Showing posts with label positive thinking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label positive thinking. Show all posts
Monday, July 15, 2013
11 Steps to Increased Happiness.
You wake up everyday and think about your job, your family and about how nothing ever changes. Then you go through your normal routine and never giving another thought to those dream and aspirations you once had of living a different life, living a better life. Instead you have been lured into being just comfortable enough to have a little extra every pay check (if you're lucky) and stuck in that place I like to call 'no mans land'. It is the area where you are just comfortable enough not to desire a change, but no where close to achieving your dreams. It tends to make you feel sad, indifferent or just down-right depressed. So here is a list devised from a man named Jonathan that really helps you concentrate on your goals and look to being happy and fulfilled. Enjoy.
Learning to maintain a positive attitude during stressful times can be challenging. It may take some time before your natural response to almost any situation is optimistic. However, when you consider both the short term and long range benefits, your efforts are bound to pay big dividends. Let’s consider 10 simple steps you can start using immediately to move you in a positive direction.
1. Think Gratitude. A grateful mindset exerts a powerful influence on your outlook. Not only does it make you feel good in the moment, it also shifts your focus in a positive direction. Turn your attention toward your blessings and keep it there. As you focus more on what you are grateful for in your life (even the really small blessings!), you will worry less about anything that may be lacking. As a result, you will experience a more pervasive sense of happiness!
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” ~Cicero
2. Choose Happiness. Being happy is not about circumstances or any other outside force. Happiness is a decision we make. Why not make up your mind to embrace happiness, starting now? Go ahead and make a decision. Let your personal identity get all wrapped up in the concept of happiness. Fold it around yourself like a big comfortable blanket.
“The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances.” ~Martha Washington
3. Substitute Challenges for Problems. Subconsciously, the word problem says, “Life is not as it should be.” This causes our energy to be funneled toward repairing something that’s gone wrong. On the other hand, the word challenge sends no such message. Instead of trying to repair a malfunction, our resources are recruited to search for a new opportunity. Seeing an experience as a challenge will focus our attention on a positive outcome.
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”~Winston Churchill
4. View Life as a Journey. A journey is an adventure of discovery. When we are on a journey we don’t fear change, we welcome it. We look forward to new and unfamiliar experiences. On a journey we are full of optimism because we are filled with the expectation of a wonderful adventure. This is the perfect attitude to carry with you every day.
5. Stop and Smell the Roses. When you constantly feel rushed and scattered, it can be difficult to maintain an optimistic outlook. Buying out regular opportunities to focus on simple pleasures can help restore a sense of balance to your life. By pausing briefly to really taste your food or enjoy a beautiful piece of music, you remind yourself of the joy of simplicity.
“It is always wise to stop wishing for things long enough to enjoy the fragrance of those now flowering.” ~Patrice Gifford
6. Begin Your Day On a Positive Note. Find a few minutes each morning to clear your mind and then think positive thoughts about the upcoming day. Focus on the people and events that bring you joy or a sense of satisfaction. What’s your favorite part of the day going to be? Take some time to look forward to everything that you will enjoy. Now carry that feeling with you all day long, even during the less enjoyable activities. Let your optimism flow into your entire day.
7. Be Positively Aware. Make it a habit to actively search for the positive side of everything. Turn it into a private game. With practice, you will be surprised how easy it becomes to see the not so obvious benefits and pleasures all around you. Being alert to the reasons for optimism also helps move our attention away from the negative side of life.
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” ~Max Planck
8. Act Out Happy. You can use words and body language to program your nervous system. When you make a conscious effort to walk the walk and talk the talk, your feelings will soon follow. Our personal perspective takes a lot of clues from how we act. If you act like a happy optimistic person, your mind accepts that as your reality. Try it and see for yourself.
9. Hang Out With Positive People. Use the power of peer influence to feed your sense of optimism. The attitude of the people around us can be a powerful force for good or bad. Seek out the company of those with a sunny disposition and let yourself be influenced by their optimism. Use the group dynamic to your benefit.
