Who Are You? Your Identity Is Unique

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines the word "identity" as: "the fact of being who or what a person or thing is". Now that's a little confusing!

I have been thinking about identity and exactly what the word really means. You see, identity is complex and can change over time and circumstances. For example, someone with Alzheimer's disease loses their identity.

Here are some thoughts about some of the contributors to identity:

1. Physical - Our gender, size, colouring and features usually allow others to recognize us at first glance. What is not immediately evident, however, is our DNA or fingerprints, both of which are used in science as accurate methods of identifying a person.
2. Ethnicity - We learn from our surroundings and adapt language, customs and even superstitions from the caregivers who raise us. These usually are so interwoven into our being that they can remain for years or even a lifetime. Stigma and discrimination can be associated with one's skin colour, accent or habits when matched with someone who's opinion is biased.
3. History - All of our experiences contribute to our identity either because we learn from them or because we ignore them. When asked, each of us can share memories from our past that have influenced us one way or another.
4. Personality - As a psychologist, I know that how we think, what we do and how we feel interact every minute of every day. Those who think negatively about life usually feel afraid or sad and can either lash out or withdraw. On the other hand, those who think positively usually smile more, feel confident and take action even when there is some risk of failure.
5. Roles - Are you a parent? An employee? A neighbour? A volunteer? What roles do you assume? Frequently, other people identify us by our associations and the roles we play.
6. Beliefs -Some people believe that the world is a scary and unfriendly place. They feel like victims and can be overstressed with responsibility for everything that happens. Others view the world as a wonderful, friendly place and cherish each day. Those who have a spiritual faith usually take on a primary identity as a child of God.
7. Vocation - Our careers can provide a form of identity. We become the consultant, doctor, teacher, author, painter or whatever job title our workplace assigns.
8. Health - Good health is often taken for granted whereas those who are suffering from physical or mental disorders might assume the illness as an identity. They are referred to as stage three cancer, schizophrenic or special needs.
9. Focus - The things that we think about and in which we invest our time and energy can result in a title. One might become known as the gold medal winner, Order of Canada recipient, concert pianist, or decorated soldier.
10. Values - I remember my unmarried cousin who was Administrator of a large hospital. She was asked "What does your husband do?" When she replied that she wasn't married she was asked "What did your dad do?" It bothered her that she was not recognized as an accomplished professional by the person who obviously thought her value was based on the closest male figure in her life.

I know that true identity is a complex concept. I am not just Mark's mother. I am more than my laughter and my resume. My height is unique to me and my family history is powerful, but they do not solely define me. There is more to each of us than a few facts.

Sadly, I hear clients and friends talk about how important their career is and how busy they are because of it. Then they retire and within months they are struggling because there is such a gap in their lives that they feel they don't have an identity.

In the award-winning musical "Les Misérables" there is a beautiful song with lyrics that reveal the inner struggle of the singer. He is facing an ethical dilemma about revealing his true identity and how that will affect those around him. He ends his solo with the words "Who Am I? I'm Jean Valjean!"

Who are you? Are you a person who enjoys flowers and helps other people? Are you someone who is trapped in sad memories from your past that emotionally imprison you? Are you an example and inspiration to those who know you?

Perhaps you are like Jean Valjean, and don't know if you should let yourself and others see who you really are deep down.

Or maybe you just haven't totally figured it out yet?

https://ezinearticles.com/?Who-Are-You?-Your-Identity-Is-Unique&id=10141314

A Good Chance In Succeeding

We all want to succeed in life. There might be some people who are better than others but there are certain factors that determine just how successful we will become at reaching a particular goal or dream. We need to take charge of our life and never let anything hinder us.

In order to have a good chance to succeed, we need to know who we want to be and let go of our present self to be who we envision ourselves; find satisfaction in pursuing our goals; pursue a realistic goal that can improve our lives; think positively and let go of our fear of failing; acknowledge little rewards along the road to success; take responsibility for our actions and outcomes; build a strong support system and strong confidence and not to blame others for our lack of resources or accomplishments in life.

