First Step to a Better Life

     It is one six letter word that most would cringe at the thought of.  A simple six letter word that will affect all of us throughout our lifetimes, it is inevitable.  The direct truth of the matter is that our lives are constantly changing.  There is a direct response to how people react to change.  It all depends on which mindset you choose to employ.  This mindset will generally determine, the amount of happiness in your life, whether you enjoy your career, how you manage your relationships, it can even effect how much money you make.

The Fixed Mindset
     In my travels and trips I have spoke to many different kinds of people, among many different socio-economic backgrounds and I have discovered that people who have a fixed mindset are generally dissatisfied with their income, relationships, career, and direction in life.  A fixed mindset is a personal belief that the skills, intelligence, abilities or traits are what you are born with and there is little to no chance of changing or improving these traits.
     These types of mindsets have a limited belief structure that inhibits growth and change.  Those who choose this mindset usually have learned it from a negative situation or through an acquired trait from someone they are close with, such as a parent or friend.   It is outlined by people who are overly concerned with the optics of how they appear to others rather than an inward view of their personalities. They are made up of people who have emotions of bitterness towards those who succeed, a general sense of victim hood or entitlement, and live lives full of stagnation and adverse cyclical patterns.  The effects of the fixed mindset can be changed by a conscious, honest look at ones' self and a determination to employ a growth oriented mindset rather than a fixed mindset.
   
The Growth Mindset
     While discussing the habits of success or the traits that many people equate to success with others I find that all of the people who anyone would consider 'successful' employ a growth oriented mindset.  This is defined as a revelation in ones life where there is a conscious decision to change and improve any talent, skill, trait, or ability.  Having the growth mindset is employed by having a belief system that is virtually limitless.  These people believe they can achieve anything and not only do they believe and plan, but they act on those beliefs everyday.
     People who believe in acquiring the growth mindset organize their daily schedules in ways that allow time to work on improving the traits and abilities in which they desire to improve.

In conclusion, having a growth oriented mindset is the difference between those who achieve the things in which they desire and those who do not.
     
I am developing a training program that will be available at www.attitudedriveslife.com to be available March 20 2016.

The Power of Persistence in Quotes

       While doing my daily reading I came across a lot of different people stating the enormous importance of persistence and what it can do for your plans, problems, goals and dreams.  Some of these people most would regard as influential yet others have never heard of them, but they all share similar  things about the simple yet powerful habit of persistence.  I implore you to study these quotes; even these people to further your passion for excellence and improvement in your lives. 

1. "It's not that I'm so smart. It's just that I stay with problems longer." - Albert Einstein

2. "So long as there is breath in me, that long I will persist.  For that I know one of the greatest principles on success; if I persist long enough I will win." - Og Mandino

3. “Rain puts a hole in stone because of its constancy, not its force. Just keep knocking on doors until the right one opens”   - H. Joseph Gerber

4. “If you do not have persistence then no amount of education, talent or genius can make up for it.”  
- Stephen Richards

5. “It’s good to remember that success may be just beyond the next failure, and you’ll get there, not because you’re destined to, but because you’re determined to.”   - Steve Goodier

6. "With each failure comes a lesson to learn. To merely give up on failing would be detriment to your experiences and your intellect. - Tim Zugger

7. “You haven't failed until you stop trying.”- Jon Gordon

These quotes can help change your attitude on your habits and goals.  Maybe even help you accomplish something you never thought you could do.   Always remember you can do anything.  It just might take some time and persistent labor.  I'll leave you with this quote.

"Anything worth doing is worth doing correctly, ethically, and thoroughly." - Tim Zugger

www.attitudedrivelife.com

4 Things That Can Improve Your Day

Is everything in your life the way you want it to be?  Are you in a good place or stuck in a pit of stagnation?  Whether one or the other you probably have some things in your life that are working themselves out the way that you planned and others that are stuck in the ditch.  That is why I decided to write this short little blog post. 
       In everything we do or do not do a choice has to be made.  Do we watch another episode of our favorite show on Netflix (because it loads automatically and is easy to do) or do we shut the TV off and take a jog around the blog with the dog. It is only one decision during one day, yet it can be life changing.  All of our choices have the ability to compound and turn themselves into habits; good and bad.  It is in these decisions that our lives can be controlled; make calculated, conscious decisions and your life will be easier with your habits of taking care of responsibilities and such never being questioned.  Although making irrational, unconscious decisions could compound in a way that gets you stagnating in the dreams and goals you have laid out for yourself.  Then you get depressed and give up on those goals and dreams. 
       I found a few things that can help turn around our bad habits and maybe even reinforce the good:

1. A positive outlook - without this you are on a sinking ship, stop living with the dark side and look at the right things.  A positive mindset can right the course.

