Showing posts with label your attitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label your attitude. Show all posts

Living a Purposeful Retired Life Depends on Your Attitude (By Wendy Fisher)



MY REFLECTIONS on a Purposeful Retired Life, to be used as YOUR OWN AFFIRMATION... if not, rewrite it and use it until your thoughts and attitude changes! Best Wishes!

As a retiree, When I view the world with a positive attitude, good things happen. I see more opportunity everywhere. I am blessed!

My door is half open. Because I see the door as half open, I believe it is opening instead of closing. This is my decision. Many view that door (and life opportunities) as closing, but I choose to see it opening instead.

I see many opportunities in life to help others, becoming purposeful in my retired world. I enjoy helping others, and that gives me purpose to my days.

Optimism is perception.

I begin to view life in this same manner.


  • My glass is half full, new friendships are beginning to take form, tasks are being completed, new adventures are just around the corner, and life is good.
  • Each day, I move closer to my retirement goals. I enjoy new challenges because obstacles are meant to be overcome. I help others with simple phone calls to find help for my retiree friends. I take the initiative to contact whomever is needed to find solutions to life challenges.

My perception, in turn, affects those around me. Instead of letting the door close, I hold it open for others. I encourage them to view opportunities in a new, positive light.

Every open door is an opportunity, regardless of how much it is open. I choose whether this door is meant for me, or someone else. I have control over my life to make such decisions - while continuing to help those around me.

Challenges are like doors. When I find myself in front of a closed door, I am certain that I can figure out how to open it. If the door is locked, I search for the key. Maybe I have the key. Sometimes, I need to ask others for the key. I do the work necessary to open that door.

Today, I perceive everything with a positive attitude. Each task, opportunity, or challenge is a door half open, and it is up to me to walk through.

As Nancy Sinatra said long ago: "These boots are made for walking... "

Self-Reflection Questions:


  1. How do I overcome negative perceptions (both mine and those of others)?
  2. Who inspires me to think positive?
  3. How can I inspire others to be optimistic?



http://ezinearticles.com/?Living-a-Purposeful-Retired-Life-Depends-on-Your-Attitude&id=9205424

Message From the Universe: When SMILING Gives You Wings! Or Is That Redbull?


"Did you know that the average person looks 793.7% more attractive when they smile?

Not to mention healthier, wiser, slimmer, richer, and cooler.

They do.

And smiles "become things" too, 
The Universe"

Not surprised at all with that statement. People are more attracted to people who smile vs people who frown. Unless you are a miserable person, you will be attracted to people who live a miserable life and share their sorrows and ungratefulness to the rest of the world. There are plenty of them with this kind of approach to life and how many more can they bring with them to the abyss of depression. It is really your choice to decide what path you would like to take. Believe me, the opposite direction to depression and sadness and misery is always the better one. Change your perspective, change your life forever and decide today to make a change for the better. Your attitude will change accordingly as you will not let the little things bother you any longer. You will look at life with eagerness and joy. You will not allow the small things bother you, nor the big things either. All great challenges in life are dealt better when being calm, stress free. When something happens out of your control, there shouldn't be any apparent reason why you should panic because this event would have occurred no matter what, because it was meant to be, regardless of how much you tried to avoid it or control the outcome. You need to learn to live with it and construct ways to control your feelings and emotions to properly find logical solutions.