Another good chance in succeeding is to keep on trying. Success has something to do with how we react to our circumstances. It's actually a matter of attitude and principle. In order to be more successful, we must have a deep connection to the things we want to accomplish. We need to seek for something that is emotionally fulfilling like financial stability so we can spend more quality time with our family.

Many people feared to pursue something because of losing out on something else. Sometimes we think negatively when we consider pursuing a goal or dream. Most people think about all the negatives that may come along with that pursuit. Negative thinking is much easier to do than positive thinking, and those negative thoughts put fear in your heart which is detrimental to our success. When we develop our ability to look at things in a different perspective, we can increase your chances of success.

There are also times when people tend to quit before even starting. That is the reason why it is important to set up our goals. Let us focus on things that have short-term rewards. This will allow us to be more patient in reaching our goals. When we Improve this delay factor, improve our chances of success.

When we feel like we can't make something happen, it's easy to put the blame on other people rather than take responsibly for our lack of accomplishments. It's a well-known fact the we cannot control the situations that may arise in our quest, but we can control our actions.

We need also to improve the number of people who support us to increase our chances of succeeding. If we believe that we can do something, we won't mind the distractions that are holding us back and we can make it happen.

If we happen to have no available resources, we need not blame it to someone else because there is always a way to make a goal achievable. For example, seeking out new experience. The wider the range of experiences we pursue, the more we will be exposed to different people, lifestyles and perspectives. Seeking out new experiences means that we're willing to challenge ourselves and want to keep learning about the world around us.

When we have high expectations in life, the more we are disappointed if we cannot achieve them. We need to be open-minded. When we are open to possibilities without necessarily expecting anything immediately or directly in return, amazing things can happen.

We need to treat everyone we meet with respect. Each of them has something to offer. We'll be surprised at how many people are willing to support and follow us if we treat them with respect, regardless of what they've achieved or where they are in their life. To be successful, we all need help. People are dynamic and situations do change. We need not to be judgmental, we need to have friends and build network and linkages.

From time to time, we also need to share what we have. By doing this, we become better and we focus less on our own shortcomings. There's so much for us to appreciate in life even if our road to success has many stumbling blocks.

In fact, our mistakes can lead us to success if we learn from them. People who are willing to take risks inevitably make mistakes but have more chances in succeeding life.

People are often easily discouraged when they encounter difficulties in their pursuit to success. This article somehow provides some recommendations on how improve our chances of succeeding by never quitting.

http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Good-Chance-In-Succeeding&id=9553183

7 Easy Steps to Think Positive and Change Your Life

Positive thinking can add so much to your life - and now we know that positive thinking can add years to your life. When you think positive you get rid of stress and tend to live a healthier life and make better choices. If you're naturally a negative thinker, there are ways you can change that thinking and get on the path to a life-changing way of thinking.

If you really want to begin to think positively and change your life for the better, look at the following steps you can incorporate into your own lifestyle:

1. Be responsible for your thoughts. No one can tell you what to think or controls how you react to your thinking. When you begin to take responsibility for your thoughts, you'll face the reality of what they're doing to or for you and be more able to change those negative thoughts.

2. Plan to think positively. So many of our thoughts come from the subconscious mind. When you plan to think positively, you won't be as apt to take what you're thinking as reality. Instead, you have the time and opportunity to think it over and come to the conclusion that reflects the reality of the situation.

3. Avoid negative people. Negative people can ruin your best laid plans to think positively. They can feed the fire of self-doubt and anxiety. It can sometimes be classified as a crowd-mentality, so don't fall prey to it. Think for yourself.

4. Write down your thoughts. It's helpful if you can see at the end of the day what your thoughts have been. For awhile, take the time to write them down. You'll see what went wrong with your thoughts and be able to improve them.

5. Consider the repercussions. For example, if you have a deadline for an assignment and it becomes clear that you're not going to meet it, consider what might happen. If you finish it on time, it won't be as good as you wanted. If you take more time, it may cause other problems. Also, consider solutions. For example, you could ask for an extension to the deadline.

