes what (cause and effect). And so will give rise to the rules we choose to live by. Or again, they can be beliefs about what is important and what matters most, so giving rise to our values and criteria.

In modeling out beliefs, you want to focus on those that are most relevant to and supportive of the particular skills and competencies that you are interested in. Some good questions to elicit beliefs and metaphors are:

• Why do you do what you do?
• What does that mean to you?
• What would happen if you didn't do that?
• What is that like? What do you compare it to?
• What is empowering to you about this?

Once you have elicited the beliefs of your model you can begin to experiment with them for yourself. When you go beyond simple understanding and actually 'try on a belief' to 'see how it fits', the difference can be profound.

You do this by simply acting for a time as if the beliefs were true and noticing what changes when you do. One of Einstein's core beliefs was that the universe is a friendly place. Imagine how different the world might seem if you were to act as if that were true.

• What new actions would you take if you believe that?
• What would you do differently?
• What else would you be capable of?

If you realize that the only thing between you and what you want is a belief, you can begin to adopt a new one by simply acting as if it were true.

Put everything you have into everything you do, the choice is uniquely yours.

Entrepreneur, Visionary, Motivator, Entertainer, Agent of Change & Master Performance Coach ... he has been called all of these and more. David Martin combines over 30 years of "in the trenches" experience to bring you a no-nonsense, get to the point, create results NOW methodology that has become known as Performance Coaching Systems.

info@eperformancezone.com 800-748-6838 http://www.eperformancezone.com

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Are We Prepared To Go All The Way?

By Susu Kacang

Recently, I came across a quote from Mother Teresa:

'God doesn't require us to succeed. He only requires that you try.'

This became a subject in one of my blog post. In response to the post, an intelligent comment was left by a fellow blogger. It begged the question:

'Are we prepared to go all the way?'

This challenged me to think deeper.

We will always have doubts in our lives. Whenever things don't go our way, we doubt if we made the right decisions. Whenever we don't achieve results, we doubt our own abilities. Whenever people start to walk away from us, we doubt ourselves.

With doubts taking place so frequently, it's no wonder we become less confident of ourselves as time goes by. This is so true - as we age, we become more careful. When we were children, we were not afraid to fall down. In fact, we got up each time we fell, because that was the only way to learn and grow. However, as we grew older, we became more and more afraid to fall because we might break our bones.

Come to think of it, this is not a wrong attitude. After all, we need to adjust to our physical conditions. However, it seems to me that all these little doubts will gradually erode our trust in ourselves and prevent us from striving for the best.

Sometimes we might face a really big challenge that seems insurmountable. The first thing to do is not to panic. Back off a little, and try to break the problem into smaller ones that you can manage. It's like climbing a mountain. If you cannot take a big step, then use smaller steps.

But there are times when you are really hitting against a wall. Take me, for example. Sometimes I have no idea what to write in my blog. My mind just feels tired after churning out so many original posts and refuses to work anymore. I feel like giving up the whole thing because it seems so hard. Apart from writing, I also have to address the technical issues associated with the blog.

So, when I have bloggers visiting my blog and leaving nice comments, it is a boost to my confidence. I am a little more encouraged to push on. In fact, I realize that it doesn't take a lot from us to offer kind words of encouragement to people who need them.

There is a saying that goes, 'The more you give, the more you will receive'. Therefore, when we help others to overcome their self-doubts, in the process, we also become more confident of our abilities to handle our own doubts.

Am I prepared to go all the way? Honestly, I can only answer that I will give my best. Perhaps the journey is more important than the destination itself.

Susu Kacang believes in the saying that if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. He pens some of his daily thoughts in his blog: http://susukacangcafe.blogspot.com

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3 Easy Steps to Create Your Own Positive Daily Affirmations

By Shane Hunte

Lots of people ask the question how affirmations can help them get through their day or achieve their greatest desires.

My answer to this usually follows with a little explanation of how the mind works. Then that person realizes why everyone should spend a little time daily meditating on their own positive daily affirmations.

Let's look at the stage of your life when impressions on your subconscious mind will be a part of you until you grow old and gray. I'm talking about your child hood.

Think for a minute about when you were growing up. If in these early stages of life you were surrounded by violence, don't you think then you may very well grow up being violent?

If that is the only force your mind was subjected to then that is all you will know. Violence becomes your first reaction to the unlimited challenges of life.

If you were subjected to positive affirmations of love, peace and prosperity then your outcome would be different.