It may be hard to smile when dealing with crap on a daily basis, I agree with you on that one. Just look at it this way. Don't you sometimes come across someone who behaves so immaturely towards you and is so stupid that you can't help yourself from laughing, even if their stupidity costs you time and energy or money? Their stupidity is out of your control, obviously, but you learn to accept it or not deal with that person any longer. So you just deal with the damage done and move forward. So let's consider life events to be stupid and immature and having to deal with them with damage control in mind. Life events are out of your control so the only thing you can actually do is just laugh at the situation and figure out how to alleviate the damages. Not much else you can do but once you have mastered this process, I can assure you that your smile will come back and you will attract more good things in your life that will make you forget the bad ones.


http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-When-SMILING-Gives-You-Wings!-Or-Is-That-Redbull?&id=9517744

Feeling a Little Off? Try These Affirmations


Everyone has days when we're not feeling 100%. I get tired, or grumpy, or just irritated with stupid people/things/circumstances. And I get impatient with the things that I really want to change that haven't yet. I wonder if I'm ever going to get out of my office job... which every single day feels more like a prison. I don't feel quite so young, or invincible. Do you ever have days like that, Dear Reader?

It would be easy on those days, to stay in bed, and eat donuts...

I don't recommend it, however. That just feels too much like giving up, and it goes against every fiber in my body. Instead, I have a checklist of sorts, that I run through to guide me out of self-indulgent wallowing, and back to what I think of as "myself."

Let me digress, for just a moment, and tell you what that means to me. I think the way we view ourselves is such an essential part of the way we interact with everyone else. I see myself as a buoyant person, someone who rises to the top in any given situation. I am happy, positive... I'm passionate, and determined, and unstoppable when focused. That's how I see my "true" self.

But on my grumpy, foggy days, I'm not quite so sparkly, and I'm less focused in general. I do well when I know why things are happening. So, my first order of business on off days, is to figure out the reason(s) I might be feeling this way.

Did I get enough sleep?
Am I hungry/thirsty?
Is someone bothering me, and why?
Sometimes, something someone said/did or something I said/did will bother me and I'm not really sure why. Sometimes, it's because I'm not entirely sure if I've offended someone. Sometimes it's because I'm afraid I may have made a fool of myself. Sometimes, I'm irritated because I've perceived some slight or insult. And usually, unless it's pretty blatant, it'll just sit in the back of my head like a little piece of sand that is irritating without being really obvious. But if I think about it for a minute, and I realize what's bothering me, it's much easier to let that embarrassment/irritation go. That's weight I don't need to be carrying around. If it's something I know I need to apologize for, then I do it. Usually, it's a matter of sending a quick text or email, or making a call. An apology goes a long way. And if that's not really necessary, if I just need to forgive myself or forgive someone else for being inconsiderate, or rude, or just plain dumb, then I take a deep breath, and let it go. I imagine a bird flying right out of the top of my head. Give it a try, it's liberating.

Most times, the reason for the fog I'm feeling can be addressed by one or more of those questions. Next, I get to work pulling myself up by my bootstraps. Because why would I want to waste time feeling anything less than amazing? I walk myself through a series of affirmations. I love affirmations. You're the one with constant communication with yourself, that's a powerful tool!

The way you talk to yourself is a central, key part of your attitude and ultimately, your success. Now, if you've never talked to yourself intentionally, it feels a little funny at first. A little practice goes a long way!

Most of us don't even realize how we're talking to ourselves. The things we think about ourselves are a result of habit, and what we've taken from what other's say about us. But the reality is, we each have tremendous power, and it starts with how we're speaking to ourselves. If you're not intentional in what you say to yourself, it's time to take control. Here are some of my favorites.

I am a beautiful person. I think so many times we (especially women!) can think this and include everything but our physical bodies. Dear Reader, I believe everyone can be beautiful, physically, and spiritually. It all starts with how you feel/think about yourself. Women struggle with this sooooo much. Ladies, you are beautiful... and your men agree with me! Be brave, little piglet... go to the mirror, and find three things that are beautiful. Every morning, I wake up and I'm grateful for a beautiful body that is strong. I'm grateful for beautiful hair, and skin/teeth/nails. And I tell myself all those things are beautiful. Does everyone have to agree with me? Nope. I'm speaking to myself here... and here's the important part, I let myself believe it and feel that it's true. That's where the magic starts to happen.