10. Do A Gratitude Review Nightly. This is a great way to end your day. Before you go to bed think of at least ten things that you are truly grateful for. Let yourself feel the joy that those things bring to your life. Fall asleep reflecting on your blessings.
“Reflect each day on all you have to be grateful for and you will receive more to be grateful for.” ~Chuck Danes
11. Minimize Exposure to Negative Influences. Stop watching, reading, or listening to the news. If you can free yourself from this negative influence it will change your life. Without that pervasive daily dose of despair, you will find it so much easier to focus on positive things in life.
I hope these help and I encourage you to print this out and read it everyday to help make an impact on your life and the lives of those around you. For more of Jonathan's writing go to http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/ . Enjoy and have a awesome day.
For our site go to www.attitudedriveslife.com
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Top Ten Ways To a Postive Attitude
The following 10 tips suggest ways to facilitate a more positive attitude.
1. Work first on your relationships.
Relationships are both our best sources of happiness and our biggest sources of problems and frustrations. Developing good relationships and improving or ending the poor relationships in your life will increase your personal energy. An effective tactic to start improving your relationships is to develop better personal boundaries and standards and work on reducing toleration.
2. Develop a routine to start every day in a positive mental state.
It is very helpful to start the day with a routine that creates positive energy. Many people find activities like an early morning walk, exercise, meditation, quiet time, etc., effective in getting their day off to a positive start. It is easier to stay positive, if you can start with a positive attitude.
3. Learn how to monitor your current mental state and changes to it.
This is a complex area, but if you can link negative mood changes to a source or cause, then you are frequently in a position to quickly change back. The important point here is once you are in a negative state, get the message or value from the situation, then take some action to return to a positive state. This is discussed more in #6 below.
4. Create an energizing physical environment.
Invest some time and money to make your personal surroundings pleasing and energizing to you.
Some small items may make a big difference to how your personal space affects your moods. Poor lighting can lower your mental state, especially in the winter. I put 800 watts of halogen lighting in my workspace and noticed a big mood improvement. Some people report a big improvement in their mood just by cleaning up their bedroom and making the bed before leaving for work. Clutter is de-energizing to many people. A sink full of dirty dishes is de-energizing to some. A small water fountain can create a feeling of energy. Music can offset feelings of isolation. Feng Shui is an entire discipline that addresses the harmony of physical surroundings. Further reading in this topic may give you some good ideas.
5. Carefully monitor your self-talk.
Negative self talk is a common source of low moods. When you are hearing negative self talk, be alert to the unrealistic, overly negative messages. Focus on getting any truthful message, then shifting out of overly self-defeating criticism. It is true that we are usually our own worst critic.
6. Develop methods of shifting yourself to a more positive state.
Once you are aware of your negative moods, and have developed your own method of getting the value out of the bad mood, then craft methods of moving back to a positive mood. These methods can include positive self talk, taking action towards a desirable goal, interacting with another person. One creative method is to maintain a Truth Journal in which you write down your personal Truth about various topics. This Truth can include past successes, what you are really good at, things you enjoy, compliments you have received, progress towards goals, etc. Then, when you are feeling negative about a topic, read the Truth Journal.
7. Deal with problems effectively.
Problems are a part of life. Few people enjoy problems. But, in many cases we can learn from problems. It may help to ask yourself several questions, such as:
* What am I contributing to this problem?
* What Life Lesson have I been missing here?
* What is the worst that can happen and how can I improve on that?
* What am I doing right?
* What am I going to do differently?
Getting into a habit of using problems as learning experiences can help us avoid becoming de-energized when they occur.