Whatever is implanted into your mind or whatever you hold closely in your thoughts is what you will act upon.

If your mind is subjected to thoughts of infinite power, motivation, happiness and riches, then subconsciously your mind will start to work on a way to achieve those things that you deeply desire.

With that being said, you should create your own positive daily affirmations to get your mind aroused about your desires.

Here are three easy steps to creating your own positive daily affirmations:

Step 1: Look deep within yourself and write out thoroughly what you want out of life. What is your biggest desire? What do you want more than anything? With this information you will be building the foundation for the instructions for your mind to follow to achieve these desires.

Step 2: You need to clearly write the way you intend on achieving these desires. Don't let money be the problem because it will come trust me. If your desire is to become a singer or song writer, then write the statement of your intentions of how you will get you music heard.

Step 3: Now it is time to write out your affirmations or instructions to your mind to keep your eye on the prize; in other words to create a way for you to accomplish the statement of your intentions to achieve the desire that you have written in the first step.

You need to create affirmations that will motivate and energize you to act on your intentions. Here's an example for the aspiring singer/song writer from before. An example of this persons affirmations can go as follows:

1. I want to hear myself on national radio singing songs that I've written.

2. I want people to feel the same passion from my music that I feel when I'm singing and writing it.

3. When people hear my music they will feel happy and uplifted.

4. I will become a singer/song writer because I have the talent, passion and determination.

5. I will never stop fighting and I will never give up, for success at anything comes from faith, determination and desire.

6. I will seek out any opportunity to get my music heard and I will not live in the fear that I'm not good enough.

7. From today I will start acting on becoming a singer/song writer.

8. I will live everyday as though I've accomplished what I've set out to become.

See how easy it is to create your own positive daily affirmations. Try to create your own now and spend some time each day meditating on them. You will be surprised at the out come.

I also use positive daily affirmations to keep my mind on track. Like me, sometimes you may get stuck trying to create your own affirmations so here is a great tool I've found to solve this problem.

This software tool will automate your positive daily affirmations sessions and help further awaken your subconcious power.

Click here now===> http://www.internetrevinue.com/Affirmations to find out more about this amazing software package to help you do this.

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Being Positive - The Right Attitude

By June-Anne Jones

If you want to improve your golf game it is more than the kit you choose or the shots you make. Let's face it if it was going to be that easy, we could all have single figure handicaps.

You may not know that we take to ourselves in our heads up to 70% of the time - its a process we call thinking. Thinking starts from the moment we wake up. How often has someone said to you 'what are you thinking about?'

When we play golf it is really important what we 'think' to ourselves. I bet you can recall hearing some of the following comments:- This hole isn't good for me - Water is like a magnet to my ball - That's the bunker I can never get out of - My score always goes downhill when I hit the 17th!.

Why do we even bother to play, because just as soon at the prophecy happens we say 'There you are what did I tell you.' Of course you should not be surprised - you already said to yourself what was going to happen, and you were right. You need to turn all those negative thoughts around to positive ones.

Why do we stop being positive?

Well it's simple, we have 'thought barriers' and they are not always easy to recognize. We can be the most positive and confident person at home or work. So when we step onto a golf course, why is it that the different person takes over?

Do you recognize any of these:

She plays off 10, I have no chance. Of course she will know the rules, she's played for 18 years. I don't have the same confidence that these youngsters have. On some days I just don't seem to be lucky. I never seem to be able to get over the water.

All these phrases we have heard at sometime and are negative thoughts. You're not giving yourself a chance because you start off with a negative mind and those thoughts are likely to come true.

It is important to change your mindset to a more positive approach. You should tell yourself "YOU CAN" then YOU WILL.

Look at the examples above and change them to a more positive approach.

You can beat the 10 handicapper, you have more shots than they do, or they could have an off day, or maybe you will just play exceptionally well.

There are a lot of golf club members who don't know all the rules, and you should politely challenge if you feel in the right.

Youth is great, but it's not always a match for experience and course management ability.

A positive mental attitude can help you get luck sometimes.

I can get over this water, I have the shots - I just need to choose the right club.

Remember when you are on the course to motivate yourself, because your playing partner wont!!.

Forget the bad shots, you cannot change what's already happened. Don't be distracted and concentrate over each shot. If you have a bad hole, or you are having a bad round, don't give up - you maybe better than you think because you don't know what everyone else is doing.

