Did You Know That Positive Affirmations Can Improve Your Life And Wellbeing? Here's How!

The dictionary defines affirmations as, "statements, which affirm something to be true." In simple terms, positive affirmations are positive phrases, which you repeat to yourself and which describe how you want to be.

The theory of this practice dictates that when you repeat affirmations as if they were already a reality (when they are not) the message seeps deep into the subconscious mind, so you really start to believe them, and eventually they will become your reality. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

At first, you should state the phrase(s) intentionally, to counter any negative thoughts that creep into your mind. Over time, the phrases should occur naturally, without you having to intentionally think about them. At this point, the phrases become part of your subconscious, part of your very mentality, which has a tremendous effect on your life and wellbeing.

How To Use Positive Affirmations

Select affirmation phrases that are only 4-5 words long so that you won't forget them. Make them present, positive, and personal.

In staying present, use "I am... " instead of "I will be... "

In staying positive, make sure the phrase is uplifting. Examples could be "I like my artistic side" and "I am successful" and "I love myself."

Lastly, in staying personal, use phrases whenever possible that directly apply to your unique skills and qualities.

For example, "I paint landscapes beautifully" and "I organize my time well."

It is best to only pick 1-3 phrases that you can really focus on per day, because you should be repeating the same phrase to yourself repeatedly.

The phrase(s) should be related to anything particular that you are struggling with that day or doubting yourself about. The phrase(s) may not change for days or weeks at a time, until you are able to truly believe them and they become one with your subconscious.

The best time to use the affirmations is when you are not busy with other tasks. Spend 5-10 minutes repeating the phrase(s) to yourself, either mentally or out loud if no one is around you. Do this first thing in the morning and multiple times during the day, as you are able.

Make it a habit to also say them as you are trying to fall asleep. Make sure you are relaxed when you begin. Try taking deep breaths before you start, and concentrate on the words as you are saying them.

Go one-step further and visualize the phrase in your mind as you say it. This helps to integrate the phrase into your subconscious.

How Positive Affirmations Affect Your Wellbeing

Research shows that positive affirmations improve your well-being. Specifically, positive affirmations can do the following things in your life:

• Build Your Confidence - As the positive phrases become implanted in your subconscious, you will come to think more highly of yourself and your self-esteem and confidence will grow.

• Empower You To Accomplish Your Goals - As your confidence grows, you will trust more in your capabilities and be able to successfully reach your goals. The visualization technique previously mentioned helps with this too, because if you envision what your life looks like when you have obtained a specific goal, then it will be easier to motivate yourself to work towards it. One great example of this is weight loss, as studies have shown affirmations to have positive effect on success in people losing weight versus subjects who did not employ the technique.

• Lead To Prosperity - You will find yourself more successful in your career, in your relationships and in your personal life when you live life with a positive mentality.

• Lead To Romance - Whether you have long doubted your abilities to sweep another person off their feet, or you have been in a relationship that you view as mediocre, this will all change with a new attitude. When the positive affirmations change your mentality, which changes your outlook on life, you will have the confidence to sweep someone off of their feet or to re-invigorate your current relationship. You will be a much happier person, and that happiness will flood into your romantic life.

• Heal Your Mind And Body - Research studies show a strong connection between the mind and body. People with a positive mentality control their stress and blood pressure better and demonstrate a stronger resiliency against disease. They also have effective coping skills when dealing with life's maladies that make them resilient and well equipped to deal with stressful situations and come out on top, instead of succumbing to the pressure.

• Can Be Applied To Any Situation - No matter the personal struggle, applicable affirmations can be created and applied.

You can achieve all of these things with positive thinking. It all starts with affirmations that are present, positive and personal. Never underestimate the power of positive words!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Did-You-Know-That-Positive-Affirmations-Can-Improve-Your-Life-And-Wellbeing?-Heres-How!&id=9075731

Self-Care To Combat Compassion Fatigue

How do we take care of ourselves in our work place? This is an interesting question and now that it is spring and we are starting on a journey for a fresh new start of our lives after pulling out of the winter guise, it is time to start a new life. I would like to introduce the concept of having an intention each day to guide us to a more meditational shift within. This intention is like saying a positive affirmation that we keep with us throughout the day. It is how we get that intention that is interesting. I learned it at training and would like to share it with you. The credit goes to Mary Jo Barrett, LCSW-C. So, I give you her wise and sage advice. I hope you will be able to use it in your practice once you get a handle on it. It takes practice. It is a new way of doing things.