8. Focus your energy on attracting more of what you want.
Time and energy spent dwelling on problems is frequently better spent pursuing desirable goals. It helps to examine your own contribution to any difficulties and understand how you may need to change. Then be sure to ask others directly for what you want from them; don’t fall into the trap of under communicating. In this way, you are always making course corrections and moving forward. I have found it helpful to print out a list of goals, and my theme for the week first thing Monday morning. This seems to help me get started on a positive note.
9. Be a positive energy source with others.
Negative energy seems to attract negative results. Keeping your own mood positive can encourage positive moods and suppress negative behavior in others.
10. Avoid using negative energy as an energy source.
Many people have a shortage of positive energy in their lives and use negative energy as their energy source. They create busyness, use deadlines, crises, and problems to keep them going. In many cases, their motivation patterns shift entirely from seeking pleasure to avoiding pain. In most cases, serious burnout is the eventual result of becoming dependent on negative energy sources.
About the Author:
This piece was originally submitted by Bruce St.John, Leadership Coach, who can be reached at bstjohn@aol.com, or visited on the web. Bruce St.John wants you to know: I help business leaders become the person their dog thinks they are!
As always check out www.attitudedriveslife.com for t shirts, audio and our books!
1. Work first on your relationships.
Relationships are both our best sources of happiness and our biggest sources of problems and frustrations. Developing good relationships and improving or ending the poor relationships in your life will increase your personal energy. An effective tactic to start improving your relationships is to develop better personal boundaries and standards and work on reducing toleration.
2. Develop a routine to start every day in a positive mental state.
It is very helpful to start the day with a routine that creates positive energy. Many people find activities like an early morning walk, exercise, meditation, quiet time, etc., effective in getting their day off to a positive start. It is easier to stay positive, if you can start with a positive attitude.
3. Learn how to monitor your current mental state and changes to it.
This is a complex area, but if you can link negative mood changes to a source or cause, then you are frequently in a position to quickly change back. The important point here is once you are in a negative state, get the message or value from the situation, then take some action to return to a positive state. This is discussed more in #6 below.
4. Create an energizing physical environment.
Invest some time and money to make your personal surroundings pleasing and energizing to you.
Some small items may make a big difference to how your personal space affects your moods. Poor lighting can lower your mental state, especially in the winter. I put 800 watts of halogen lighting in my workspace and noticed a big mood improvement. Some people report a big improvement in their mood just by cleaning up their bedroom and making the bed before leaving for work. Clutter is de-energizing to many people. A sink full of dirty dishes is de-energizing to some. A small water fountain can create a feeling of energy. Music can offset feelings of isolation. Feng Shui is an entire discipline that addresses the harmony of physical surroundings. Further reading in this topic may give you some good ideas.
5. Carefully monitor your self-talk.
Negative self talk is a common source of low moods. When you are hearing negative self talk, be alert to the unrealistic, overly negative messages. Focus on getting any truthful message, then shifting out of overly self-defeating criticism. It is true that we are usually our own worst critic.
6. Develop methods of shifting yourself to a more positive state.
Once you are aware of your negative moods, and have developed your own method of getting the value out of the bad mood, then craft methods of moving back to a positive mood. These methods can include positive self talk, taking action towards a desirable goal, interacting with another person. One creative method is to maintain a Truth Journal in which you write down your personal Truth about various topics. This Truth can include past successes, what you are really good at, things you enjoy, compliments you have received, progress towards goals, etc. Then, when you are feeling negative about a topic, read the Truth Journal.
7. Deal with problems effectively.
Problems are a part of life. Few people enjoy problems. But, in many cases we can learn from problems. It may help to ask yourself several questions, such as:
* What am I contributing to this problem?
* What Life Lesson have I been missing here?
* What is the worst that can happen and how can I improve on that?
* What am I doing right?
* What am I going to do differently?
Getting into a habit of using problems as learning experiences can help us avoid becoming de-energized when they occur.
