Peace Begins at Home (By Tina Tessina)

While it's easy to talk about, teaching peace isn't so easy to do. The prerequisite is learning to wage peace in our own lives. "We teach best what we most need to learn," writes Richard Bach in Illusions. That's because we are subconsciously focused on what gives us trouble; and motivated to learn about it. For example, if lack of peace-anxiety, rage, addiction or relationship hassles-is a problem, your life will constantly face you with the need to learn to be more calm. Anyone who does not meet your expectations can trigger agitation of one sort or another, and internal agitation evokes a negative reaction.

In my counseling office, I'm constantly reminded of how hard it seems to be for most people to sustain peacefulness-what the twelve-step (AA) programs call "serenity." We are all easily bumped off-center. I also see how powerful it is to maintain a peaceful (or serene) emotional climate in the middle of an upsetting circumstance. The calmest person is also the most clear-thinking, and therefore can control what's happening. People in high-pressure situations, such as medical and military personnel, police, firefighters, and rescue workers are trained in maintaining a calm demeanor. It makes them more effective.

Internal peace is the key to keeping all relationships on track. In my life, I've found that keeping my inner balance not only prevents me from making things worse in bad situations, it also influences others to be calmer.

Every day I am reminded of the importance of inner peace, a peaceful relationship with myself, and keeping peace in my private universe. Without this inner serenity, I am not very powerful to create peace in my surrounding environment. I find that whenever I'm agitated, especially when the turmoil seems to be caused by an event or another person, the effective solution begins with establishing peace within myself. Here is the idea I use to help myself and my clients do that:

I have my own sphere of influence, my own private "universe" which I can picture as a invisible, protective membrane surrounding me; rather like the invisible glass box mimes often create around themselves. All other people and events are outside this boundary, but visible and accessible through it. I can "send messages" in the form of words and deeds, subtle body movements and facial expressions, through the boundary, and other people can send theirs in to me. I have little control over what people choose to send toward me, and total control over what I choose to send out. However, I do have control over how I receive what other people choose to send me.

For example, if my husband, Richard sends out some crabbiness, I have very little control over what he says or does. Perhaps he's annoyed about something that happened in his business, or concerned about someone he cares about, and he feels safe letting his frustration out around me. There is little to be gained from trying to read his mind, or change his attitude. However, if I remember that I am the Highest Power in my own sphere, I have many options.

• I can choose to believe that his crabbiness is something I deserve, and feel hurt.

• I can choose to believe that he sent it because he's a bad person, and shut down my love for him.

• I can choose to believe that he sent it because of a separate event in his private world, and check to see what's happening with him, and if I can help.

• I can choose to care for myself, and put some distance between us, until things calm down.

• I can just react without thinking, and not make any choices at all.

Through experience, I soon learn which options give me the results I want. Once I know that, I can choose to repeat successful options at will. Richard has, and often uses, the same options.

The operative word here is choice. As long as I know my response to stimulus is a choice, I can create peace. Once I decide that the atmosphere I most want in my own world is one of peace, then I create the power to insure that.

The question I need to answer is: "What is peace to me?" It is easy, given our social environment, to think that creating peace with others means waging war with myself. For example, I can believe that, to create peace with Richard, I need to deny my own wants and feelings. That sets up an internal fight, which inevitably surfaces externally. Sooner or later I will get angry enough at the (self-imposed) limits to want to get even with him. Or, I will further increase my stress to keep the "peace" and begin to create illness.

Experience has taught me that the only peace that can be safely sustained is peace that begins at home-within the boundaries of my own inner self. Once I have created peace within myself by listening to all sides of the internal struggle, and acknowledging my right to feel all those ways at once, and finding a solution that calms me down, I know what I need to do with the situation that upset me. Then, I'm secure enough to begin to negotiate with who- or whatever my struggle was about. Peace with the other person may take a little effort to achieve, especially if I have a point of view of my own, but it will be lasting, and begins to build the trust necessary to a compatible relationship.

Paradoxically, this is often the easiest way to work toward peace in some ways, and the most difficult in other ways. It's easy because it requires nothing beyond myself; only mental/emotional work. Difficult because there are many ingrained attitudes, prejudices, and assumptions I must challenge and overcome on the way to internal peace.

The path to peace, inner and outer, is not a direct line with specific steps. It is full of trial and error, wrong turns and delightful discoveries. Sometimes talking with myself is all I need, sometimes it helps to talk it out with a friend, or even a therapist. Sometimes the words of a great teacher help. I like "My religion is simple. My religion is kindness"-Dalai Lama. Or "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."-Psalm 23. Usually my heart knows, better than my head, where the peaceful path lies.

I have chosen to follow a path of peace, internally and externally. This choice shapes all of my subsequent choices, and commits me to a process of self-awareness. To the best of my ability, I make my choices, and check the results with my mind and my heart. I get it wrong often, but I also get it right enough times to make my life much more peaceful; and I am happy, more often that not. When something makes me unhappy, I can find the path to peace more quickly than I used to.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Peace-Begins-at-Home&id=10276759

One Decision to Make Change Exciting

Imagine you're in a comfortable groove playing nice in the sandbox... and then everything changes.? Change is inevitable.? Things are always changing and we get off balance.

In my upcoming book, Workplace Sandbox Strategies, Resolving Conflict from the Inside Out, I draw attention to the parallels of business and our youthful years in sandbox play. Do you recall the intrigue that we felt for continuously building because when we play with sand, we accept impermanence. Everything was always changing, and even today, nothing is ever set in sand.

When we're squeezed out of our comfort zone, into the unknown, we feel fear and frustration, and we begin to pass judgement.? But... what if we could decide to change those feelings into something more productive and peaceful.

Fear ⇒ Excitement?

Frustration ⇒ Courage?

Judgement ⇒ Curiosity?

As I work with different people and organizations, I notice that some people have decided to be excited, courageous and curious about the potential that this CoVid pandemic will provide, and others have decided to be stuck in fear and frustration. Either way is not right or wrong... it just is what it is.

Each has been given the same set of circumstances, and the same options to decide from.???

• If you could choose between fear and excitement, which would you choose? And why??
• If you could choose between frustration and courage, which would you rather? And why??
• If you could choose between judgement and curiosity, which would you prefer? And why??

The reason I end each of these questions with 'why?' is because you can't change what you don't acknowledge.? You can dig deep here and really get honest with yourself as to why your deciding to be in with or against the circumstances.?