6. Minimise catastrophic thinking. Rather than thinking the worst about a situation, try to minimize it and lower your anxiety level by being practical about it. If you're susceptible to those thoughts, avoid situations (such as television news) that might cause of anxious thinking.

7. Live for the moment. When you spend too much time trying to guess or analyze the future, you'll convince yourself of failure - especially if you've failed in the past. If you think you'll fail, you probably will.

Accept the reality that you can control your thoughts. You'll become more empowered to face stressful situations in your life and to change the way you think. It will become easier to maintain a positive attitude the more you practice thinking positively.

However, if you want a life without doubt and fear and where neither anxiety nor emotional imbalance is affecting your life's outcomes; where your life is giving you:-

• Complete balance and harmony in your love life and your professional life.
• Emotional Freedom to feel at peace, calm and in control embracing who you are.
• Claiming and owning your personal power and;
• Believing and trusting in a future where you feel unlimited in what you can achieve.

http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Easy-Steps-to-Think-Positive-and-Change-Your-Life&id=9765675

Message From the Universe: The Origin of Your Thought Process

"Doesn't it happen like that? I mean, isn't your entire life proof?

One day you're scrimping, the next you're in the money.

One day you're lonely, the next you have friends.

Lost, then found. Ill, then well. Low, then high.

Yet with hindsight, it becomes ever so clear that the only thing that ever really changed was your thinking. Even though you were free to think as you pleased the entire time.

History need not repeat itself,

The Universe"

So what came first, the Chicken or the Egg? The negative thinking or the result thereof? Your thoughts are a predominant factor to what will happen to you in the near future, so even though we all know that life is like a roller-coaster, your thoughts do not need to be. No one has any control about how life will come at you, or the challenges you will need to face on a daily basis. No one can control if you will be ill or well, or if you will be rich or poor, regardless on how much you work hard. Life is not racist, nor religiously based. It will hit you whenever it feels like it. Most people will just say: "well, if I am predestined to get sick or be poor, why bother?". This is exactly when YOU should bother and prove that life will not bring you down. You need to really fight for what you believe in. Life is an entity in itself, and it will come and prey on the weak souls. Will you let it prey on you? Show life what you are made of and fight back until your last breath, because if you don't fight hard enough, it might just be. No one really knows what to expect when it comes to your life or anything else that might happen if you don't keep your thoughts under control. More you focus on the bad, more bad will come. The opposite is also true. However, how can you ask someone who is experiencing hell in their lives to think positively? How can that be feasible? My only guess is that you will be feeling lots of pain after getting heavily slapped by that person. No one wants to hear your preaching when they feel hopeless and why life is so vindictive against them. They all ask: "What have I done to deserve all this crap?"

The truth of the matter is that you haven't really done anything to deserve this kind of outcome, but the issue here is not what have you DONE, it's mostly what have you been THINKING. A combination of many negative thoughts coming in regularly can cause your demise. Let's put it this way. If you act upon something in a physical way, the results of your actions are tangible, visible and perceivable. However, your thoughts couldn't be seen or touched, they can ONLY be remembered, if you do recall them. The thoughts you have today will NOT be remembered in a month from now, as their outcome is not YET existent. Nothing really happened to you for your thoughts to be the cause of your existing misfortune. You are not experiencing any issues at this moment for you to recall these negative thoughts. The process (of thinking negatively) keep repeating itself as you don't think that your thoughts have anything to do with what you are dealing with. As time progress, you lose sight to your thinking and totally forget the content of your thoughts. You do not recall that your conscious mind is directly related to the experiences and challenges you are facing today. In retrospect, you are accusing others to being the cause of your misfortune. Sorry to be busting your chops here, but guess what? YOU ARE THE CAUSE. Starting changing your mind so all outcomes will become controllable by you ONLY. You need to change your inner thinking before understanding what can come next.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-The-Origin-of-Your-Thought-Process&id=9574732

Staying Motivated on the Job

From time to time, any worker can lose motivation on the job. It doesn't matter whether you work at a fast food restaurant or in one of the best law firms, a lack of motivation can happen any time and at any place. When you notice that you are lacking the motivation that you once had about your work, it is time to reflect and then take some actions to restore motivation and stay motivated.