First: Sit comfortably in a chair with your feet flat uncrossed on the floor. Rest your arms comfortably. Close your eyes. Spend 3 minutes just focusing on your breath. Hold. Then breathe out to the count of 4. Then, begin a progressive relaxation exercise. Lift your shoulders up to your ears and hold them tight, then relax them. Clench your fists tightly and then relax your hands. Tighten your buttocks and then relax. Curl up your toes tight and then relax. Breathe in to the count of four hold and then breathe out to the count of four. Feel the tension leave your body and enjoy being relaxed.

Second: Keep your eyes closed. Now I want to take you on a journey. At the end of this journey a word will come to you-your intention. Do not worry about it now. Go to your safe place-- a place of calm and filled with peace and love. Notice what is a round you. Smell the air and breathe it in. Feel its freshness fill your lungs. Smell the sweetness of the air. Walk around your safe place whether it is the sea, a lake, a garden, the mountains, or wherever you feel safe. Take notice of everything around. You see a bright color. Go to it and touch it. Feel it, smell it, take its essence in. Enjoy it. What does it look like? How does it feel? Now slowly walk away from it and look around. Slowly bring yourself back and when you are ready open your eyes. What word comes to mind to you know?

Third: I want you to think of this word and spend 2 minutes writing a sentence with your word of intention. When this is done, I want you to put this intention on an index card and keep it with you for the rest of the day and pull this out and read it several times during the day.

This exercise should only take about 5-6 minutes. You do it every morning. The intention is to bring you back to centeredness when life begins getting hectic during the day. It is your own special meditation to take with you throughout the day. You get a new one each day.

This is an exercise in self-discipline and is here to help you in self-care. We need to take care of ourselves so we can be there for our clients. It helps keep us healthy and prevent burn out. We just have to take small steps out of our daily lives to take care of ourselves. It takes practice until it becomes a habit. This is one small step against compassion fatigue. Try it and see how it changes your life.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Self-Care-To-Combat-Compassion-Fatigue&id=8458018

The 4 Most Powerful Words That Launched the Most Successful Companies in The World

"Dr. Seuss is one of my favorite authors. I recently read an article that said the famed children's author loved challenges. In 1959, the co-founder of his publishing company bet Dr. Seuss that he could not write an actual book with a good story using fifty words or less. Dr. Seuss quickly accepted the bet. The result? The beloved book, "Green Eggs and Ham." To date it has sold over 200 million copies - using only 49 words in its entirety. Dr. Seuss might be on to something." Mary Southerland

In effect all he said was "I Can Do It"...

Dr. Seuss basically declared "I can do it" without hesitation and he did it.

When these four words find each other and come together, they establish one of the most compelling tools in your success support arsenal. They form an exceptional motivating phrase that's available for you to freely adopt and incorporate into your success support psyche.

The fusion of these four words provides an impressive power source that has the dynamism to enhance the mental stamina needed to start your success quest. "I Can Do It" is a positive affirmation that is ubiquitously written about and celebrated in quotes and articles throughout the internet and in bookstores.

There are an untold number of "I can do it" stories sweeping across and around the globe every day. These are stories of men and women who decide to do the mundane to the magnificent and start off with nothing more than an authentic belief in themselves and a personal commitment to, and a declaration of, the phrase "I can do it."

Moving forward with no guarantees of success, they make their world vulnerable and open it to outsiders who can inhibit and modify their declaration of "I Can Do It" yet they still advance with determination and hopefulness.

The Principal Point of this: "I Can Do It" is the only powerful way to start any project and even though you may not have all the facts and knowledge immediately this simple phrase is telling your psyche that it's time to go to work and accomplish this task or project and most important of all, it's telling you that "you can do it"

"A word of encouragement from a teacher to a child can change a life. A word of encouragement from a spouse can save a marriage. A word of encouragement from a leader can inspire a person to reach her potential." John C. Maxwell

Personal Note: For me "I Can Do It" is about helping you get started and that's the most important step of any project or venture you're planning to commit to. Trying to Start a venture or mission will prove to be the most challenging and stressful time in the life of that event.