2. Desire to change - if everything in your life is exactly what you want then why change.  You must realize that you desire a change for the better.  Map out some goals and then....

3. Action - Superman, The Flash even Dr. Evil whether superhero or super villain these guys accomplished something because they acted.  Create a goal or plan then act on it.

4. You have to have faith- in a none George Michael kind of way,(for those of you who remember what I am talking about)  but faith in your plan.  You have to believe that with consistent effort and hard work you will accomplish your goals despite any setbacks.

Your life can change for the better whether you need a little tweak (not twerk) to get your goals back on track or you are depressed and anxious about waking up everyday and going to a job you hate.  Think about who you are, what makes you happy, and act on it. 

Post written by Tim Zugger author of Success through Failure which will be available Dec17 2013 on Paperback and Kindle.

www.attitudedriveslife.com

8 Quotes For A Successful Day

        Here is a list of 8 wonderful quotes relating to success, dreams and action. 

1. “I'm a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn't have the heart to let him down.”   - Abraham Lincoln

2. “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”   - Thomas Edison

3. “Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.”- Lao Tzu

4. “Success is getting what you want.. Happiness is wanting what you get.”- Dale Carnegie

5. “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”   - Norman Vincent Peale

6. “Rich people have small TVs and big libraries, and poor people have small libraries and big TVs.”   - Zig Ziglar

7. “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” - Stephen King

8. "It isn't the gifted in intellect who succeed, but those gifted in consistent work ethic." - Tim Zugger

        Do you know what the greatest day in the history of the world is?  Today.  Today is the only day you have to do something that can make a difference.  When you realize this it can change your life.  Stagnation and depression can no longer effect you.  Believe you will and you will.  As long as the effort is put forth on a daily basis.

I hope you enjoyed; come back tomorrow for some more.

www.attitudedriveslife.com

Think like this. It will solve everything.

       You're selfish.  Face it; that is the hard reality.  Are we not programmed to take care of ourselves first.  Think of every single problem that arises in this world.  It stems from a belief in selfishness.  Whether its forcing some people to believe the way someone else believes, taking things from someone who you think doesn't deserve it, or just saying things that hurt someone else's feelings.  All of those problems come from the root of selfishness.  We cannot change this thought process in the world over night; but if each one of us really reflected on what is important in our lives and changed the way we react and the things we expect; real change could be made.  One person at a time.

       We are all selfish. This is where all of our headaches come to us from; especially in relationships.  The reason people fight or end their marriages are always some from of selfishness.  Think about it.  Can't we just have faith that it is your spouses job to fulfill your needs and your job to fulfill theirs.  Leave it at that and stop trying to have it all. Be more patient and think about other people in this world.  Especially when those people are your family.

       If we were all more patient and took time to appreciate things for what they are we would live in a better world.  We need to kill our selfishness and help others who necessitate it, encourage those who need encouraging, love those who need to be loved, and always know that your needs will get met. Always, if you are reading this you most likely are not starving or homeless, so you are better off then 90% of the world anyway.

Treat everyday as a gift.  Be more patient.  Take care of others like you would take care yourself.

www.attitudedriveslife.com

Top 10 Reasons to Love Life.

Some people always seem to fret about their lives and be unhappy for whatever they have. But what they don’t realize is that they are missing various beautiful aspects of living life to the fullest. There are tiny things in life that matter a lot to you, us and everyone around. But being preoccupied with all the negative thoughts, you simply sidetrack the simple reasons to love being alive. Read on to know about the 10 reasons to love life.

1. Family

Dad, mom, brother, sister, grandparents, children – the people who form a part of your family; you love them without a reason. They are the ones to give you support, to be there for you and cherish you for what you are. They are the reason for what you are.

2. Dreams

Whether you dream at night or day, dreams have the power to take you to an imaginary world. A world where you believe everything is possible. It’s a different kind of joy that you feel while soaring in your dreams. Whether you believe in them or not, they are present in your life just the same.

3. Love

If ever there was an emotion made so pure, so serene and otherworldly, it has to be love. God made us to love oneself, to love others without expecting anything in return. Love in all its manifestations is a great event in itself to watch, to experience and to give forth.

4. Acts of kindness

Kindness means different things to different people. For some, it’s the joy of giving. For others, it’s doing worthwhile things for someone in need. Yet others think it’s an uninhibited emotion that reveals itself when the heart feels so.