Take Control Over What You Can

Take control over what you can in your work environment. Having a sense of control helps you to stay accountable and motivated. Even if you only have control over the most basic of things, take heart in it. Stop worrying about what you cannot control and focus on the positives. Seeing the good in your work environment will help you to stay motivated to come in and do your best.

Celebrate Your Accomplishments

No matter how small it is, celebrating an accomplishment is another excellent way to stay motivated. Did you get to work early every day for the past 30 days? Celebrate by stopping at your favorite coffee shop on your next day off. Did a customer tell your manager that you provided excellent service? Write down what the customer said and refer to it when you are feeling down. Even the smallest successes in the workplace will inspire you to achieve bigger ones.

Remind Yourself of Your Strengths

If you sense a loss of motivation, take a moment and reflect on your strengths. While most people are aware of their own weaknesses, it is better to think positively and focus on your strengths. Think of how to use your strengths to boost your motivation at work. Writing down a list of your strengths is helpful. From your ability to speak two languages fluently to your supreme organizational skills, write it all down. Then consider how you can use those strengths in the workplace.

Learn from Your Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. When you realize that you have erred, consider how you reached your conclusion. Think back to every decision and what you could have done differently. Don't dwell on the error. Learn from it. This will help you stay motivated to make better decisions in the future.

Consider Your Career Goals

Think of the work you are doing in your current job and how it will help you to achieve your career goals. Perhaps you are a cashier in a grocery store and your goal is to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. The skills that you are currently developing will help you to get there. For example, great people skills are always a plus. As a cashier, you interact with people all day. You assist customers with their purchases. Answer their questions. Explain store rules. All the while managing money and staying up-to-date with technology. Consider how those skills can be utilized as you advance to shift supervisor, department head, store manager and beyond.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Staying-Motivated-on-the-Job&id=9653880

How To Be More Optimistic

Research has repeatedly shown that people who think positively or those who are deemed as "optimists" tend to have happier, healthier, more productive lives.

If you are a pessimist, you possibly are pretty good at creating a worst case scenario out of any possible events.

For example, you get invited to dinner with a new co-worker and you imagine how awkward it will be and how this will turn into a tormented work relationship for the rest of your career.

OR you want to upgrade your style and look sexier but the mere thought of going out, choosing clothes, waiting in the fitting room line, changing sizes and queuing to pay turns you off.

OR your spouse and kids are excited about the summer trip to the beautiful Mal Dives but all you're thinking is about getting sunburn, food positioning and other life-threatening diseases.

While being negative can be a nice defense mechanism to avoid dangers, it will drastically deteriorate your quality of life from your relationships to your work, school, hobbies and sports. It's a depressing approach that doesn't serve you too much.

So how can we become more optimistic?

One of the tricks to changing your thought process from negative to positive is that you cannot try to be too happy.

In order to truly be happy, you have to stop trying so hard.

Instead of thinking about whether or not you are happier yet, be more engaged in things and fully present in the moment.

When you get fully immersed in something, it will help distract you from your negative thoughts.

Another trick to becoming more positive is to adjust your attitude.

Look for quick distractions to help you when you continue to have the same negative thoughts.

Try an activity that will demand all of your attention. Exercise classes such as yoga or kickboxing can be a great way to distract yourself. Exercise will help improve your attitude by releasing endorphins, or "happy hormones," into your body that can improve your mood overall.

One of the secret weapons of optimistic people is their ability to reframe problems.

When it comes to becoming more optimistic, it is about learning to reframe problems as they arise. Instead of beating yourself up when things go wrong, reframe it so that you're more compassionate and forgiving to yourself.

For example, if you are alone at a party and thinking that you are boring and no one wants to talk to you, try thinking about where the host of the party is and wondering why they have not introduced you to any of the guests.

