Loving Life With a Positive Mindset

Loving life means trying to live a fulfilled life. But doing so can be difficult without having a positive mindset. For many people, it can be pretty hard to enjoy living a life full of problems and worries. But even in situations such as this, life can be enjoyed by having a positive state of mind.

Having a positive attitude can help you appreciate life more. It is looking into the good things in life rather than the bad things - we have enough of the latter. Having a positive mindset can help you stay focused on what you need to love and enjoy life. Developing a positive mindset is not as difficult as you may think.

An important point to remember is that the way you think greatly influences the way you act. By thinking on the positive, you are forcing your attitude to focus on what good life has to offer. There are other ways that a positive mindset can be practiced on a daily basis. It is simply a matter of practicing.

One way of creating a positive state of mind is by simply appreciating being alive. Some people may tend to forget that life itself is miraculous. Daily functions - like walking, talking and having the ability to see - that you perform day in and day out tend to be taken for granted.

Just imagine if you could not walk anymore, talk to a loved one or see the beauty that is all around you. What if you suddenly find yourself not being able to do what you normally do? Many people only realize that what they have is valuable only after losing them. So why not appreciate life in general and the many things that you can still do, and thank God for it. Appreciate what you have and are blessed with.

Another way to develop a positive mindset is by focusing on the simple things in life. Life can be so simple and enjoyed more if you only learn to be content with where you are. That does not mean you should settle for where you are. You are at this place in time for a reason. One of my favorite quotes is, “be content but don’t settle.” All that means is that there is something greater out there for you however, until you reach whatever that is be content with today.

One last way to develop (and maintain) a positive mindset in life is to share it with others by helping them to think positively for a change. Just by looking at how good you feel about loving life, they might also follow your example. Helping others develop a positive mindset will not only help them to love and enjoy life but will also be a good way to reinforce your own zest for life.

Develop a positive mindset and you will begin to attract other positive, like-minded people to your inner circle. The more this develops and grows, you will no longer tolerate any negativity in your life.

Finding Opportunities in Any Economy

I love sharing life-changing information that helps individuals to become better at what they do and to become better persons. This month's Featured Article is from success expert, Jack Canfield. I am certain, after reading this article, you will experience something new in your thinking. Happy reading.

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Your own beliefs and behaviors are great predictors of your success than any fluctuation in the marketplace. Even when the newspapers splash the word recession across the front page, you can write your own success story.

Master the Art of "Inverse Paranoia"

Start by becoming an "Inverse Paranoid". What I mean by this is, believe that every event in your life is the seed for your greater good; something meant to enrich you, empower you or advance your cause.

Imagine how much easier it would be to succeed in life if you were constantly expecting the world to support you and bring you opportunity.

You can easily verify this belief for yourself. Just think about the last time that a terrible event turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

A big blessing for me came during the 1970's when I lost my job. I was working at the Job Corps Center in Clinton, Iowa, pioneering new ways to teach underachieving students. One day the word came down that the center was being relocated - and I was being laid off.

While attending a workshop at the W. Clement & Jesse V. Stone Foundation in Chicago, I shared my predicament with the presenter. He happened to be vice president of the foundation, and he immediately offered me a job working with inner-city black and
Latino kids.

I accepted the offer, and what I got in return was a bigger salary, an unlimited budget, and a laboratory for learning the success principles that transformed my life and launched a new career path.

Ask Yourself: What Opportunity Exists Here?

Take the fast track to inspiration by constantly asking yourself: What's the opportunity here? Make this a habit, and you'll stay calm and centered during any event that seems like a setback.

The beauty of this question is that it triggers your mind to respond with positive suggestions. Compare these to the useless information you get by asking yourself the questions such as: Why did this happen to me? Or, Who's to blame for this mess?

If you get passed over for a promotion or your retirement account takes a hit in the stock market, remember to ask: What's the opportunity here? - or one of its inspiring variations:

• What can I learn from this event?
• What will I do differently from now on?
• Who can I turn to as a mentor or coach?
• What's my next action?

Remember the Three Things You Control

In a way, the economy is just a vague and sometimes ambiguous idea. It refers in a general way to trillions of dollars of goods, services and products by billions of people across the planet. When you face a financial challenge, is it the vast, impersonal economy at work? Or is it your personal economy, which you can directly control?

You can't always count on the economy, but you can always rely on yourself.

Remember, you have absolute control over three things in your life:

   1. The thoughts you think

   2. The images your visualize

   3. The actions you take (including what you say to others)

Your life experience is simply the sum total of the choices you make in these three areas. And you can attract new results at any time by making new choices. Use the ideas and exercise found in this article to do just that!