If you're standing in excitement, courage and curiosity, congratulations.? You're very proactive and influential, and your team needs you.? The greatest leaders can't lead without the commitment of those who follow.? Great decision! But it's not easy.? Your influential muscles area getting a workout and becoming stronger.? The world needs more people who think like you.???

If you're standing in fear and frustration, know that you're in charge, this is your sandbox and you get to shift the grains of sand however you decide.? Either decision will cost you energy and effort, the real question becomes, what outcome do you want????

If you're leading a change, empathize with how people are thinking and feeling about the change, and how you might change their emotional response to one of excitement, courage and curiosity.? A first step would be to acknowledge what has been lost.? Don't miss this step.? The greatest need of the human spirit is the need to FEEL understood, so that empathy is very critical, and very valuable.?

Embrace change because the high cost of fear is avoidable, and profits can be used for better things.

https://ezinearticles.com/?One-Decision-to-Make-Change-Exciting&id=10306537

All Time Happiness Tips

Happiness is amazing! A peaceful and happy state of mind that can make your life simple, calm and cheerful!

Each one of you might have encountered this feeling of happiness at some point in time, but for how long? Probably a few moments, days or a month! It is not permanent! How to make it your permanent companion?

Let's have an overview of what can make you happy forever, how can you be happy even under any circumstance?

Here are some tips that can keep you ecstatic all through your life!

Positive Attitude

If you are dedicated to being happy in your life, you can be. Make your consciousness so strong that no odd can deter your willpower. Whenever you face any odd, just reverse your thought and start thinking of those events and occasions that gave you immense happiness in the past!

This thought reversal will immediately take you back to happier days, and subsequently, you will be in your happy mood. This is the best way to reverse your mood from somber to happiness!

Music

It is one of the greatest stress-buster and happiness tools! Listen to the music of your choice, as much and as frequently as you can. Beware, it must not hammer others, as your taste may not always match with others or they might not be in a mood to listen to it. It will relax and provide you with soothing effects, and turn you on to face any situation! Try it!

Nature

Try interacting with nature - flowers, grass, river, valley, mountains, clouds etc. It will bring you closer to the peaceful and contented image of the divine. I believe divinely resides in nature. Whenever you feel sad and isolated, make nature your friend, you will never need anyone else.

Books

Books are another source of inspiration and all-time companion! Even if you are not a voracious reader, attempt to read a few lines of an inspirational book, I am sure you will not leave it without completing it! This is the power of words and inspirational thoughts. You will always find yourself in a trustworthy and inspiring company, full of energy.

Childlike Heart

If you have a heart of a child, you will never find yourself in any difficult situation. All the problems of life can be solved by thinking from the heart of a child. It's selfless, innocent and flawless. Retain this childlike heart and the innocence and selflessness in your mind and soul, you can face any odd and still remain happy.

This is all in this part! I will be back with a few more tips to be happy in next part! Till then, keep smiling, stay healthy and happy!

https://ezinearticles.com/?All-Time-Happiness-Tips&id=8009523

Why You Must Celebrate Yourself First Before The World Will Applaud You

Decide What Constitutes Success

It was Jiddu Krishnamurti, regarded as one of the greatest thinkers and religious teachers of all time who once wrote: "The more you know yourself the more clarity there is. Self-knowledge has no end-you don't come to an achievement, you don't come to a conclusion. It is an endless river."

Do you think he was right when he says: self-knowledge leads to clarity? What about you? What do you know about yourself now with greater clarity? It's reassuring when we celebrate ourselves since our reality is the embodiment of our thoughts. If we believe in our worthiness to achieve success, we will attract it because what is thought and repeated, will undeniably come to life.

Does that notion work for you? Can you see how what happens within you must also happen in your reality? I want you to really understand this idea because it bears repeating since everything that happens out there has been created within you first. I'm not talking about your desires being handed to you on a silver platter since that would be unreasonable. I'm talking about what you hold in mind and repeat with conviction and emotion must show up in your life, assuming you do the work and are committed to the process.

Success can encompass many things, whether it be: health, wealth, relationships or the simplest things. You get to decide what constitutes success, so it's best to find your own definition and abide by it. Don't be swayed by other people's opinions because that will give you the impression you are unsuccessful. Does that make you feel better knowing you needn't compete against others? I sure hope so.

I'm drawn to the British psychologist and author Robert Holden who explains in Authentic Success how we must redefine success to encompass the journey to get there. It's not enough to focus on the prize because many people who achieve success find they are more unfulfilled than before: "It is my experience that many people relate to success as something to celebrate at the end of their days, when they finally "get there." All their energy is invested in a ticket that will get them to a land called "there." But life isn't just about "getting there"; it is also about "being here" and enjoying your journey."

Are you comfortable with this idea? I know I'm emphasising the point, but I want you to get an impression of what it means to create success on your terms, not others. What we believe about ourselves is the foundation for how the world responds to us.

Thoughts are a powerful phenomenon and many of us are unconscious to them because we're habituated to ignore them. Mainly because they pass through our stream of consciousness at a rate of 70,000 - 80,000 thoughts per day. It is no surprise we ignore them, there are just too many thoughts to know which ones are relevant.

To celebrate ourselves, we ought to make peace with parts of ourselves we are at war with. Peace means to reconcile negative or unconscious thoughts with the wholeness of who we really are. So if you consider yourself to be an anxious person, you disregard the possibility of being a peaceful person; you rule it out so to speak.

The Wholeness Of Who You Really Are

I'm sure you've heard the story about the baby elephant tethered by a rope to a stake? It turns out that as the elephant matures to fall size, it remains chained to the stake unable to break free. Even though it is capable of escaping, it is held captive because of its conditioning from an early age. Whilst a fictional story, it correlates with our own story of how setbacks or failures limit our potential.

For example, I know a relative who is considered an anxious person and has trouble flying on planes. She believes her character is fixed and refuses to change. Yet, when asked if she's tried meditation or other forms of relaxation therapy, she dismisses them because she's convinced her personality is static.

Our behaviour is anything but determined. The science of epigenetics tells us our brains are constantly evolving depending on the stimuli it receives. Do you know people like this? No matter what you say, they're convinced they won't change or to be more precise, refuse to change. It can be difficult trying to convince them otherwise.

Embracing ourselves foremost is central to awaken our greatest potential. To celebrate our own selves means to accept both our negative and positive characteristics. Wholeness is a story about welcoming every part of you while realising you are none of those things in isolation but in their entirety. When combined, they make up the wholeness of who you really are.

If we want the world to celebrate us, we must accept ourselves unconditionally to find clarity. You can become a greater version of yourself because if the thought is active within you, its potential to merge into the wholeness of your character will come to life.