While this method of looking for a scapegoat is not something a true optimist would do, it will give you a different outlook on the situation and can help you to find other solutions to the issue as you realize that you are not entirely to blame.

Of course, you are always 100% responsible for your life and you can't really push the onus to other people or situation. But for optimistic starters, it's a nice trick to alleviate most burdens you've been carrying for so long.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Be-More-Optimistic&id=9540730

How to Develop a Positive Attitude

Why are some people more successful, whereas others tend to be unsuccessful? Is there a gene that drives some people to be more successful or do people make themselves more successful? This is a contentious question today among people who want to be more successful and live a happier life. Self-improvement is a branch of psychology and it tries to find the answers to these questions. One of its recommendations for such people is positive thinking. Positive thinking is becoming a buzzword today. However, whether we know enough about it and we can implement it in our lives is still a big question mark. It is impossible to create a positive attitude overnight. There are some steps we need to take in order to create a positive attitude or to think positively. We should initially change our negative thoughts and attitudes into positive ones and then we should also adopt some habits that are essential to do so. After this, you will become a positive thinker.

                First of all, in order to create a positive attitude towards events, we should change some internal factors. One step is to forget about all negative thoughts and attitudes. These should be changed into positive thoughts and attitudes. For example, before doing a task which you have not experienced you should say ' This is a great opportunity to learn something new.' instead of 'I have no credentials and experience with this, so it will be a failure.' Of course this is just one step, consistency is also crucial for developing a positive attitude. You should never give up and you should disregard whatever other people say even if they label you as stupid.

                Secondly, some habits should also be changed so as to have a positive attitude. For instance, you should have a healthy diet and you should refrain from smoking and consuming alcohol. When you have done this , you will see that both your mind and your body will be healthy. In addition to taking on such healthy habits, choosing your friends with consideration of their implications for your positivity is also important. It should not be forgotten that your milieu has adverse effects on your mood and positivity. If you want to create a positive attitude, you should be with positive people, as they can contribute to your effort to develop a positive attitude.

                In conclusion, in today's world, where efficiency and success take precedence over anything else, having a positive attitude towards events and situations is very helpful. However, sometimes the circumstances that you are in may not let you create a positive attitude, but you should keep it in your mind that if a person really wants to do something, s/he will achieve it no matter what. Changing your negative thoughts and attitudes into positive ones and adopting new and healthy habits will assist you in creating a positive attitude.

http://www.articlesbase.com/goal-setting-articles/how-to-develop-a-positive-attitude-4391681.html

Message From the Universe: Forget About the How's!

"However do you do it? You know, talk, and make such sense? Walk, and not fall down? Ask, and then know the answer? Aim, and then deliver? Show up on time? Always get by? Make just enough?

How on earth?!

You don't know how, do you?

You haven't got a clue.

And that's exactly how you do it.

You leave the "hows" to Me, as you simply focus upon and move towards the end results.

You got this,

The Universe"

OK, so you figured it out, FINALLY! You dream, think positively, work towards your goals and let the Universe take care of the rest. You know how everything works but by having NO clue on how EVERYTHING really works, this is how things happen. It might seem confusing at first, but this is how you experience the real things in life. The day you stopped figuring out or trying to find reasons as to the impossibility of this or that happening, you opened the floodgate for the Universe to take action and bring you the most incredible outcome you ever imagined. Yes, it does take discipline to force your mind to stop asking questions as to how you will get this accomplished because it is not your job for you to get involved in the HOW'S of your dreams. You just think, focus, take action, and let the rest unravel in front of you. Procrastination becomes an obstacle, and not just in your actions but also for your thoughts. Letting things intimidate you because of the amount of work is not the way to go. The HOW'S to be achieved by the Universe will come to a halt and the Universe will stop processing your thoughts. Avoid this at all cost. Change how you perceive things and learn to delegate the big tasks to the Universe. It is not that difficult. Actually, doing so will allow you to dream bigger because your mind will no longer be concerned about what needs to be accomplished.