8. Focus your energy on attracting more of what you want.
Time and energy spent dwelling on problems is frequently better spent pursuing desirable goals. It helps to examine your own contribution to any difficulties and understand how you may need to change. Then be sure to ask others directly for what you want from them; don’t fall into the trap of under communicating. In this way, you are always making course corrections and moving forward. I have found it helpful to print out a list of goals, and my theme for the week first thing Monday morning. This seems to help me get started on a positive note.
9. Be a positive energy source with others.
Negative energy seems to attract negative results. Keeping your own mood positive can encourage positive moods and suppress negative behavior in others.
10. Avoid using negative energy as an energy source.
Many people have a shortage of positive energy in their lives and use negative energy as their energy source. They create busyness, use deadlines, crises, and problems to keep them going. In many cases, their motivation patterns shift entirely from seeking pleasure to avoiding pain. In most cases, serious burnout is the eventual result of becoming dependent on negative energy sources.
About the Author:
This piece was originally submitted by Bruce St.John, Leadership Coach, who can be reached at bstjohn@aol.com, or visited on the web. Bruce St.John wants you to know: I help business leaders become the person their dog thinks they are!
As always check out www.attitudedriveslife.com for t shirts, audio and our books!
Monday, June 10, 2013
16 Ways To Boost Your Attitude
16 Tips to Giving Your Attitude a Boost
Your attitude is everything. It is how you see the things around you, how you deal with the situations you face, and what you think about life. The difference between a positive and negative attitude could be the difference between a positive or negative life.
The tips below are quick and highly effective. Make use of them today and start getting results immediately.
1. Rise and Shine!
Getting up early and taking a walk in the morning is a great way to start the day. Fifteen or twenty minutes is plenty of time for a quick walk in the brisk morning air.
2. Tomorrow is a New Day
When things aren't going the way you might like them to go, remember that as time passes, so do your troubles. At the time it may be hard to realize that things will get better, but rest assured they will.
3. Control
The only one who can give you a good attitude is you. And the great news is, it can happen whenever you want it to. You could wake up tomorrow with a brand new outlook on life. And why? Because your attitude is yours to control. You don't need permission from anyone to change it.
4. Circle of Friends
You may be trying to stay positive, but if your friends or coworkers are negative, it may make for a losing battle. The company you keep impacts your attitude greatly. Seldom will you find a group of negative thinkers and one positive attitude together. Negativity can spread, so be sure to keep clear of noticeably negative situations.
5. Healthy Diet
You have heard it a thousand times, and this will make it a thousand and one. A good diet is vital to maintaining energy, alertness, and a positive attitude. Without the necessary amounts of fuel for your body, it cannot function properly. If you find yourself in a tired and negative mood, ask yourself, 'Have I eaten yet today?'
6. Sleep
Just as important as a healthy diet is the right amount of sleep. It seems obvious but many people don't get enough sleep at night. Without rest, the body and mind become irritable, fatigued, and they drag through the day. The same effects can result from oversleeping. Make sure you get the sleep you need each night.
7. Your Hobby to the Rescue
It is important to have a fun hobby or activity that you can do when facing a problem or a long, hectic day. Sports, books, collecting, etc. are great ways to get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy yourself.
8. Do Unto Others
It's true what they say, you get what you give. When you focus on treating others positively and with respect, you will, in most cases, receive the same treatment. Change the focus from yourself to others and let the giving spirit be the reason for your improved view of the world.
9. The Bigger Picture
When you think of the world as a whole, it may serve to downplay the obstacles in your life that cause frustration or complication. You might have it bad, but the odds are that someone else has it worse. That in itself is enough to make people thankful for what they have.
10. Try Something New
If you feel like you're stuck and you need a way to break out, try something new. Picking up a new instrument, trying out a new sport, or discovering a new talent may add some excitement and enjoyment to your life.
11. Past Proofs
Others have successfully done what you are trying to do, and that is why you should be positive about the future. It doesn't matter what you are trying to accomplish, the chances are that someone has done it. That means you can do it too. We are all human, and we all have the same 24 hours in each day. If they can do it, so can you.