Celebration of oneself is a journey that comes from within and radiates outward. It is an endless river as Jiddu Krishnamurti points out. So, what will you choose? Will you be a shining light others are drawn to or will you withhold your greatness because you fear being found out? I trust you choose in alignment with your core self.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Why-You-Must-Celebrate-Yourself-First-Before-The-World-Will-Applaud-You&id=9960068

Are Anxious Thoughts Controlling You?

Anxiety is not an uncommon occurrence. However, it becomes a problem, when our anxious thoughts prevent us from performing routine tasks or keep us from pursuing our dreams and goals.

Feeling anxious, starts as a thought. The anxiety that a thought generates, can come on so quickly, that sometimes, we cannot discern which came first. Feelings are like a built-in GPS. They let us know when our thinking is on-track or off-track. Off-track feelings keep us revved up, angry, fearful and tense. We cannot think clearly and we shut-down. On-track thoughts energize us in a way that is focused, but not frenetic. When our thoughts are on-track, we feel peaceful, content, grateful, we have compassion for those around us, and we are more creative.

If something that happened in the past, is tormenting you or holding you hostage, I can imagine the stress you are feeling. I have experienced it myself. If you are tired of the limiting hold that a past experience has on your life, I hope you will open your mind to the possibility that the path to freedom lies within you.

The past is nothing more than shadows on a wall. It exists only in our thoughts. We get ourselves in trouble, when we drag a past event in to the present and treat it as if it were happening today. A painful memory that controls us to the point that we cannot leave our home, or do the things we want to do, indicates that we are focusing too much energy on something that is nothing more than a thought.

We misuse the wonderful gift of thought, when we use it to torture, scare and paralyze ourselves. We put ourselves into a state of distress, when we give too much attention to our thoughts, or take our thoughts too seriously. We berate ourselves for past mistakes and then wonder why we feel bad.

So, what can we do about thoughts that cause us distress? Should we replace them with positive thoughts? You try to do that, but I believe that is way too much work. Actually, troublesome thoughts will evaporate on their own, when we do not put our attention on them. When we stop giving so much attention to thoughts that scare us, our anxiety will subside, maybe even vanish. It's that easy.

You know as well as I do, that giving attention to anxiety producing thoughts, does not benefit you in any way. More than likely, focusing on those thoughts, has the opposite impact on your well-being. It is not a matter of letting go of unpleasant thoughts, as much as it is a matter of not grabbing on to them in the first place. I know it sounds too simple, but give it a try. You have nothing to lose, but your anxiety.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Anxious-Thoughts-Controlling-You?&id=9896263

4 Cues to Find the Deep Inner Peace of Your Clear Quiet Mind ( By Kevin Schoeninger)

Over 30 years ago I discovered my clear quiet mind on a backpacking trip out West. In this article, I share four simple cues you can use to instantly find the deep inner peace of your clear quiet mind.

In 1984, I had just graduated from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia and I was inspired to take a backpacking trip. I was definitely a city-boy, hadn't done anything in the way of backpacking, and had never been west of the Mississippi.

For the month of August that year, I journeyed by car and on foot through Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming with a friend. We explored the Canyonlands, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone National Park. We spent hours, day after day, in nature, without any TV, radio, news, music, or entertainment. The natural landscape was our primary stimulation.

What struck me most on this trip was the clear spacious sky (you can see for miles in that part of the country), the silence, and the stillness. I absorbed these three qualities deep into my body during that month.

To this day, I recall quite distinctly what I felt as I sat on the plane flying home. I had an overwhelming feeling of contentment. I was completely peaceful, my mind was still, and I felt no sense of worry or struggle. I felt completely free and at ease.

Out of this transcendent experience, three things became clear:

1) I discovered such a state is possible.

2) I found I needed to take a break from my busyness to arrive at this state.

3) I wanted to find ways to reproduce it, deepen it, and expand it. I wanted to cultivate this state as a reliable baseline to live from and return to whenever I need.

This led me on a quest of learning, practicing, and teaching in the disciplines of T'ai Chi, Qigong, Reiki, meditation, Centering Prayer, and other mind-body disciplines. From these years of study, practice, and teaching, I gathered specific techniques that reliably generate deep peace and calm clarity.

The first of these techniques is a set of four cues you can use to have an instant experience of your clear quiet mind. These cues give you a glimpse of what shifting to this perspective feels like, so you can get acquainted with it. You can build on these brief moments moving forward and cultivate a strong and unshakeable perspective of calm clarity that you can return to anytime you need or desire.

You can do each of the following techniques in just a few seconds or up to a few minutes-whichever you prefer. As you try them out, a few words of advice: see if you can let go of trying too hard or questioning what's happening. See if it's possible to let go of preconceptions and be open to what you can discover. Don't worry if you're doing these techniques exactly right. If one doesn't work for you, just move on to the next one.

Four Simple Cues to Find Your Clear Quiet Mind

1. Stillness: feel the stillness underneath all movements in the center of your brain.

Focus into the center of your brain-a point between your ears, directly under the crown point of your head, and halfway between your forehead and the base of your skull. You can imagine sitting in a comfortable chair there.

Once you are seated in the center of your brain, imagine and feel "stillness" there. Imagine sitting there as still as you can be. There is no thought in the center of your brain to disturb you or make you think you need to keep moving to get things done, so it's easy to imagine sitting still there. Go ahead and give this a try for about 15 seconds now.

Imagine and feel yourself sitting in stillness in the center of your brain...

Did your mind become still for a moment?

Let's add Cue #2.

2. Silence: listen to the silence underneath all sounds in the center of your brain.

Sit in the center of your brain again and see if it's possible to listen to the silence underneath the sounds there for about 15 seconds. Listen to silence in the center of your brain...

How did this feel? Did your mind become quiet for a moment?

Now, let's add Cue #3.

3. Space: focus into open, clear space in the center of your brain.

Imagine the center of your brain as open, clear, and spacious. Go ahead and try this for another 15 seconds. Sit in the open clear space in the center of your brain...

Are you getting a feel for what it's like to have a clear quiet mind-if only for a few brief moments?

Let's add Cue #4.

4. Who is having this experience?

Sit in the center of your brain again and ask "Who is having this experience?" Go ahead, give it a try and see what you discover. Ask yourself, "Who is having this experience?"

For a few moments, did your mind go blank? Did your thoughts stop, for just a second or two? Interesting, isn't it? When I do this, it makes me smile, as if I just discovered a secret treasure.