Just like a computer, when you write a script/code, you let the computer take care of the task that takes too much time or that is too boring for your mind. You set up a cron job and the computer will repeat these tasks over and over again until you ask it to stop. Wouldn't that be amazing? Well, why not let the Universe take care of these mundane responsibilities so you can focus on what you find to be exciting? The Universe is a processor of tasks so ask and you shall receive. Do not bother understanding the logistic because you will be wasting your time. The complex algorithm the Universe possess is far beyond what any human mind can comprehend. Scientists have tried to figure out more about the Universe and its beginning and did find some substantial answers on how our cosmos works in the grand scheme of things. The truth is that they haven't even scratch the surface to what is out there, and chances are, they will never be able to figure out all of what needs to be discovered. All is based on theories since nothing beyond the Hobble telescope discoveries can be proved. String theory, what was before the Big Bang theory, is based on what they can determine to be the truth but can't really prove. Their job is to figure it out and let the scientific community know about their recent discoveries. For us, we just focus on letting the Universe take care of OUR how's and let ourselves grow and prosper. There is no real mystery here Ladies and Gentlemen, it is just based on a mental perception on what you expect the Universe to do for you. Focus on that ONLY!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Forget-About-the-Hows!&id=9461509

Being Positive Means More Than Just WISHING!

Nearly everyone realizes how important it is, to maintain a quality, consistently positive attitude! The reality is you can't become the best you can be, until and unless, you seek the best way to perform, and focus on how you can, rather than why you can't! In my over three decades of involvement in leadership training, and personal development/ self - help, I have trained thousands to not only think positively, but to also arm themselves with the tools, to be ready, willing and able, to achieve, when others fail! Maintaining a genuine, positive attitude, means not only hoping and WISHING, but proceeding in a positive way, in everything you do, and focus on!

1. Wisdom, 5 W's: Just using rhetoric which sounds positive, is far different from truly maintaining that type of attitude! When it is accompanied with a commitment to achieving and performing, and one seeks knowledge and relevant wisdom, he propels himself to maximum greatness! Great leaders understand this, yet most of us, in our everyday lives, seem to permit our fears and insecurities overwhelm our positivity and forward - thinking! To do so, we must get into the habit of asking the right questions, including: who, what, why, where and when! Who will we trust and rely on, what are our real goals, why do we do what we do, where to start, and when will be proactively proceed?

2. Ideas - oriented; interesting: What are you really interested in, and why? Would others find you, and your ideas, interesting and worthwhile? How do you come up with your central ideas, and are you propelled and focused on concepts and ideas, or do you proceed by using, merely empty rhetoric, silliness, and popularity (or lack of stress, etc)?

3. Strategic; sustainable system: Just as in leadership, each of us must strategically plan, our personal goals and priorities. Are you goals - oriented, and do you look at the larger, more sustainable, future, or do you merely proceed day - to - day, constantly applying band - aids, rather than seeking solutions. Do you look to how to become your personal best, and believe you can, or do you just do whatever is easiest, least challenging, and settle for being mediocre?

4. Head/ heart; hear; heal: Being genuinely positive, does not mean being pie - in - the - sky, unrealistic, or a dreamer! Balance your logical and emotional components, listen effectively, and proactively heal wounds, both your own, as well as others, so you can become stronger and more effective!

5. Ideology; integrity: Do you believe the ideology you articulate? Can you maintain your absolute integrity, regardless of controversy, or ease/ comfort level, when others abandon (or never attempt) theirs?

6. Needs - centric: Have you identified what makes you happiest, and what your core needs, concerns and priorities, are?

7. Generate goodwill; get results; greatness: Do you inspire others by the level of your existence? Can you get desirable results, and do you consistently focus on greatness and quality?

You can try to, but you can't really fake being positive! Begin by realizing it takes far more than mere, WISHFUL thinking!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Being-Positive-Means-More-Than-Just-WISHING!&id=9344322

How To Be Confident At Work

We all have self doubts sometimes.