5. Making someone laugh

There are many people on the road, in that lane, at the office, in the neighborhood who haven’t laughed heartily since a long time. When someone makes them laugh, their face crinkles with pure happiness. That joy is unmatched.

6. Nature

What is it about nature that is so unfathomable? Historians, poets, naturists and so many others have tried to delve into its mystery. The endless oceans, the relentless rain, the bright sun, the enchanting forests, the shelter of the sky – these are all bits and pieces of nature that we should always be thankful for.

7. Seeing someone you love smile

When you smile, it might mean the world to someone. It’s true – Smiling does spread, like a contagious disease. However, we wish this disease would spread the world over. Millions of people would get another reason to love being alive, isn’t it?

8. The aroma of something delicious

Remember the aroma of freshly baked cookies made by your mom? Or a pot of hot chocolate? These aromas tantalize the taste buds. The power of these aromas transports you to a different place, where you can glide along relishing in the aromas.

9. Poetry

There is nothing more beautiful that words can do, except poetry. In poetry, a poet loses himself/herself and soars into the clouds of imagination. There is nothing to stop the flow of words that tumble onto a piece of paper. Poetry also gives you a chance to delve into the depths of any object or human. The various aspects of nature, climates, humans, their feelings and an ample number of other things find their way in poems.

10. Surprises

Who is the one who doesn’t like to receive surprises of any kind? The pure bliss you feel after someone surprises you is priceless. After all, if you knew what’s coming next for you, wouldn’t life turn boring? So throwing in a bunch of surprises every now and then is life’s way of rewarding you.

Once again I am grateful for the chance to share another amazing article from an amazing writer.  For other articles like this go to www.magforwomen.com

For great Shirts and books go to www.attitudedriveslife.com

10 Ways to Make Friends

 

These 10 ways to make friends work even without making use of the Internet. It can be a daunting task to make friends when you are an adult out on your own; for a while it may feel like you are dating for friends or interviewing people for a position. It's okay to feel that way; it's good to be selective about who you decide will get to have that "friend" status in your life. Try the following tips and you'll find friends in no time.

1.Take a Class
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to find friends is to take a class where there will be plenty of interaction with other people, doing something that interests you. Check out your community newspaper or Web sites for classes on everything from how to build model airplanes to how to paint with acrylics. The other people taking the class are most likely also there to make friends, so you'll be in fertile friend-making ground.

2.Join a Team
Like the class environment, a sports team is another way to look for potential friends while taking care of your body. Sports teams of various levels are available for just about any sport you could possibly find interesting. After practice, suggest the group of you go out for a smoothie or a beer so you can get to know each other.

3.Volunteer
If you are passionate about a cause, you may want to make friends through volunteer venues. Consider the following volunteer opportunities: the local zoo or humane society, a food shelf, a homeless shelter, hospice or at your child's school. While volunteering, you'll meet other like-minded individuals with similar interests.

4.Attend a Religious Service
Churches and synagogues usually have social groups organized specifically to help their members develop friendships. Check out your local religious organization of your faith and ask what social activities are provided.

5.Meet Your Children's Parents
If you have children, you have an instant connection with other parents. Initiate conversation with other moms and dads, and invite them in for a cup of coffee during a play date for your child. You'll have lots to talk about since you both have children.

6.Be Friendly
This may sound obvious, but you'll be surprised how many people don't understand what it means to truly be friendly. You want to come across as warm, approachable and empathetic. This means you may need to smile more than you are comfortable doing, and will need to be affirming in your speech and body language. If people are not responding positively to you, check yourself out in a mirror to make sure you are coming across as warm and kind, not cool and aloof.

7.Take Care of Your Appearance
Your appearance is the first thing people notice about you, so make sure you are dressed appropriately, are clean and stand up straight. Wear your favorite outfit when you go out friend-hunting; it will boost your confidence.

8.Take the Initiative
It would be nice if being friendly were enough, but often it is not. You will need to initiate conversation or crack a joke, share openly about yourself, and offer to exchange contact information. While that may feel intimidating, it will get easier the more you practice.

9.Show Interest in People Around You
One of the biggest turn-offs is someone who talks only about him or herself. Ask questions about the other person, then relate things he or she shares with things in your own life. Make a connection between the two of you.

10.Put Aside Negativity
No one wants to be friends with a complainer or a back-stabber, so put aside any negative views and show your sunny side. You'll have time for therapeutic vents about bad drivers or politics once the two of you are truly friends. For now, focus on the positive and getting to know your new friend.

By: Rachel Mork

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