If you'd like to experiment with these four cues a little longer, and get more familiar with them, go ahead and spend a few minutes practicing them now. What happens when you sit in the center of your brain, feel the still, silent, space there, and ask, "Who is having this experience?"

As you practice these four cues together, over time, they'll blend into one experience of still, silent, spacious awareness. If you prefer, you can also use them individually, especially if you find one of them that really works well for you. I think you'll find this very relaxing.

These four cues come from my book "Clear Quiet Mind." They are just a taste of what the deep inner peace of your clear quiet mind is like. To learn how to deepen, live from, and return to this peaceful state of mind anytime you need, see the link below.

https://ezinearticles.com/?4-Cues-to-Find-the-Deep-Inner-Peace-of-Your-Clear-Quiet-Mind&id=9788583

The Wrong Side Of The Right Plan

Nothing has to go to plan for us all to benefit from what happens. That is what I mean by the title: The wrong side of the right plan. We all seem to want absolute perfection, but with perfection comes boredom and never discovering anything new or exciting. The wrong side of the right plan is also quitting without looking at alternatives just because something does not go "perfectly" or in an expected way. Expand your horizons and realities to include wide arrays instead of the narrow and ideal plans working, and things will genuinely be better than if you took the "narrow view of things".

I admit, plans work to the extent that we work the plans. But to expect a perfect result every time is genuinely neurotic at the most and frustrating at the very least.

I used to wonder what would happen if we had perfect lives without problems from the start, sometimes I would even go into a reverie and wonder about that. Then, I saw movie stars, news reporters with high salaries and people with "perfect lives" by the "normal standard" faking it, and having breakdowns, divorces and unhappiness. I did not wonder why, I could only think to myself, if life is not interesting, we make it interesting by creating neurotic imperfections. So, I came to a creative conclusion, only earned perfection or a peaceful after strenuous work or horrible storms is valid to people, because it is earned and not given. Think about what I mean by "if life is not interesting, we make it interesting". Reality is a game of give and take right? Full of obstacles and rewards after the obstacles. If life was just smooth sailing, we would wonder what we are here for.

The real winner starts out behind in some ways or all ways. They end up ahead because they accept the mantle of earning their way, building their strength, and making it all really interesting. The real loser starts out ahead without a seeming problem, but they get lazy and sometimes pathetic, because they feel they have such an advantage or advantages. It is like the classic story of "The Tortoise and The Hare", and how it always ends with the tortoise winning what they earned, while that lazy and advantaged "with speed" tricky rabbit with all "the advantages" always loses due to overconfidence. Being a real winner is like being a strong blacksmith, at first the blacksmith cannot lift the hammer, but at the end he creates swords and shapes metal with that same hammer through natural resistance and natural strength created by their efforts. Three last words: Think about it.

https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Wrong-Side-Of-The-Right-Plan&id=8237045

How to Deal With Your Anger in Constructive Ways

Wow, some people just know how to push your buttons, don't they? Wait, I KNOW he did not just cut you off in rush hour traffic and you are already late as it is?! And why is she always so mean and nasty to you? This is her job. It's what she gets paid to do. You would think Ms. Thing could understand that and just do it without the attitude. And why is it so hard for him to just leave you alone? You're trying to be professional about this whole situation but he better not let the suit fool him! Hey, anybody ever heard of a thing called customer service around here?! And why is she up in here like you did not clearly and specifically tell her not to bring that person with her? Now you have got to deal with this nonsense when all you wanted to do was have a good time. It's like the whole world is trying to make you angry!

There's no use denying it, so you may as well admit how you feel. You're angry and quite frankly you have every right to be. Yes, you do and don't allow anyone tell you different. No one gets to tell you how you should feel. You must trust your own emotions to guide you. I'm not saying you should be turning over chairs and slamming doors. Anger is, like every other emotion, designed to alert you. It's a message. Objectively speaking, it's just data.

How you deal with your anger says more about you than it ever will about that button-pusher. Besides, the person who is hurt the most by your anger is not the one that caused it, it's the one holding it. The longer you stay angry, the more damage you are doing to yourself. Sure, you can pick up that hot coal to throw at someone else but you are just going to burn your own hand first. So let me share with you a few constructive things to do with all that anger:

1. Recognize Anger For What It Is

When you get a message, it's important not to ignore it. You can spend time acting like anger is something more benign but that is just a waste of time and energy. Pretending you are not angry makes as much sense as pretending you are not holding a burning hot coal. Oh, you think we don't notice that look on your face? The sooner you recognize it, the less pain and injury you will inflict on yourself. I'm not saying you have to announce it to the world. This is about allowing yourself to acknowledge to yourself that you are angry. Once you recognize and own it, you give yourself space to choose how to appropriately respond.

2. Focus On Dealing With Your Anger

First things first. That incredible hulk shtick is so not attractive. Now that you recognize you are angry, give yourself a moment to take some deep calming breaths. Focus on things that allow you to calm down. I'll be honest with you here, even the most intense emotions can begin to pass within a few minutes if you recognized them and don't push them away. That said, you are worked up enough as it is. If you are talking to yourself -out loud or in your head - be sure that your words are more positive and peaceful. If you can't pull yourself to speak positive words, just stay in the space of admitting how you feel and acknowledging this is not what you want. Better yet, just focus all your attention on taking a few more deep, calm, relaxing breaths.

3. Ask Yourself How

There are several Hows to ask at this point. Now that you are aware of your anger and calming down, you are in a better place to choose how you want to respond. Ask yourself: How have you handled this type of situation successfully before? How can you handle this current situation in the best possible way? How can you honor your own needs and still be respectful? How can you do things differently so that you don't end up here again? How can you make sure the most important things are handled well? A great way to handle anger constructively is to find ways to prevent the situations that make you angry. Asking yourself how activates your problem solving skills.

4. Why You Mad, Son?

You are a brilliant person. No, I'm so serious. You are brilliant! You are also your best teacher. You handled the situation wonderfully. Congratulations! Before you file this moment away in the past, don't forget to take the good with you. Pay attention to the wisdom you are giving yourself in this situation. There are tips and tools you are giving yourself to be a stronger, more powerful, more purposeful, more peaceful you. No one said you had to love the circumstances. Choose to pay attention and figure out what this moment was showing you about yourself regardless of how you feel about the people and circumstances. Take away from this situation the lessons you are giving yourself about what makes you angry and how you can constructively deal with those triggers.