If your confidence is threatened, there are things you can always do to restore. Some of them are as follows:

- Be focused. When at work, it's always good to stay focused. Do what is required at the right time and with the correct practices.

- Ask questions. It is recommended to ask questions when you are not sure of what to do or when you're not familiar with the procedures. Ask questions about the quality of work you need to submit and how to be the best in what you do.

- Ask for feedback. Once you perform a task, it's polite to ask for feedback. This will help you to know if you are on the right track with task performances at work. You will also know how people regard your work.

- Accept mistakes. We are not always perfect. We all are human and we make mistakes. Accept your mistakes and work to correct them.

- Trust your gut. Think positively and trust your gut feelings. Most of the time they are right. It is always good to believe in your self and to believe in your work too.

- Find supportive workmates. It's good to associate yourself with positive people who well help you with challenges and build up on your self-confidence. They will also assist you whenever you need help without criticizing you.

- Boost your knowledge. At work, it's good to read a lot and research more to add knowledge. Knowing how certain processes and tasks are done will help you to be confident.

- Do personal training. Once you learn that you are not familiar with some procedures at work, it is good to self-train so that you are not stuck. Try doing tasks at work alone to see how well you can manage.

- Be positive. It's recommended that you think positively. Take your criticism positively and work on them. Negativity will only make things worse.

- Have fun. At work, make sure you enjoy what you do and have fun with it. It is not advisable to embark on work that doesn't make you happy as you will not be able to do your best in it.

- Be thorough. Go through your work, eliminate your mistakes and research well. When presenting you will be confident knowing you gave it your best and it's of the best quality.

Put a smile on your face, dress smart and be confident. Everyone will notice it.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Be-Confident-At-Work&id=9472789

How to Think More Positively…..and Flourish

If you are like most people, you are constantly looking for happiness outside of yourself – and coming up short. The good news is, whatever your current circumstances, you possess inside you what it takes to reshape your life and the world around you for the better.

Positivity reigns whenever positive emotions are triggered – like love, joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, and  inspiration –  all can open your heart. But good feelings come and go; negative thoughts and emotions will undoubtedly creep into your life. To flourish, Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D. in her book, Positivity, says what matters most is to increase your quantity of positivity to increase your positivity ratio. Barbara suggests aiming for a positivity ratio of at least 3 to 1. This means that for every heart wrenching negative emotional experience you endure, you must aim to experience at least three heartfelt positive emotional experiences that uplift you. This is the ratio that Barbara finds to be the tipping point, predicting whether people languish or flourish.

Humans are not static; we are either on a positive trajectory or a negative one. Either we are growing in goodness, becoming more creative and resilient, or we’re solidifying our bad habits, becoming more stagnant and rigid. People who flourish function at extraordinary high levels – both psychologically and socially; they are more creative, joyful, and playful; they are eager to explore, learn, and savor; they are more able to open their hearts and minds to the world around them. But flourishing is not just about making yourself happy; it’s about doing something valuable with your day and with your life. Learning how to flourish will give you your best possible life. Positivity will help you get there.

Barbara writes about ten forms of positivity that have been proven through research to color people’s day to day lives the most. Whether you experience positivity or not depends vitally on how you think. Positive emotions – like all emotions – arise from how you interpret events and ideas as they unfold; this dependence on thinking is what makes positivity so fragile; our minds can be overloaded with worries, doubts, and demands. People who enjoy the sweet fruits of positive thinking understand this simple truth – we all have the power to turn positivity on and off for ourselves; we all have the power to flourish. Experiment with turning on the following ten forms of positivity in your life right now:

1)     Joy. Visualize your surroundings are safe and familiar; things are going your way – even better than you expected. At the moment the situation requires little effort on your part; these are the circumstances that spark joy. Imagine you are out to dinner with good friends and delighted in their good company. Joy feels bright and light; colors are more vivid; there is a spring in your step; your face lights up with a smile and inner glow. What brings you joy?