In the fast moving world we live in it's very difficult to plan your way to success and achieve your most important goals. "Just start", take action now and learn as you go is the only way to try to keep up with the change that will keep poking you on your success quest.

The following is an extreme summary of what the beginning of your success quest should look like:

The steps to succeed in starting:

1. You Declare: "I Can Do It." You must believe in yourself with all your might. You need to dig deep and find the strength and self-respect needed to know that "you can do it." If you have to fake it that's okay. If you have to push through the fear and anxiety that's okay. We've all been there. You're not alone. The act of just starting will stimulate all your senses and the "I Can Do It" feeling will eventually appear and feel as if it was always there. Have faith. It will happen.
2. Personal Note: Remember when you were a kid and every year in September you had to start a new grade in school with new teachers and new classmates. This is no different.
3. Do your research: Acquire a basic outline for your new business or situation using the questions Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.
4. Remind yourself: "I Can Do It"
5. Just Start: Think Ready... Fire... Aim. Adjust as you go along. Always think "success". Be on the lookout for opportunities. For protection, keep a negative "what could go wrong" eye on your surroundings.
6. Remind yourself: "I Can Do It"

Good luck. Stay safe out there. Never give up on your dreams. Never. You can never fail if you refuse to give up.

ezinearticles.com/?The-4-Most-Powerful-Words-That-Launched-the-Most-Successful-Companies-in-The-World&id=9396908

The 4 Most Powerful Words That Launched the Most Successful Companies in The World

"Dr. Seuss is one of my favorite authors. I recently read an article that said the famed children's author loved challenges. In 1959, the co-founder of his publishing company bet Dr. Seuss that he could not write an actual book with a good story using fifty words or less. Dr. Seuss quickly accepted the bet. The result? The beloved book, "Green Eggs and Ham." To date it has sold over 200 million copies - using only 49 words in its entirety. Dr. Seuss might be on to something." Mary Southerland

In effect all he said was "I Can Do It"...

Dr. Seuss basically declared "I can do it" without hesitation and he did it.

When these four words find each other and come together, they establish one of the most compelling tools in your success support arsenal. They form an exceptional motivating phrase that's available for you to freely adopt and incorporate into your success support psyche.

The fusion of these four words provides an impressive power source that has the dynamism to enhance the mental stamina needed to start your success quest. "I Can Do It" is a positive affirmation that is ubiquitously written about and celebrated in quotes and articles throughout the internet and in bookstores.

There are an untold number of "I can do it" stories sweeping across and around the globe every day. These are stories of men and women who decide to do the mundane to the magnificent and start off with nothing more than an authentic belief in themselves and a personal commitment to, and a declaration of, the phrase "I can do it."

Moving forward with no guarantees of success, they make their world vulnerable and open it to outsiders who can inhibit and modify their declaration of "I Can Do It" yet they still advance with determination and hopefulness.

The Principal Point of this: "I Can Do It" is the only powerful way to start any project and even though you may not have all the facts and knowledge immediately this simple phrase is telling your psyche that it's time to go to work and accomplish this task or project and most important of all, it's telling you that "you can do it"

"A word of encouragement from a teacher to a child can change a life. A word of encouragement from a spouse can save a marriage. A word of encouragement from a leader can inspire a person to reach her potential." John C. Maxwell

Personal Note: For me "I Can Do It" is about helping you get started and that's the most important step of any project or venture you're planning to commit to. Trying to Start a venture or mission will prove to be the most challenging and stressful time in the life of that event.

In the fast moving world we live in it's very difficult to plan your way to success and achieve your most important goals. "Just start", take action now and learn as you go is the only way to try to keep up with the change that will keep poking you on your success quest.

The following is an extreme summary of what the beginning of your success quest should look like:

The steps to succeed in starting:

You Declare: "I Can Do It." You must believe in yourself with all your might. You need to dig deep and find the strength and self-respect needed to know that "you can do it." If you have to fake it that's okay. If you have to push through the fear and anxiety that's okay. We've all been there. You're not alone. The act of just starting will stimulate all your senses and the "I Can Do It" feeling will eventually appear and feel as if it was always there. Have faith. It will happen.