5. Don't Forget About the Other Guy

Do you remember those button pushers? Of course you do! As your brilliant self is showing you how to pay attention to the data, bring yourself into a calmer place, figure out how to not be here anymore, and get even more brilliant that you were a moment ago, I don't need to remind you this is not just about you. The best way to handle this moment is to be more aware and considerate of someone else's needs and emotional state of mind. Why it that? Well, as you show up in a loving way, the answers you need about how to handle that button pusher begin to reveal themselves to you. You will never get to the best solutions coming from a place of rage and hatred. Let them hate. You stick with the greatest weapon of all LOVE.

How much of your own anger could you dissipate if you were more appreciative toward the people around you? Yes, you are truly brilliant but you could really stand to be more thoughtful. I'm just saying. Wait a minute, I'm not suggesting you have to find ways to be nice to that button pusher in this moment. What I am saying is turn your appreciation towards someone else who needs it. It's not just about noticing when someone is feeling happy, or grumpy. Spend more of your time considering how your own actions are impacting others. Being angry is no reason to mistreat others.

It is impossible to speak life to someone else and not feel better yourself. Don't believe me, try it. Move to the right so the driver behind you can pass by. Allow that car to merge in front of you with a friendly smile & wave hello. Compliment her on the job she is doing right instead of bringing up the things she is doing wrong. In silence, look at someone and think "I'm sending love to you. I am sending love to you." Notice how that changes your mood and helps you to think of more positive things to think, do, and say.

The more love you spread, the more love you feel. The more you give, the more you receive. It is very tough to be or stay angry, when you choose to focus on being loving, and filling the day with life. The most powerful way to constructively deal with your anger is to deal with more love.

I'm curious about what works for you. Did I miss something? What ways have you found to feel more love when you are angry?

https://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Deal-With-Your-Anger-in-Constructive-Ways&id=7907483

How to Control Anger and Rage - Understanding It All

Anger is a normal emotional response that we use to protect ourselves against perceived threats or slights.

Most people feel angry for one reason or another on a regular basis, and often that anger is justified. If you get treated poorly, you have every right to be mad about it.

When you are able to experience anger and then move on, you have nothing to worry about. When your anger tends to take over your emotions and control your actions, you probably have a problem with anger management.

If your anger turns to rage, and you put yourself and other people at risk, you really need to know how to control anger and rage.

Think about your lifestyle. If you build your life and your existence around your anger and the things that make you mad, you are setting yourself up for failure. You'll have a much better chance at controlling your anger if you create a life that is contrary to the negative emotions of displaced anger and rage.

Make your surroundings and your attitude so serene and peaceful that it would be impossible for anger to fit in. When you are able to achieve peace and relaxation outside of yourself, such as in your home or your work, you will be able to create inner peace as well.

Practice self control.

This really does take a lot of work. Some people channel all of their emotional activity into fitness, exercise, religion, meditation or art. When you learn how to control yourself, you will find you can use those tools to tame your anger as well.

Teach yourself what it means to capture a surging emotion and then re-direct it somewhere else. You will find this to be a very powerful tool in how to control anger and rage. Instead of acting on how you feel, you will be able to deal with it internally.

Figure out what triggers your anger.

Triggers are dangerous things, and they are usually responsible for our episodes of anger. You should be able to recognize what makes you mad or who makes you mad or what kind of situation or setting really turns your otherwise calm presence into a boiling of rage and anger.

Take note of when you begin to feel those angry emotions show up. Once you are able to identify your triggers, you can address them individually and learn how to either avoid them or manage them when they do show up.

Get comfortable with healthy emotional responses.

Your comfort level right now might be with screaming, yelling, arguing, defiance or physically fighting. Turning away from these responses will require that you learn to feel at ease with different responses.

Learn how to walk away from situations that might indulge your anger. Gather other tools in your emotional toolbox so you are able to handle yourself in any potentially negative situation.

Steady breathing, verbal communication, punching a pillow, visualizing a calm and happy place are all examples of healthy ways of dealing with your anger instead of flying into a rage.

Practice them so they don't seem so foreign or impossible to you.

Get some support from friends, family members, even professionals. The people you care about probably already know you have a bit of a problem, and they will be more than happy to help you work towards a healthy solution.

Talk out your feelings and frustrations with the people closest to you. Go to support groups or contribute to forums online. Work with a therapist if you need extra help and you're struggling to identify your anger triggers or how to get past them.

There are plenty of resources available to you.

Prepare yourself for setbacks.

Controlling your anger and rage will be something you need to do for the rest of your life. There is no quick and easy fix. You might do really well for a while and then something will set off a trigger, and you'll find yourself embroiled in a rage or starting a fight.

That's okay. You're going to have temporary setbacks, but if you can recognize them as setbacks and evaluate what went wrong and what you can do better next time, those disappointments can still be learning experiences.

Anger problems can ruin your life.

If you don't get a handle on your rage, you will have trouble with jobs, neighbors, family members and romantic relationships. Learn how to control anger and rage as soon as it shows up.

This will not be easy, but it will be rewarded. Learn how to create an environment of peace and calm, practice self control and understand what your anger triggers are.

Once you do that, you will be able to choose healthy ways to respond to your anger and you'll be able to live a happy, healthy and productive life.

https://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Control-Anger-and-Rage---Understanding-It-All&id=8113179

Create Your Vision: Make It Personal

Having a vision has been a strong lesson that has been taught for years. All level of leadership, e.g. presidents, governors, school principals, parents, CEO of a business, etc., all at some point recognize the importance of having a vision. In Proverbs 29:18, it states that where there is no vision, the people perish. When you have a vision, even just for your own life, it causes you to recognize your purpose for life. When you begin to think about your vision, you basically are answering the question about what your future will look like as you fulfill your purpose and destiny.

There are plenty of questions to ask yourself when you begin to create your vision. Here are 3 basic questions you can ask yourself for creating your vision:

• If you had all the support you needed, what dream would you pursue? Most vision questions help you do what you did as a kid: imagine. I believe we adults are allowed to imagine when it's about a positive and joyful future. Some people will dream about spending more time to travel the world or becoming a highly successful entrepreneur. Whatever the dream is, nothing is too ridiculous to imagine. Become a kid sometimes and just imagine! It may actually make you smile more!

• What is your favorite way to spend the day? As you describe all your favorite activities, you should begin to recognize how you feel. Most people may mention how relaxed they feel, how happy they feel, how peaceful they feel. For example, if your favorite activities include volunteering at the local homeless shelter and spending the rest of the evening with your family, you normally will feel some type of positive emotion when describing those activities. They'll make you smile and/or laugh because they're your favorite.