About the Jack Canfield:

Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

The Powers of a Positive Attitude

I am going to ask you to something very weird right now. First of all, I want you to listen to your thoughts. Now tell me, what do you hear? Would you label them as positive, or negative?

Now let's say you are walking down the street with these thoughts. Do you think anyone who would meet you would be able to tell what’s on your mind?

The answer to the first question is up to you. But, the second answer can be pretty generic. Although people will not be able to tell you exactly what you think, they will more or less have an idea of how you are feeling.

Here's another question. When you enter a party filled with friends, do they all fall silent as if something

terrible had happened? Or does everybody there perk up as if waiting for something exciting to happen?

The answer to all these depend on your frame of mind.

Thoughts are very powerful. They affect your general attitude. The attitude you carry reflects on your appearance, too – unless, of course, you are a great actor.

And it doesn't end there. Your attitude can also affect people around you.; the attitude you carry depends on you.

It can be either positive or negative.

A positive attitude can have a filling effect. They are invigorating. The people around the person with positive thoughts are usually energized by this type of attitude; a positive attitude attracts people.

Negative attitudes, on the other hand, can have a sapping effect on other people. Aside from making you look gloomy and sad, a negative attitude can turn a festive gathering into a funeral wake.

We can also define attitude as the way of looking at the world. If you choose to focus on the negative things in the world, more or less you will develop a negative attitude. However, if you choose to focus on the positive things, you are more likely to develop a positive attitude.

You have much to gain from a very positive attitude. For one, studies have shown that a positive attitude promotes better health. Those with this kind of attitude also have more friends. Projecting a positive attitude also helps one to handle stress and problems better than those who have a negative attitude.

A positive attitude begins with a healthy self-image. If you love the way you are and are satisfied, confident, and self-assured, you will also make others around you feel the same way.

If you want to have a positive attitude, you have to develop healthy thoughts. This is probably very hard to do nowadays since, all around us, the media feeds us nothing but negative images. It is said that for every 14 things a parent says to his or her child, only one is positive. This is saddening.

If you want a healthier outlook in life, you need to think happy thoughts, and you have to listen to positive things as well. So, what can you do? Well, for starters, you could read positive books and magazines, surround yourself with positive people and set realistic goals and pursue them. All these activities fill you with positive stimuli, which in turn promote a positive attitude.

Although it is impossible to keep ourselves from the negative things around us, we can still have a positive attitude by focusing on the good things - the positive things in life.

This new positive attitude you now have can be of benefit to other people. Sometimes when other people feel down, the thing most people do is try to give them advice. But sometimes, all they need is somebody to sit by them, and listen to them. If you have a positive attitude you may be able to cheer them up without even having to say anything.

You do not have much to lose by adopting a healthy, positive attitude. Studies have shown that such an attitude actually retards aging, makes you healthier, helps you develop better stress coping mechanisms, and has a very positive effect on all the people you meet every day. So, what's not to like about a positive attitude? Adopt one today.

How to Expect the Best

Do you ever find yourself getting stuck in negative thought patterns and expecting the worst possible outcome in every (or most) situation?  It’s a common mindset that proves difficult to change when you finally decide you’ve had enough.  Unfortunately, negative thoughts tend to breed and multiply on their own – even when you’re not consciously trying to think negatively.

The good news is that turning a negative outlook into a positive one just takes a bit of patience and persistence until the positive thoughts begin to take over.

Below you’ll find three simple steps to begin forming positive expectations on a daily basis:

1) Develop self-awareness to recognize negative expectations.  One problem with negative thoughts is that they often form below your conscious level of awareness; and you get so used to them being in your head that you hardly notice them anymore.  To turn the tide of negativity, you’ll have to develop a stronger level of self-awareness.  One good way to start is by performing self-checks several times a day.  Pay attention first to how you feel.  If you’re feeling positive and productive, most likely you’ve been thinking positive thoughts.

However, if you notice that you’re feeling irritable, pessimistic or stressed, you’re probably focusing more on negative thoughts.  When that happens…

2) Challenge and change the negative thoughts.  Believe it or not, it’s fairly easy to challenge and change negative thoughts with a little willpower and concentration.  For example, if you find yourself feeling doubtful about your ability to finish your work on time, you might engage in a bit of self-talk like this:  “Okay, so I’m feeling a bit worried right now, but really everything is okay.  I’m strong, I’m smart and I’m capable of finishing my work on time.  I’ll do my best and everything will work out fine.”  Even though nothing has changed in your outer circumstances, this type of self-talk can get you thinking and feeling more positive.