2)     Gratitude. We can feel grateful for the clean air we breathe, the food available to us, our health and able bodies, our families and friends, or having a safe and comfortable place to live. In any case, gratitude comes when we appreciate something that has come our way as a gift to be treasured. Gratitude opens our heart and the urge to give back. When was the last time you expressed gratitude for all of the beautiful things in your life?

3)     Serenity. Like joy, serenity enters when your surroundings are safe and familiar and require little effort on your part. It’s when you lay back on a shaded hammock, stroll on a sandy beach, work in your garden, take a relaxing boat ride, or curl up next to a warm fire. Serenity makes you want to sit back and soak it in. How often do you treat yourself to serenity?

4)     Interest. When you are interested you feel open and alive. Something new or different draws your attention, filling you with a sense of possibility or mystery; you are utterly fascinated; it’s when you uncover a new set of challenges that allow you to build new skills. The intense pull of interest beckons you to explore, to take in new ideas, and to learn more; it’s invigorating and exciting. Are you placing yourself in situations to spark your interest?

5)     Hope. Deep within the core of hope is the belief that things can change. No matter how awful your situation is at the moment, things can become better; possibilities exist. Hope sustains you; it keeps you from collapsing into despair; it inspires you to plan for a better future. What hopes do you have for your future?

6)     Pride. Pride blossoms in the wake of an achievement for which you can take credit; you invested your skills and effort and succeeded. It’s that good feeling you get when your hard work on a project or toward a goal which has paid off. Pride carries with it the urge to share the news of your achievements with others. The mindscape of pride is expansive as well; it kindles dreams of further and larger achievements in similar domains. In this way pride fuels the motivation to achieve. What make you proud? What can pride inspire you to do?

7)     Amusement. Sometimes something unexpected happens that simply makes you laugh. What brings amusement? First, amusement is social; laughter is generally something we share with another. Second, surprises are only amusing if they are embedded within safe contexts. So heartfelt amusement brings the irrepressible urge to laugh and share joviality with others; shared laughter signals that you find your situation to be safe and lighthearted and you would like to use this time to build connections with others. How often do you enjoy amusing social time with friends?

8)     Inspiration. Inspiration is a response you feel to seeing someone else do something extraordinarily well. Feeling inspired rivets your attention, warms your heart, and draws you in. Inspiration doesn’t simply feel good, it makes you want to express what is good and do good yourself. It creates the urge to do your best so that you can lift yourself to higher ground. Inspiration is a form of positivity that pulls us out of our shell of self-absorption. Who has inspired you lately? How often do you make a choice to be inspired?

9)     Awe. Awe is closely related to inspiration. Awe happens when you come across goodness on a grand scale; you literally feel overwhelmed by greatness. Awe makes boundaries melt away and you feel part of something larger than yourself. Mentally you are challenged to absorb the sheer scale of what you have encountered; by comparison, you feel small and humble. Sometimes we’re awed by nature, sometimes by humanity. What has transfixed you with awe?

10)Love. Often in close relationships, good feelings of love can stir our heart when we feel safe. Love can be felt when we share amusement and laughter together, when we share our hopes and dreams for the future with someone, when another person brings us great joy. The feelings of love are present when we sink back into serenity with another person, when we are grateful for having a certain person in our life, when we are as proud of their achievements as your own, and when we are inspired by their good qualities. Each of these moments could be described as a moment of love. Viewing love in this way can sharpen your ability to see love as a momentary state – as a surge – and not simply a description of a relationship. You may have several intimate relationships where they are each viewed as producing recurrent surges of love. Think of times when you have felt love surge within you; become more aware of love surges in the future to build feelings of positivity and flourish.

We all have a surprising amount of control over the emotions we feel. To feel positive emotions, you simply cannot “will it.” You must instead locate one of several quite specific levers to turn on positivity. This means you can “think something” as well as “do something” to rouse positivity. Each of these ten forms of positivity holds the ability to broaden and build your life. Each lays a pathway toward your higher ground. And as your positivity ratio reaches its tipping point, each helps you to flourish.

http://www.personalgrowthapproach.com/happiness/how-to-think-more-positively-and-flourish/