• What do you want? No, what do you really want? This can be a tough question for some because most people feel they shouldn't be selfish. Being selfish for positive reasons is important because when you want to make positive changes, you must make it personal! Any questions you ask yourself, you must be completely honest as well. Knowing what you really want will allow you to answer honestly and make decisions that are loyal to you. Even if everything doesn't quite turn out exactly how you want, you are still capable of achieving great and positive results for your life.

There are more questions you can answer to really create a focused vision for your life. When you put all those answers together, you should be able to develop some goals and a plan of action to start moving forward! I urge you to connect with a coach to help set up that accountability to make sure that you stay motivated and focused. Making the right connections will help set up that ideal support system to keep you going no matter what!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Create-Your-Vision:-Make-It-Personal&id=9319982

How to Transform Your Life With Affirmations

                

Why affirmations are good for your health

You've probably heard about affirmations and how a mind filled with positive words can contribute to a more peaceful and grounded inner life. But studies have also proven, that people exercising the method of positive affirmations, tend to grow muscles way faster and find it easier to become physically strong in most cases.

Being optimistic and life affirming is directly connected to a greater resilience against stress and all sorts of physical diseases.

At the same time, your face will become softer, wrinkles may vanish and your skin will become cleaner. There will be a gorgeous shine radiating from you. Expect to get more and more compliments for your good looks which boost your self-confidence and self-love even more.

Other health benefits include lower blood pressure, better overall circulation and a much reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Ever heard about the placebo effect? Patients given some fake medicine have shown to experience healing just by having a thought planted into their minds: They believe in the cure and therefore get cured indeed.

Affirmations work just that way!

Starting your day with positive affirmations is most effective since you can carry that vibrant feeling throughout the whole day.

Also, nourishing your mind with peaceful and life affirming thoughts right before you go to sleep has shown to have a tremendous impact on your welfare.

That way, your subconscious will continue to do the work for you and solidify the message while you are sound asleep. It's that easy.

Affirmations for success

Now we've provided you with some basic information about affirmations and hopefully could plant a little seed of hope and inspiration so you could think of giving it all a try.

But how exactly can you make them work for you and help you succeed in life? At first, it might still feel weird and not right to you, telling yourself nice things. We have been programmed from an early age to be critical, modest and not very fond of ourselves. I say find your own light and let it shine! Unfortunately, our society wants people to fit in for the most part, but what about all of our own talents, interests and passions?

When you find what you truly want and need, nobody can stop you. Just repeat your deepest desires to yourself over and over again. It might be best to start with something that is nourishing to your soul, like saying "I love myself" into a mirror. If that is too hard, just repeat it in your head when you relax on your bed. Make room for the new beliefs you want to have by forgetting about the compromising words you have been confronted with in your life.

Only you shape the perception of yourself and by believing in them, you will let them shine through and affect people around you as well. Collect a few of your most needed or fitting affirmations and put them around your room or house, make little love notes for yourself and repeat them a few times whenever you see one. They will soon sound familiar and like second nature to you, so that your old thinking patterns just vanish like they never existed.

You deserve a life full of positivity and all you have to do for that is invest a little time and be persistent. You are already holding the key in your hand.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Transform-Your-Life-With-Affirmations&id=8961251

Why Hope Will Get You Through Anything

Life is full of twists and turns, it's easy to become despondent.

Obstacles and adversities show up unexpectedly and we find ourselves out of our comfort zone.

People say life is unfair?

I presume they're referring to life being unfavourable when things don't go as planned.

Surely, we're intelligent enough to know, we don't always get what we want. Sorry to rain on your parade.

Regardless, one thing that's helped me remain optimistic, is that not everything will go as planned and that's okay. In fact, not getting what I want is often a good thing, since there's often something greater on the horizon to fill its place.

We must accept life will be full of: obstacles, road blocks, negative emotions and circumstances that will derail our best laid plans. Knowing this should remove the burden, life is not pure sailing, but an adventure full of valleys and victories.

If you fear, "what could go wrong next," you place an unnecessary burden on your shoulders while dreading the worst.

If you adopt a hopeful and optimistic heart, you can breathe easier and expect a more pleasant future.

Hope Has What It Takes

Hope is more valuable than we give it credit for. It's a soft burning flame, unable to be extinguished and capable of enduring any conditions.

Hope has what it takes to get you through anything.

"People usually consider hope among the most wondrous of gifts: it keeps us going when we want to quit and makes possible victories that seem unattainable," affirms author Dr. Alex Lickerman in The Undefeated Mind: On the Science of Constructing an Indestructible Self.

Hope is the belief things will work, especially when it seems otherwise. It helps you stay calm and peaceful when something less than desirable emerges.

Hope believes you will get through it.

Hope remembers the times you made it through.

Hope teams with faith and believes in the impossible.

Emotional Upheaval

When times are tough, our emotions are intensified and not symbolic of who we are.

When the boss tells you the company is downsizing and your position is terminated, when your son gets expelled from school, your partner decides they don't know if they want to spend the rest of their life with you, the doctor gives you an adverse health report or your dog's gone missing, then your emotions are in for a roller-coaster ride.

But with hope, your thoughts gravitate toward optimism.

We cannot expect life to be smooth sailing. Unexpected conditions arise, not to overwhelm us but to test our inner resolve and awaken us to our true power.

Our emotional response in such times, is not indicative of our true self. That's because we respond to our external environment instead of staying composed.

Lessons To Be Learned

Sometimes when a situation is bleak, you're invited to master a lesson greater than you expect. This is when hope will get you through. If you lose your job, there might be a series of experiences during your transition of looking for another job.

You may realise you loathed your previous job and are now more determined to find a career path that makes you happy. Maybe you realise, you want to start your own business instead of working for someone. Consider this something to learn from instead of dwelling on the unfortunate setbacks.

Assuredly, there's a lesson and inner growth contained within your circumstances, even if you can't see it yet.

I appreciate the advice from author Jan Frazier in The Freedom of Being: At Ease with What Is, "The reality is that in the interval between the start of hope and when the outcome occurs, you don't know what's going to happen. The ego-mind dislikes not knowing. Feeling hope is a way of avoiding the discomfort of uncertainty."

Visualise A Positive Future

During hard times, do your best to envision a positive future. In fact, what you dwell upon is what you likely will get. Call it positive thinking, though what you hold in your mind is what you will receive.

We're the product of our emotions, given that we feel our way through life. If your emotions are fixed on negative aspects, you're likely to attract those situations because of your predominant reactions.