3) At the same time, while you’re changing negative thoughts to positive, work daily on developing a general positive expectation habit.  Each day when you wake up, affirm confidently, “Today is going to be a great day!  Everything will go my way and I’ll enjoy plenty of lucrative opportunities and fun!”

When you encounter obstacles or problems, see them as opportunities to learn, grow and strengthen yourself.  Perception is 99% of the game!  If you simply work on shifting the way you look at the experiences of your life, you can easily conquer your negative thought habits.

The more you focus on changing your perspective to emphasize the positive, you’ll empower yourself to create better circumstances in your life.  Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying better and more frequent opportunities and attracting other like-minded, successful people to connect with.

Beliefs 'R Us

The Bible says, "the truth shall make you free." That is a powerful statement...to those who believe it. Before you can even tap into the divine power of that statement, there is one thing that can propel you forward or hold you back. That one thing is...

BELIEF!

Your belief system holds the key that unlocks your present and future success. I can almost guarantee that any failure" you've had or currently in the midst of, your belief system probably had (has) something to do with those "failures."

Think about this: your beliefs directly affect your thoughts which, ultimately, affect your actions/behavior. Here's an example. If you believe the economy will not get any better anytime soon, more than likely your thoughts will say to you, "there aren't any jobs out there, so why look for one?" Not only will you fail to actively look but you probably won't do anything to improve your skills either.

Now the opposite belief, that the economy is on the road to recovery will lead you to think I need to position myself to be ready for opportunities that will become available. In positioning yourself, you are taking action to ensure opportunities don't pass you by. Les Brown, renown motivational speaker and author, said it best:

"It is better to be prepared and not have an opportunity than to have an opportunity and not be prepared."

So what is a belief? The best definition I've seen is from the book, "Get Off your But" by Sean Stephenson. His definition is as follows:

"A thought is like an acorn. by itself, it is a solid little object that can't do much. If you keep it in a tin can, it will never grow. but if you plant it in soil and give it the right amount of sun, nutrients, and water, it will sprout roots and grow into a huge oak tree.

In order for a thought to become a belief, it has to be nurtured by evidence that proves its own existence. With each piece of evidence, it sprouts a root, and its foundation grows stronger. Soon, that thought (true or false) becomes a sturdy belief planted in your mind, growing stronger every day." (p.93)

This definition can't be more on point. After reading this, you should be able to evaluate your beliefs and determine which ones are limiting and which ones are empowering.

You may be familiar with the saying, "as a man thinketh, so is he." Allow me to build on that by saying, "as a man believes, so he thinks." In either case, you have the power to choose those beliefs (and thoughts) that will have you reaching new heights in your life; or you can continue to choose those that keep you comfortably lacking.

NOW BELIEVE THAT!

Building a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)

Click picture for Napoleon Hill's work

Napoleon Hill, the father of personal development and author of "Think and Grow Rich" postulated five 'Building Blocks' of a PMA. Allow me to share them with you here so that you have something to draw from when you feel a hint of negativity creeping in - that's not too difficult these days.

Building Block #1
Move with definiteness and purpose towards your goal.

Building Block #2
Establish a harmonious cooperative alliance with other people.

Building Block #3
Cultivate the habit of doing more than you are paid, or expected, to do.

[Note: Some of you (or us) may have to dig real deep on this one.]

Building Block #4
Concentrate on the habit of putting enthusiasm into your words and deeds.

Building Block #5
Create an enduring capacity for faith.

On the surface these may seem somewhat simplistic however, with further examination and practice, you might find yourself struggling with one or more of these building blocks. Anyone who has read any of Napoleon Hill's work knows that he does not cater to self-pity or wallowing in your "struggles."

I encourage you to put serious thought into each of these building blocks as they pertain to your life. Find someone you trust to assist you with building your positive mental attitude. While nothing in life is guaranteed, I assure you if you sincerely practice building each one of these, you will see a noticeable difference in your life and in others around you - at least as they relate to you.

5 Steps to Thinking Big and Living Grand

I came across this article that I wish to share with you. Many of you probably aspire to (or aspired to) doing greater things than your parents of which there is nothing wrong with that. This article by Ali Brown, an online entrepreneur outlines how to "think big and live grand." Let me know what you think by clicking the comments link below. Enjoy.