I deserve to be happy. In fact, I deserve everything I want in life: love, happiness, success. This one gets after my habit of shame and guilt, and I can tell you, it's been a long road to actually believe that I deserve those things. But I am worthy (that is such a charged word!) of all of those things and so much more. Take a deep breath and tell yourself that one. Feel it in your roots, it feels amazing.

The universe is full of infinite abundance, and opportunities. There's plenty of room at the top. This one is aimed, in particular, at my competitive side. Here's the thing with competition, it teaches us that there's only room for one at the top. It teaches us that when one person succeeds, it means it's because everyone else did not. But that's a myth, Dear Reader. It's just not true. That's a limiting thought, and I don't have time for limitations. There's plenty of room for my success at the top, and that's where I'm headed.
Each of those is very personal. Your affirmations should be tailored to your weaknesses, and your goals. Taking that first step of taking control of the messages you're sending yourself is a huge step in the right direction. What do you do that works for pulling yourself out of a funk?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Feeling-a-Little-Off?-Try-These-Affirmations&id=9329396

How to Become More Innovative



Can you be more innovative? To be honest, I don't know. I think 40 percent of the population can never be good at innovating, regardless what they do. The 10% population are born to innovate. They always knew what they want to do and how they can achieve it.

The rest of 50 percent could learn to be good at innovating if they can persuade their brain to ignite their light in the dark, rather than waiting to be rescued by others.

Innovation is not only about technology. You can innovate in any field of work or every aspect of your lifestyle. For example, Facebook and Google treat their employees better than any other company. Management invented a unique way to motivate employees.

So how to become more innovative - Here is how

Observe and ask questions

Make this a habit. Whenever you discover something new, observe and answer three questions.


  • Why would anybody use or buy this service/product?
  • Would you ever purchase this service/product? And why
  • How can you improve it?

By answering these questions, you are developing your mind to be more innovative. Don't be afraid to sound stupid when you answer. You will learn along the way.

Be critical when answering these.


Aim to solve problems


The invention is useless if it cannot solve problems. Every invention in history had a purpose, a way to solve problems.

How to find problems?


  • Talk to people
  • Think about different ways to make life easier
  • Research failed projects and the intention behind it

Once your mind is set to solve problems then you will start generating quality and new ideas. This exercise will make you more innovative.

Think about problems you tackle every day.


List 10 ideas every day


I list ten ideas every morning because that's when my brain can unleash its full power. You should do it at the time best suits you.

Here is a trick: Don't think you can't do it, Just do it. Grab a pen and paper, and start writing your ideas.

It can be anything you like or want to change such as:


  • How to make life easier
  • How to sell more products
  • How to improve business contacts
  • How to improve SMEs profit
  • How to improve health with little spending on personal coaching

List all the ideas you can think of even if it has been invented. You might want to improve on an exciting idea.

Let's do the maths ten ideas a day for the whole year

10x365 = 3,650 ideas a year

If you have over 3,000 bad ideas, 500 ideas are already out there you still have over 100 ideas to choose from.

You only need one idea to take you where you want to be.

Change your attitude

If you want to become an innovator you need to change your attitude.

STOP saying you "can't"

START saying "can if"

These words should eliminate from your brain if you want to think and become an innovator.


  • "I can't do it"
  • "It won't work"
  • "I am not sure"
  • "He/She can do better than me"

When you have a problem or can't understand things then it is easier to walk. Next when you have a problem or can't understand do things differently.


  • Start mind mapping on how to solve
  • Learn in a different way
  • Ask for help

From today start to sentences like "I can if... " rather "I can't because... "

Take action

You can read thousands of articles, read many books, ask for advice but it will not happen until you take an action.

How many times have you decided to lose weight, read articles about losing weight, asked for advice, and joined the gym.

After one month you did not lose any weight, why? Because you had the knowledge but you never put into action.

Once you have decided it do something, even if you die doing it, it should be fine with you.

Innovators take action. They are committed to their work, ideas, and will stand by it even if they die.