Its important that you set yourself a target before you go out. Maybe you want to break 80,90,100 - it could be that you want to get a certain number of birdies or pars but it could be anything that will motivate you to shoot a better score.

If you have positive thoughts you game will improve. You must make sure that every shot has your full concentration and your positive commitment.

Is there a magic way to reduce your handicap? Read more great articles by June-Anne Jones about the skills and techniques needed to help improve your golf game. More articles on ladies golf sets and information on ladies golf clothes

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Alternatives to Positive Thinking

By Mike Scantlebury

We all know the situation, it happens on the TV News every night. The person who's just been flooded out; or seen their house disappear off the end of a cliff or been burnt to the ground; or had a child kidnapped or ransomed; is asked by the interviewer with the intrusive microphone: "How do you feel?" In England, and America, we are all expecting the usual result. They will be brave. Despite being frightened, angry, lost, ignored or assaulted, we anticipate that they will gulp, take a deep breath and tell us how things will be better in the morning; they will pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start all over again; they will soldier on, and it isn't the end. No matter what the disaster, for some reason we expect people in the West to be universally brave and looking forward in a positive way. After years of having it drummed into them, losers, victims and worse are always expected to 'think positive'. Why? What comfort can you derive from a hurricane, a forest fire or a plane crash? Okay, it's true, they might feel better after a good night's sleep, but can't they be allowed to shriek, shout and complain - just the once?

Perhaps the reason that such 'positive thinking' is being fostered in schools, home and in numerous self-help books, is that it doesn't come naturally to many in the population. How many times have you had the experience of hearing a colleague is due for promotion, only to ask them and they dolefully reply, 'I suppose it means more responsibility, more work, longer hours'. But you'll get more money, you say. 'I'll be paying more taxes', they say, or 'Well, it might help but it won't pay off my credit card'. Sound familiar? Yes, 'negative thinking' comes naturally to lots of people, and if thermostat hadn't been so resolutely switched to 'positive' by years of harsh training and exhortation, it might be the natural state for most of us.

It's false, says Oliver James, the psychiatrist, in his new book 'Affluenza'. Worse, it's certainly not natural. In other parts of the world, such as China, it is quite usual to see the bad side of events, and, he suggests, thanks to Confucianism, quite okay to see both the positive and negative in everything - Yin and Yang, and all that. Contrary to Western expectations, it doesn't make people down and defeated. Quite the contrary, it simply means that these people are a little more realistic about life, and can recover from setbacks more easily, knowing that neither bad or good is more prevalent, and a tragedy today is no indicator that tomorrow will be the same or worse. Sunshine and showers, it's all good, all part of the fabric of life, and putting on 'rose coloured glasses' doesn't make the world a better place, or even make it easier to bear.

If there's a role for stressing the positive, says James, it's not in thinking but in planning. If you want to plan your future, then it helps to imagine that things will generally come out better than they are today, and may even be a lot better. That doesn't mean lose yourself in unreality, or fail to appreciate when things go wrong. But it's a pre-requisite of believing that such things are worthwhile, to want to look forward and put ideas together for building that vision. In other words, don't bother with 'positive thinking', you don't need it. Just stick to 'positive planning', and it will get you where you want to go.

That, he concludes, will be a big weight off your mind. Instead of bravely smiling through, putting a positive gloss on everything that happens, good or bad, you can focus on what you want and put your efforts into making it happen rather than interpreting reality in only a positive light. After all, he says, that's the ultimate measure anyway, isn't it? If you're determined and set on a path to great wealth, fame, fortune, or any of the other things that people in the West hanker after, the real test is in the bank account, the size of your house or car. It won't do to have a smaller car but be 'thinking positively' about it. At the end of the day, it isn't the thinking that's important at all. It's the action, and anything that moves you forward towards your goal is good, in fact 'positive'. That doesn't mean that 'negative' is bad, of course, in action terms, because your path may very well be a cross-country course, with hurdles, walls and hedges to clamber over, hills to climb and streams to ford. To get there, you need to stretch and make the effort, but above all, know that you've got a plan to reach the finish line. It's that 'positive plan' that helps you reach your goal, not the time and effort invested in 'positive thinking' along the way.

Mike Scantlebury is an Internet Author and a pain in the ass. You say up and he says down. You say right and he says left. Can't the man agree on anything? No, he likes to provoke, to challenge and to encourage. Read more on one of his many websites or look for his books, to download or buy, (Amazon or Lulu). The website starts here. http://www.mikescantlebury.biz

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