"5 Steps to Thinking Big and Living Grand" by Ali Brown

I know what it's like to think that the lifestyle I want is out of reach. Just 10 years ago, I would lie on my bed in my tiny 400-square-foot studio apartment and flip through magazines, wishing I could have the luxurious lifestyles I read about.

Despite that negative, nagging voice in my head that reminded me I could barely afford rent, I'm now living a beautiful life I created for myself from scratch. Instead of moping around an apartment I can barely afford, I now have the means to travel and to inspire others. Last year I took a solo retreat to Maui, and this year I vacationed at an exclusive beach resort in Cabo San Lucas.

How'd I do it? By deciding not to settle for being average and thinking BIG. Changing your mindset can be a challenge, but the rewards are well worth the cost. Here's how you can get started...

1. Eliminate negativity. This includes negative self-talk, too. Why would the universe bring you a better life if you don't appreciate what you already have? Show gratitude for everything in your life now. Those seemingly bad days happen for a reason, so whenever you find yourself thinking, "I can't do this" or "that's impossible," reframe it as the opposite. "I can do that, that is possible..." You owe it to yourself to give yourself the love and support you need to succeed.

2. Document your dreams. Earlier this year, I wanted to manifest a new house, so I listed all of the qualities in my dream home: a 3-car garage, workout room, walk-in closets... (Don't censor yourself! Anything is possible, even if it seems silly now.) I also bought some real estate magazines, cut out pictures of homes I love, and created a collage. I'm constantly updating my "dream board," which is now proudly displayed in my new house!

3. Surround yourself ONLY with supportive people. I only shared my house dream with friends and family I knew would support my decision. (NOT those prone to phrases like "Are you crazy? Who do you think you are? Ms. Trump?") Your true friends and family will be happy to share in your dream. If you don't have anyone else to support you, then it's time to make new friends - join a networking group or a mastermind.

4. Decide, believe, and watch for clues. It's not enough to make a decision to work towards your dreams. You must also truly believe in them! Don't worry about HOW your dreams will manifest themselves. Watch for clues, and the HOW will find you, perhaps in the form of a new business partner or a new client. But remember that the dream comes before the HOW.

5. ACT on opportunities when they appear. Action involves risk. You might have to hire more people to help with a new client. You'll need time to research that prospective business partner. Or figure out how to hire that amazing new mentor. But it's up to YOU to take action when the path is revealed. The universe is supporting you, and each step will bring you closer to your dreams.

© 2009 Alexandria Brown International Inc.

Online entrepreneur Ali Brown publishes the award-winning 'Highlights on Marketing & Success' weekly e-zine with 36,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.AliBrown.com

3 Steps to Expecting Your Best

Do you ever find yourself getting stuck in negative thought patterns and expecting the worst possible outcome in every (or most) situation? It’s a common mindset that proves difficult to change when you finally decide you’ve had enough. Unfortunately, negative thoughts tend to breed and multiply on their own – even when you’re not consciously trying to think negatively.

The good news is that turning a negative outlook into a positive one just takes a bit of patience and persistence until the positive thoughts begin to take over.

Below you’ll find three simple steps to begin forming positive expectations on a daily basis:

1) Develop self-awareness to recognize negative expectations. One problem with negative thoughts is that they often form below your conscious level of awareness; and you get so used to them being in your head that you hardly notice them anymore. To turn the tide of negativity, you’ll have to develop a stronger level of self-awareness. One good way to start is by performing self-checks several times a day. Pay attention first to how you feel. If you’re feeling positive and productive, most likely you’ve been thinking positive thoughts.

However, if you notice that you’re feeling irritable, pessimistic or stressed, you’re probably focusing more on negative thoughts. When that happens…

2) Challenge and change the negative thoughts. Believe it or not, it’s fairly easy to challenge and change negative thoughts with a little willpower and concentration. For example, if you find yourself feeling doubtful about your ability to finish your work on time, you might engage in a bit of self-talk like this: “Okay, so I’m feeling a bit worried right now, but really everything is okay. I’m strong, I’m smart and I’m capable of finishing my work on time. I’ll do my best and everything will work out fine.” Even though nothing has changed in your outer circumstances, this type of self-talk can get you thinking and feeling more positive.

3) At the same time, while you’re changing negative thoughts to positive, work daily on developing a general positive expectation habit. Each day when you wake up, affirm confidently, “Today is going to be a great day! Everything will go my way and I’ll enjoy plenty of lucrative opportunities and fun!”

When you encounter obstacles or problems, see them as opportunities to learn, grow and strengthen yourself. Perception is 99% of the game! If you simply work on shifting the way you look at the experiences of your life, you can easily conquer your negative thought habits.