Simply because they believe they can do it.

"Whatever your mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve regardless of how many times you may have failed in the past." By Napoleon Hill.

Most people do not develop themselves and enhance their skills. It is because they don't know how to reach next level.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Become-More-Innovative&id=9276024

Message From the Universe: You Are ALWAYS a Winner!


"Most don't stop to think but both having money and not having money make fantastic adventures possible that wouldn't otherwise be possible.

Same for having and not having anything else.

Everyone's a winner in time and space, 
The Universe"

The Universe doesn't discriminate, either race or religion, color of skin or sexual orientation, it just DOESN'T care. Your thoughts are created by you, whoever you may be. You communicate with the Universe about what you want, regardless of your status. You want money and power? Make sure to be clear with your intent. Do not mix the good thoughts with the bad ones as the Universe may be confused as to what you really want or what you really deserve. Many mentors I have met in the past have always shared with me the Fake it until you make it approach. I am not saying to be a fake individual, I am just mentioning that your attitude will change with the feelings you are experiencing at that exact moment. If your feelings are of wealth and abundance, or if you visualize the path you are taking as that present time will guide you to ultimate wealth, you need to act upon your thoughts and believe it will happen. Just try it, and you will see what I am talking about. There is no reason why others made their dreams a reality, they all have the same organs, eyes, heart, lungs and brain to make all of their dreams come to reality. They are not designed differently besides their thought process. They think differently and act accordingly. So why not you?

There is no doubt that the successful people out there are wired differently. They will experience hell like every other person but what makes them different is overcoming hellish moments but come out a winner. Tough times last because you allow it to happen. After the rain comes the sunshine, unless you live in Seattle and rain last 360 days a year, but hey, you may still have 5 days or sunshine right? Look forward to the good and handle the bad. If success was easy, everyone would go for it but as you can see, not many experience great success in their lifetime. Who is to blame for that? Certainly not anyone else. Take action of your own present, because the past is already done, and the tomorrow has not yet happened. So what is left? You know the answer to that one!


http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-You-Are-ALWAYS-a-Winner!&id=9510712

How To Gain The Confidence To Live A Remarkable Life



On A Wing And Prayer

A remarkable life begins with the intention to cast away the bowline on your former life, in exchange for new beginnings.

Whilst you may not know the steps required, you recognise your current experience is not what you want.

Once you state your intention to change your circumstances, the pieces of the puzzle will come together.

Most journeys are lined with detours, dead ends and eventual success. Our voyage comprises peaks and turning points where we confront our demons, only to rise above them.

"Your attitude and how you respond to both opportunity and setbacks are critical to pivoting. You need to develop habits that help you foster a positive mind-set, help you understand yourself, and increase your sense of control over your life," affirms author Adam Markel in Pivot: The Art and Science of Reinventing Your Career and Life.

We must assume responsibility for our future which means accepting everything that arises along the way.

Nothing is gained overnight. Where success comes fast, it can be easily squandered, so don't be in a haste to upgrade your life sooner. It's not how fast you reach your destination, but the lessons and experiences that matter.

The Value Of Connections

We cannot create a remarkable life without the help of others. As social creatures, valued relationships can propel us to new heights.

My greatest life experiences resulted from connecting with people whom I thought had little to offer. However, they imparted precious wisdom and knowledge when I needed it most.

Similarly, it's vital you surround yourself with people who sympathise with your cause and don't sabotage your plans.

The world is full of detractors and cynics, unable to pursue their dreams. They may have failed and will insist you cannot succeed either.

Steer clear away from them. Grave diggers, as I call them, will find every excuse to convince you it can't be done.

"The truth, in spite of what we might believe about remarkable people, is that you cannot master a skill on your own. Finding your calling will not happen without the aid and assistance of others. Every story of success is, in fact, a story of community," states author Jeff Goins in The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do.

Humility and kindness will take you far because you never know when your circumstances will change. To repay the services of those who help you or by paying it forward, is something we must take into account.