12. Stop It
If you get up on the wrong side of the bed, that doesn't mean you have to go to bed on that same wrong side. If your day begins poorly, make an effort to correct its direction. Realize you aren't happy and fix the problem. Your bad beginning could turn into a happy end.
13. You Need Bad Days
If you do have a bad day though, that's all right. Some people have trouble with that thought. They think that one bad day is not acceptable, making it even worse for them. We all have an off day. The important thing is to make sure we improve the next.
14. Write It Down
Want a positive attitude? Describe your attitude in writing. Your plan will be easier to work if you know what you want. Knowing you want a better attitude may not be enough. Get specific, plan your work, and work your plan.
15. Helping Hands
Bringing your friends and family into the picture is a great way to keep you heading in the right direction. Tell some friends about your desire for a better attitude and tell them to let you know when you are getting negative. You may not want to admit you have a negative attitude, but your friends sure will tell you.
16. Be the Optimist
Being the optimist for others can help you see the positive things in your own life. When a friend comes to you with a problem, remind yourself that you are trying to improve your attitude and make your best effort to give the most positive advice you can. It doesn't have to be overdone, but it should have a very positive flavor to it.
Make use of the above tips and you'll find yourself a true optimist in no time!
Thank you and a Shout Out to a companion site Motivation123.com for supplying the article. Thank You!
Have an Excellent Day.
Your attitude is everything. It is how you see the things around you, how you deal with the situations you face, and what you think about life. The difference between a positive and negative attitude could be the difference between a positive or negative life.
The tips below are quick and highly effective. Make use of them today and start getting results immediately.
1. Rise and Shine!
Getting up early and taking a walk in the morning is a great way to start the day. Fifteen or twenty minutes is plenty of time for a quick walk in the brisk morning air.
2. Tomorrow is a New Day
When things aren't going the way you might like them to go, remember that as time passes, so do your troubles. At the time it may be hard to realize that things will get better, but rest assured they will.
3. Control
The only one who can give you a good attitude is you. And the great news is, it can happen whenever you want it to. You could wake up tomorrow with a brand new outlook on life. And why? Because your attitude is yours to control. You don't need permission from anyone to change it.
4. Circle of Friends
You may be trying to stay positive, but if your friends or coworkers are negative, it may make for a losing battle. The company you keep impacts your attitude greatly. Seldom will you find a group of negative thinkers and one positive attitude together. Negativity can spread, so be sure to keep clear of noticeably negative situations.
5. Healthy Diet
You have heard it a thousand times, and this will make it a thousand and one. A good diet is vital to maintaining energy, alertness, and a positive attitude. Without the necessary amounts of fuel for your body, it cannot function properly. If you find yourself in a tired and negative mood, ask yourself, 'Have I eaten yet today?'
6. Sleep
Just as important as a healthy diet is the right amount of sleep. It seems obvious but many people don't get enough sleep at night. Without rest, the body and mind become irritable, fatigued, and they drag through the day. The same effects can result from oversleeping. Make sure you get the sleep you need each night.
7. Your Hobby to the Rescue
It is important to have a fun hobby or activity that you can do when facing a problem or a long, hectic day. Sports, books, collecting, etc. are great ways to get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy yourself.
8. Do Unto Others
It's true what they say, you get what you give. When you focus on treating others positively and with respect, you will, in most cases, receive the same treatment. Change the focus from yourself to others and let the giving spirit be the reason for your improved view of the world.
9. The Bigger Picture
When you think of the world as a whole, it may serve to downplay the obstacles in your life that cause frustration or complication. You might have it bad, but the odds are that someone else has it worse. That in itself is enough to make people thankful for what they have.
10. Try Something New
If you feel like you're stuck and you need a way to break out, try something new. Picking up a new instrument, trying out a new sport, or discovering a new talent may add some excitement and enjoyment to your life.