The more you focus on changing your perspective to emphasize the positive, you’ll empower yourself to create better circumstances in your life. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying better and more frequent opportunities and attracting other like-minded, successful people to connect with.

Impossible Is Just A Word - Part 2

Are you ready to make the impossible possible? Of course you are. So without further ado, let's get to it.

Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, list down things ‘you know you can do’. Under another header, write the things ‘you might be able to do.’ And under one more, list the things that that are ‘impossible for you to do.’

Now look at all the headers and strive every day to accomplish the goals that are under things ‘you know you can do’. Check them when you are able to accomplish them. As you slowly are able to check all of your goals under that heading, try accomplishing the goals under the other header-the one that reads ‘you might be able to do.’

As of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can move the goals that are under things that are ‘impossible for you to do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do.’

As you iterate through this process, you will find out that the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible begin to seem possible after all.

You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination. It is to aim high, and start working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is unwise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic.

Those who just dream towards a goal without working hard end up disappointed and disillusioned.

On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was possible for man to be on the moon, they would laugh at you. If you had told them that you could send mail from here to the other side of the world in a few seconds, they would say you were out of your mind. But, through sheer desire and perseverance, these impossible dreams are now realities.

Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Nothing could be truer. For one to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to be had work and discipline. But take note that that 1% has to be a think-big dream, and not some easily accomplished one.

Ask any gym rat and he or she will tell you that there can be no gains unless you are put out of your comfort zone. Remember the saying, “No pain, no gain”? That is as true as it can be.

So dream on, my friend! Don’t get caught up with your perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will just about find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.

Impossible Is Just A Word - Part 1

Everyone, at some point of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big. Who hasn't fantasized about being the one who hits the game-winning homer? Who hasn't dreamed of being the homecoming queen? And how many times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or happy with our relationships?

Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.

This is a sad turn of events in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in the humdrum of living from day-to-day just barely existing.

But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.

The most common problem to setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can't do this. It's too hard. It's too impossible. No one can do this.

However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.

Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Unfortunately for the bumble, bee no one has told it so. So fly it does.

On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.

If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dream. In part 2, I'll show you how to make the possible out of the impossible.

Beginning With The End

Here we are, nearly through the first quarter of 2009. Are you where you thought you’d be? Have you accomplished what you set out to accomplish one year ago? Are you content with where you are?

These questions, among others, may have crossed your mind since the beginning of the year. Nevertheless, take a serious look at yourself in relation to these questions. Use your answers to begin the building process for this year (if you haven't already).

I want you to make a few commitments - serious commitments - that when you look back at 2009, you can say that you have made progress from the previous year.

The areas in which you choose are those where you want to see change: marriage, employment, finances, health, etc. Of course this is a short list but you know best where you want (and need) change.

One of the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is ‘Begin with the End.’ In short, this habit posits that if you know how you wish the end of your life to turn out, you can create the necessary steps to get you there. In other words, where would you like to be one year from now?

Set a few commitments (translated, goals) that will put you in a position to hit the targets you (and significant others) have established. Will you reach them all? That depends on how much you commit to your commitments and the action you take to reach them. Can you visualize yourself in your ideal job one year from now? How about with less debt?

Remember, without vision the people perish. A step further is, a vision without action is just a picture - begin with the end for new beginnings.

In All Things Give Thanks

You woke up today and saw the sun shine. Give thanks!

You experienced history in the making on Election Day. Give thanks!

You have clothes. Give thanks!

The above mentioned statements are simplistic for a reason. Regardless of what you hear in the news, read in the newspaper or hear at the “water cooler,” you have a lot to be thankful for. We may not have everything we want; we may have even loss someone or something - but at the end of the day we should say thank you for being able to experience another day in the best country in the world.

I say best country in the world because where else can you have access to the opportunities that we have. An African-American can become President (Barack Obama); a woman can become a CEO (Meg Whitman-Ebay); and a first-generation college student from the inner city can become an author and start his own business (yours truly).

Yes, we are experiencing some trying times locally, statewide and on a national level. If I know my history, nearly 80 years ago, this country experienced similar economic trials. I believe it was called the Great Depression. Even through that “dark” period in our history, this country was able to move on and prosper though not without other trials:

-WWII
-Korean War
-Civil Rights Movement
-Assassinations
-Vietnam War
-70’s Oil Crisis

When going through a valley experience - i.e. trial - don’t pitch a tent. Go THROUGH it and make the necessary adjustments or changes within your control; and when you come out on the other side…GIVE THANKS!