Unearth your innate confidence, irrespective of the reality you face. This leads to a resolute conviction because you discover the essence of your nature in moments of determination.

Failure and rejection become your allies since anything of value requires: commitment, dedication and time.

Fear vs Faith

Don't allow your fears and insecurities to cripple you.

Ninety percent of the world's population don't take action on their dreams because their fears overpower them. Gradually, the years slip away and they've achieved little, much to their regret.

They entertain disempowering thoughts that keep them safe within their comfort zone.

Yet, a safe refuge will seldom award you a remarkable life. It's the assurance of an average life which I'm sure is not what you want.

"Who we are and where we want to go determine what we do and what we accomplish. A life lived on purpose is the most powerful of all- and the happiest," state authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan in The One Thing: The surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results.

An extraordinary life is created by conceding parts of our life that are not working while attaining something greater.

To discover your calling is essential if you seek to align with purpose. Hidden in these treasures lies your passion, instead of a career or a job you loathe.

Those who pursue their purpose have an unwavering commitment to serve others and are pulled by the exuberance for life.

"You're either remarkable or invisible," declares author Seth Godin in his bestselling book, Purple Cow.

Follow Your Calling

I appreciate the notion to answer our calling since it's grounded in purpose and intention, key aspects of universal wisdom. A calling can be as minor as writing poetry for family and friends or as grand as humanitarian efforts in third world countries.

Don't succumb to those who advocate your calling is less than glamorous because if it resonates with you, there's a good chance you're following it.

There's talk nowadays of pursuing happiness, that it's now become a first world problem. At least we've reached the consensus, material possessions do not equate to fulfillment.

The greatest source of happiness arises from a focused purpose. It entails attending to big picture issues instead of trivial ones that occupy your time and energy.

You must trade the familiar for the uncertain and be guided by the appeal of the journey. For when you jump, the net will appear, but not a moment sooner until you take the plunge.

The promise of a remarkable life is a journey of self-discovery. It sets the intention and the seed of opportunity for the next phase of your life. You won't know what the imminent future holds until you start out on the path.

Author Michael Neill reminds us of a wonderful message in his book The Inside-Out Revolution: The Only Thing You Need to Know to Change Your Life Forever, "How things ultimately turn out isn't up to us. It never was. But if we do our bit and play our part, it's remarkable how far we can go."

You Have What It Takes

Don't despair, you're well adapted to surmount any circumstances life presents. All your needs have served you from birth until now and will continue to serve you as long as you maintain trust.

It's not important what a remarkable life looks like, however we must believe it's attainable. We should allow life to show us how to merge into this future and be willing to embrace what arises.

Don't become a bystander, waiting for circumstances to change or improve. Enter the arena as a gladiator and assuage your fears while silencing your doubts.

To the victor goes the spoils.

Spectators are self-imposed critics who sit on the side-lines, while others take massive action to create extraordinary circumstances.

Life is too precious to be an onlooker.

Author Jeff Goins reminds us again that the luck is something we create, "What makes a person successful, then, is not the luck, but what he or she does with it. Opportunities come. The question is what will you do when they arrive? Successful people are just as "lucky" as the unsuccessful. The difference is they do something remarkable with their lucky moment while the rest of the world sits around, waiting for the next lucky streak to come."

To live a remarkable life entails immense personal growth and self-improvement. The person you are now, is not the person you will become.

For success is a by-product of inspired action.

So, cast away the bowline and set your sail to navigate towards a prosperous future.

You never know where it will take you and that's the greatest adventure we can embark on - trusting in ourselves and living to serve our needs.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Gain-The-Confidence-To-Live-A-Remarkable-Life&id=9515923

How to Put the Sparkle Back in Your Relationships



How well do you get on with other people? Do you find the world an unfriendly and hostile place or are most people helpful and friendly towards you? Whichever world you experience, you will find that your relationship with yourself governs all your relationships. How can this be? Your thoughts and emotions mirror your world so if you are feeling upbeat you are likely to perceive things in a positive light and this will affect your attitude to everything and everyone around you.