11. Past Proofs
Others have successfully done what you are trying to do, and that is why you should be positive about the future. It doesn't matter what you are trying to accomplish, the chances are that someone has done it. That means you can do it too. We are all human, and we all have the same 24 hours in each day. If they can do it, so can you.
12. Stop It
If you get up on the wrong side of the bed, that doesn't mean you have to go to bed on that same wrong side. If your day begins poorly, make an effort to correct its direction. Realize you aren't happy and fix the problem. Your bad beginning could turn into a happy end.
13. You Need Bad Days
If you do have a bad day though, that's all right. Some people have trouble with that thought. They think that one bad day is not acceptable, making it even worse for them. We all have an off day. The important thing is to make sure we improve the next.
14. Write It Down
Want a positive attitude? Describe your attitude in writing. Your plan will be easier to work if you know what you want. Knowing you want a better attitude may not be enough. Get specific, plan your work, and work your plan.
15. Helping Hands
Bringing your friends and family into the picture is a great way to keep you heading in the right direction. Tell some friends about your desire for a better attitude and tell them to let you know when you are getting negative. You may not want to admit you have a negative attitude, but your friends sure will tell you.
16. Be the Optimist
Being the optimist for others can help you see the positive things in your own life. When a friend comes to you with a problem, remind yourself that you are trying to improve your attitude and make your best effort to give the most positive advice you can. It doesn't have to be overdone, but it should have a very positive flavor to it.
Make use of the above tips and you'll find yourself a true optimist in no time!
Thank you and a Shout Out to a companion site Motivation123.com for supplying the article. Thank You!
Have an Excellent Day.
Friday, April 19, 2013
3 Things Necessary to Positively Change Your Life
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle
So then if we heed Aristotle's advice if we desire any kind of change in our life it must be altered in our habits and development of habits. This is how we live anyway, think of yourself now. Your life is made up of a complete set of routines and acquired habits. I believe these five things are the most important when it comes to changing things in your life.
1. Positivity
In other words the way we think, our mindset or our attitude. These things will determine what you become in life. There are people who amount to nothing in their lives and it has everything to do with the way they think about themselves. Those in this world who we would consider successful think the polar opposite way then the latter do. They use their unwavering positive thoughts to drive the completion of anything they accomplish. They set a high standard for themselves and stick to it. All things begin and end as an idea in your head, so don't take positive thinking lightly.
2. Health and Exercise
Obviously we get the connection, people who have a positive self image of themselves tend to be in better physical shape then those who are not. I believe it is almost as important as your thought process, but if your mind isn't in it then you'll never make it to eating and living healthy. Diet really does control your life alot more than most would think. Eating the wrong kinds of foods or too much food and drink will effect your sleep pattern, which effects every thing. Then your energy, motivation, and productivity go right out the door. Exercise helps keep your energy up, which will keep you motivated. It will also help you sleep better at night. If you are struggling with keeping a workout schedule try to look at it as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. Say to yourself, " That was who I used to be, this is who I am going to be."
3. Daily Habits
As I mentioned before, habits are everything in our lives. The way we eat, talk, sleep, our activities, everything. It is paramount that if you desire to change things for the better that you grab hold of this principle.
"To change your life, you must change something you do daily."
Small steps are needed to change a habit or else it will probably not work. Take little steps at a time, but consistently apply them everyday with persistence and attention to detail. There will be times you fail, but you must not let those few instances alter your new way of living. Just pick up where you left off and keep on track to your inevitable goal you are trying to achieve. Experts say it takes about 21 days to develop a new habit, and about 3 months to see its affects on your life. So you need to be persistent in your application and consistent in the amount of effort you put forth.
If you truly want to change, then nothing can stop you.
This article was written by T.W. Zugger. IF you would like to read more check out his site at:
WWW.ATTITUDEDRIVESLIFE.COM where you can Pre-Order his new book which will be
available everywhere on Tuesday, April 23 2013.
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