The universe reflects what you put out into the ether.

As an example, if I entertain negative thoughts related to not having enough money to pay my bills, I'll see evidence of this echoed in reality. I might notice a TV commercial discussing debt prevention or perhaps someone mentions their financial difficulties. If I'm aware, I recognise the warning signs that my thoughts are out of alignment. If I persist with these thoughts, it's likely to materialise because I've willed it into existence, whether I like it or not.

"Scientists have repeatedly demonstrated that changing our perspective and focusing on aspects of the situation that are in our control can have a hugely beneficial impact on our hope, motivation, and self-esteem," states author Guy Winch in Emotional First Aid: Practical Strategies for Treating Failure, Rejection, Guilt, and Other Everyday Psychological Injuries.

How do you see your future developing?

Close your eyes for a moment and visualise an optimistic path.

It requires work and discipline to create an intentional future and it can't be achieved overnight. This is because you're likely to slip into your old ways if you're not mindful of your thoughts.

Unattached To Outcomes

The world is full of people who have overcome incredible hurdles and failures to become successful and happy. They're unattached to outcomes because they appreciate that not everything goes as planned. When one door closes, another opens at the right time, as long as their thoughts are in alignment.

Allow life to weave her mysterious ways by being detaching from outcomes. What appears detrimental at first may simply be laying the groundwork for something greater late on.

Commit to a life of optimism, irrespective of the circumstances and raise the beacon of hope when times are tough. You can become confident through your willingness to see life from a different viewpoint.

The next time something doesn't go as planned, draw on hope and declare, "It'll be alright, I trust for the best in this situation" and chances are it will turn out as you intend.

Hope will get you through anything, but first you must create the circumstances for it to flourish, before it sets your world alight.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Hope-Will-Get-You-Through-Anything&id=9521718

Clearing The Castle

Life is hard enough as it is without having a place to retreat to. Your home is your castle. That is why I believe it is so important to keep it peaceful and balanced. Without a place that you feel safe in, you never really get the opportunity to unwind and decompress. I like to feel that your home, your castle is a sacred place. So the importance of clearing it takes on a new meaning.

Have you ever gotten sick while you were traveling? It's the worst. The first thought that so many of us have is we want to be home. Why is that? It's because somehow we feel comfortable, in control in our own environment. I have been fortunate enough to have traveled quite a bit. And there comes a point when you just crave home, no matter how much fun or how nice the place you are visiting. We all know that famous line, "There's no place like home".

So what do I mean when I say clearing the castle? Exactly what it sounds like. Clearing it off all the things that take away the peace, joy and comfort one needs to relax and reflect in. Holding this space as sacred as life itself. So how do you clear the castle? Here are a few tips that I have found to be helpful.

1. Your castle doesn't need to be meticulous, but it should at least be organized. Knowing where everything is, or at least the area in general will save on time and confusion. If you share your castle with another, it gets a bit more complicated. Which leads us to the next tip.

2. Have your own space in your shared space. I have been with my wife for 15 years at the time of this writing. What is interesting to so many people is, when they find out that when we travel, we both have our own bedrooms and bathrooms. Although we have connecting rooms, this allows for each of us to completely relax. We are generally on different sleep schedules so this provides the space to sleep without interruption. It also allows for us to have separate TV's should we find we're in different show mode, or if one of us want to read in quiet. And finally, there is no competing for a bathroom. Same holds true for our castle. We both keep our own space.

3. When sharing a castle, be mindful of the energy. You know those one hundred and one things that your partner does to irritate you? Try your best not to bring them up. Be it dirty clothes on the floor, leaving lights on or dishes in the sink. If its going to be a nightly discussion that turns into an argument, leave it alone. Would you rather be right, or rested? Hence having your own space.

4. Get rid of all the things you no longer use, want or need. I once read a book years ago that said if you do not use an item in a year, get rid of it. I'm a little more practical. But, if you're holding on to clothes for example, that you have not worn in 5 years, ask yourself if you really need it, or can you make space for the new?

5. Design your castle how you want to feel. Mine is set up for comfort and convenience. I'm a fan of art, music and spiritual things. You will not find a room in my castle that does not have 2 if not all 3. This speaks to both my wife and I. It represents how we want to feel. No matter what the day holds for us, when we come home the castle is clean, comfortable and peaceful.

Like it or not we all are a product of our environment. There are so many things beyond our control. So, what you can control, you should control. This is your castle. Be it you're renting a room from someone, or you own your own home. Those 4 walls that contain you hold power. There are numerous studies to suggest just that.

A little thing like decorating, cleaning or clearing the castle can pay huge dividends to your life. Make the effort. It does not require a lot of money, if any at all. So remember the next time you're having an awful day or counting down the hours at work, think "there's no place like home".

http://ezinearticles.com/?Clearing-The-Castle&id=9755985

You Are Enough

“A balanced inner calmness radiates from a peaceful centre. It neither craves others' approval nor rejects others' presence. It neither pulls towards nor pushes away. It has a reverent attitude towards life and all its inhabitants.” 

― Donna Goddard

How Peaceful Men Live

They are men who found how to live. They are men who feel alive with themselves because of who they are and what they have become. They are men of genius.

They walk around comfortable in their own shoes, love to share themselves with others and you can see that material possession, power or wealth is not of their interest. They desire family and self-development over material gain.

But if you closely examine these men in your everyday life they are secured with themselves and life in general. They have found how to co-exist with it. That is the key to their success they have found how to live together in harmony with life.

They have a strong burning passion for life. They strive to be the very best at everything and when they cannot they don't bother to get themselves over whelm, they just keep trying it's in them to learn and improve.

Something amazing radiates from these men. They radiate greatness. It's in their eyes to strive for peace. They have a hungry determination to devour the world but give back. They make the world work for them and not the other way around.

They have a unique way of walking in life, as if nothing could stop them, nothing bothers these people. They are determined to live. They have a soothing calming semblance in their face, it says peace.

Mattering

If you observe a peaceful man they feel like they matter. Their attitude is unique because they feel that their existence matters to others and themselves. They walk around with a sense of importance as if nothing will knock them down. Feeling important about themselves helps them be at peace with themselves and those around them.

But not all is happiness for these men, they will share with you their failures, cries, disappointments and pains with you if you allow yourself to be taught and listen. Really listen to them perhaps they will convince you live like them.

One important thing about a peaceful man is he has no fear. They wake up every morning and look at the big-red sun with a smile and they're ready to tackle the day despite their moods.

They love themselves.