Personal Note: Remember when you were a kid and every year in September you had to start a new grade in school with new teachers and new classmates. This is no different.

Do your research: Acquire a basic outline for your new business or situation using the questions Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.

Remind yourself: "I Can Do It"

Just Start: Think Ready... Fire... Aim. Adjust as you go along. Always think "success". Be on the lookout for opportunities. For protection, keep a negative "what could go wrong" eye on your surroundings.

Remind yourself: "I Can Do It"

Good luck. Stay safe out there. Never give up on your dreams. Never. You can never fail if you refuse to give up.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-4-Most-Powerful-Words-That-Launched-the-Most-Successful-Companies-in-The-World&id=9396908

How to Influence People to See Your Side

Dale Carnegie once said in his famous book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, that the only way to make someone do what you want them to do or think the way you want them to think is to make them want to do it, want to change their mind.

People are naturally more likely to respond positively to your idea or point of view when it is not forced upon them. Have you ever tried forcing a student to do his homework when he just wants to play? He may do it because you 'made' him but he is not putting 100% effort into it nor is he going to agree that what you've asked him to do is for his best interest. Pressure and forcefulness inevitably will be met with a wall of defense.

Have you ever walked into a store and the salesperson is in your face trying to make you buy everything you touch? Did you end up buying anything from that store? Of course not. When you feel like you are made to do something, the instant reaction would be 'I don't want to' and it becomes exceedingly hard to change that mindset.

Now picture another scenario where you are in a store and the salesperson allows you to browse freely and only come up to you when you show interest. They compliment you on your choice of product. It was your choice to pick up that item and the salesperson is merely engaging in conversation to commend you on your impeccable taste. Was that person trying to make a sale? Of course but at the end of the day, you were made to feel like you were not being sold a product but rather, you 'bought' a product. It was your decision.

The best techniques to influencing a person's decision

Knowing that you need to persuade a person to want to do what you want them to or think the way you do is one thing but how do you start?

Avoid the answer 'no' and keep pressing for 'yes'.

Never straight out say 'this is what I think' and expect the other person to agree. You need to lead the conversation with questions to enable the other person to start saying 'yes'.

Your first few questions should be ones you know would get you a yes answer such as, 'This department has potential to double it's revenue this year, don't you think?' This would be something your boss would definitely nod his head to. Continue to lead with 'yes' questions and then throw in:

'If I can do xxx this year, sign xxx amount of contracts and get xxx on board with our company, do you think it would be worth $xxx?"

When someone has been giving positive affirmation, they are less likely to say no as their mindset is already switched onto an agreeable mode. It is similar to when infomercials continuously ask questions like:

"Are you sick and tired of wasting time vacuuming?"

"Is your vacuum cleaner just not doing the job?"

"Don't you want something that can cut your cleaning time in half?"

Answers? YES. YES. YES.

Do you want this brand new state of the art vacuum cleaner for ONLY $99.99?

More than likely, your mind is already leaning towards taking out your credit card. You don't feel like you've been sold something because you feel like you made the decision to BUY it and it was your decision alone to improve your home with this brand new product.

So the next time you are in a conversation to influence someone to your side of the table, start by getting them to say 'yes'.

It was never YOUR idea to begin with

While I was working in my day job, I could see there were things that needed changing in the current process but my manager was one who was quite proud of the process that he had implemented. Yet it was my colleagues and I who were suffering as we were directly affected.

We had brought up changes in the process and presented him ways we thought would be best but time after time, the changes were dismissed.

So I decided that I would just every so often drop hints of flaws in the current process casually during lunch or after work. Casually mentioning that one of the tasks was dependent on a certain procedure and it would be nice if 'this' and 'this' could happen instead. This went on for about 3 weeks until the next meeting when my manager presented us with his new idea for changes in the process.

It was what we wanted all along and of course, we praised him on how clever he was to have thought of the new idea.

If the end result is in your favour, does it matter who takes the credit?

So often, people want others to agree to their point of view to 'prove' that they are right but if your end goal is to influence the other person to see your view, does it matter if you were right all along? Don't set out to prove, set out to persuade and influence. You will find that it makes a vast difference.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Influence-People-to-See-Your-Side&id=9330834