They don't talk or blabber about being someone else when they are feeling down, no. They have no time to envy others, because they believe in themselves. The effort and time they have invested in themselves is the gift they gave themselves to appreciate life. They are not stupid to let it be another.

They sculpt and polish themselves into uniqueness. This helps them feel special. They matter. He matters to himself. He values himself.

He is full of flaws but they are men who do not fear the opinion of others. When a person is determined to create peace within they find it and strive with their every breath to keep alive.

They are true to themselves because they are not perfect and accept these flaws. They work on them.

Their biggest asset is honesty with themselves.

They change their flaws, try and try over and over again until they are satisfied with the creation. They never give up, it's not in their mind to think such things. They do not feel sorry for themselves.

A focused man finds peace because nothing in the world will take him off his tracks, he's serious about where he's heading and knows that will bring him peace. That is why he strives to make it and nothing will stop him.

Peaceful men do not have time to waste. These are true men who know how to live. Is that you?

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Peaceful-Men-Live&id=9370959

Why You Need to Feed Your Soul, Not Your Ego

Not too long ago, I was sitting on a beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and noticed a couple holding hands, walking along the shoreline. They looked so peaceful and perfect, like an island getaway commercial. And then it happened: His cellphone went off.

She gave him a look as if to say, “I dare you!” But the idiot took the dare. Not only did he answer the phone, but he let go of her hand, walked away and talked for 10 minutes. She shook her head, walked over to their beach setup and sat down under the umbrella. The couple that had just resembled a picture-perfect getaway were about to become prime candidates for The Dr. Phil Show.

He finally walked over to her. I grimaced. In my head I heard the booming boxing catchphrase: “Let’s get ready to ruuuumble!” Ding, ding! And boy did she come out swinging.

“Really?” she asked. “I can’t believe you answered your phone. Stop and look how beautiful this place is—and you can’t stop working to even see it, to take it in, let alone be here.”

He should have listened, right? But of course he didn’t. “Hey!” he jabbed at her in his defense. “If it wasn’t for my job, we wouldn’t even be on this vacation!”

She rebounded with a combination of blows that seemed to shake the champ. “Vacation?” she said, incredulous. “Vacation? You call this a vacation!? This is our anniversary! We’ve been here for three days and you can’t stay away from your phone and stupid computer. You brought your job with you—it’s like you can’t stop yourself, like you’re addicted!”

She picked up her belongings and took a few steps toward the hotel. Then she stopped, turned and delivered the final blow: “You know, you used to be married to me. Now you’re married to your job.” The champ just stood there, looking like a real chump.

I grimaced, feeling uncomfortable for having witnessed the whole thing. But let me ask you, this probably isn’t the first time you’ve heard, or even had, an argument like this, is it? Let’s face it. We are living in a world that is moving at an amazing pace. And it is easy to get lost and misplace our feelings and values. 

Many of us are conditioned to devote the majority of our waking hours on building our careers or business, leaving little, if any, time for other important aspects of our lives. Who can deny that we live in a competitive, ambitious society that stresses the importance of being the very best, rather than simply to do the best we can?

A lot of us have bought into the grand deception of always wanting more, regardless of how much we already have. We have adopted the illusion that if some money, power and fame feels good, then more of these things feels better.

Maybe it would be wise for us to come to the realization that what we think we want in life might not necessarily be what we need in order to lead a truly successful and happy life. Maybe, just maybe, we are leaving out important personal factors from the equation of what completes us as individuals. Maybe it’s just a matter of making a slight shift, finding your balance and choosing a better way. Maybe there are too many “maybes” in this paragraph. Or in your life.

I’m at a place right now where my philosophy about what’s important in my life has significantly shifted. Yes, I love what I do for a living. I always did and I always will. But I know far too many people who are so caught up in trying to make a living that they’ve forgotten what it’s like to live. 

More often than not, what we want feeds our ego. But when we fulfill our needs, we feed our soul. Pause today for just a minute and ask yourself, Which one am I feeding?

Choose wisely, because time has a cruel way of saying, “I told you so.”

http://www.success.com/blog/why-you-need-to-feed-your-soul-not-your-ego

9 Ways To Become A Better, More Positive You

Our lives are often filled with challenges, which can sometimes make it very difficult to be positive. However, I know that choosing to be positive has helped me turn my life around and become a better me.

I find myself seeing the positive much more than the negative, which is a vast contrast from my earlier years! But don’t be fooled into thinking it’s easy-peasy, because it’s not.

Here are nine steps I’ve taken that have helped me see the positive more than the negative in life:

1. Say affirmations every day until they sink in and resonate within every cell of your being.

Sure, they may sound ridiculous initially, but overcome this and keep saying them until you absolutely believe them to be true! Every day I tell myself that “I am healthy, happy and energized; my mind is peaceful; my heart is full of love. I attract positivity, success, and abundance into my life.” This is a habit worth keeping!

2. Use visualizations to get clear on what you want.

Become a productive daydreamer — let your imagination become your best friend. When you add feeling to your visualizations (really believe it and feel it), you create positive energy, which helps produce positive changes in your life.

3. Create a vision board and place it where you can see it regularly.

In BIG writing, put the words "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You" on it to show the universe that you're thankful for everything you have, and for everything that's coming your way!

4. Practice expressing an attitude of gratitude for all that you have in your life.

Gratitude allows us to participate more in life; it allows us to reshape the meaning of any situation. You notice and appreciate the positives more than the negatives, and that magnifies the pleasures you get from life.

5. Listen to joyful music.

Music can energize or relax you, and experiencing inspiring audio can encourage you to be the best you can be.

6. Read motivational books.

These make you feel empowered and excited about your personal growth journey.

7. Put inspiring quotes around everywhere for you to see.

It's the same as above — if you surround yourself with inspiration, you're bound to be inspired!

8. Surround yourself with people who lift you up.

Finding the right people to share your life with is one of the most difficult areas of life, but if you make an effort to surround yourself with positive, uplifting people, you'll begin to feel the effects quite quickly.

9. Practice meditation.

Meditation will bring you peace in daily life and make you more conscious, aware and mindful — a huge relief in the midst of our chaotic, multitasking lives.

Do as much as you can every day to become a better and more positive you. Take notice of all the beautiful things around you, as opposed to being blinded by the chaos in your life. You'll be amazed at the positive feelings you will experience in your mind and body. The more intentional you are about thinking positively, despite the negativity you face, the more you will experience life in its true light. And thanks to you, the world will also be a better place because of your positive attitude and energy.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11879/9-ways-to-become-a-better-more-positive-you.html