Gandhi said: 'Be the change you want to see in the world'. In the context of relationships you could ask yourself: 'How do I want to be? Friendly? Aloof? Hostile?' Try adopting one of these attitudes and see how other people treat you! I guarantee that each attitude will produce a different reaction from people you meet, so if you are friendly you will find that others are friendly to you.

How can you use this knowledge to put the sparkle back in your relationships?

I suggest you start in a small way. Aim to brighten someone's day when you meet them. This might just be smiling and passing the time of day with a complete stranger or paying a compliment to someone who is serving you in a shop. Challenge yourself to see if you can make them smile!

Then move on to people you meet more regularly, such as colleagues and social acquaintances. You may not particularly like them or find them easy to get on with so they are excellent people to practise on. Be different in the way you interact with them and see what happens. Think about what you want to achieve each time you meet and work out how you need to act or be to get your desired outcome. If it appeals to you, treat it as a scientific experiment.

We generally make friends with people whose interests and values we share and these friends satisfy some of our emotional needs, in just the same way we do for them. If you feel you would like to be closer to a friend, be bold, open and a little vulnerable and do something to become closer to them. Don't wait for them to make the first move.

Family relationships may be difficult - especially when a child becomes a teenager who knows everything and regards their parent as an old-fashioned person who knows nothing. Try to think about what the teenager really wants and try to provide it (and I'm not talking about iPods, CDs and trainers here). Listen carefully to what they are saying and what they are not saying. They may want some boundaries or even your approval. See if you can put yourself in their shoes and imagine how you would react to what you are proposing to say to them. You could try some different scenarios to find out which one would work best.

Perhaps your most important relationship is with your partner. Think what you want from the relationship. What would you have to do to be the perfect partner for your partner? You could focus on the relationship itself and give it its own identity so that you consider how your behaviour would affect it. Thinking like this can eliminate the personal power struggles that often damage relationships. Perhaps it's time to put pride aside and be the first to start living a new way.

If you treat yourself with respect, kindness and compassion, you will find this is reflected in your relationships which will sparkle! Enjoy it!

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Put-the-Sparkle-Back-in-Your-Relationships&id=9381089

Living a Purposeful Retired Life Depends on Your Attitude (By a Retiree)

MY REFLECTIONS on a Purposeful Retired Life, to be used as YOUR OWN AFFIRMATION... if not, rewrite it and use it until your thoughts and attitude changes! Best Wishes!

As a retiree, When I view the world with a positive attitude, good things happen. I see more opportunity everywhere. I am blessed!

My door is half open. Because I see the door as half open, I believe it is opening instead of closing. This is my decision. Many view that door (and life opportunities) as closing, but I choose to see it opening instead.

I see many opportunities in life to help others, becoming purposeful in my retired world. I enjoy helping others, and that gives me purpose to my days.

Optimism is perception.

I begin to view life in this same manner.

  • My glass is half full, new friendships are beginning to take form, tasks are being completed, new adventures are just around the corner, and life is good.
  • Each day, I move closer to my retirement goals. I enjoy new challenges because obstacles are meant to be overcome. I help others with simple phone calls to find help for my retiree friends. I take the initiative to contact whomever is needed to find solutions to life challenges.

My perception, in turn, affects those around me. Instead of letting the door close, I hold it open for others. I encourage them to view opportunities in a new, positive light.

Every open door is an opportunity, regardless of how much it is open. I choose whether this door is meant for me, or someone else. I have control over my life to make such decisions - while continuing to help those around me.

Challenges are like doors. When I find myself in front of a closed door, I am certain that I can figure out how to open it. If the door is locked, I search for the key. Maybe I have the key. Sometimes, I need to ask others for the key. I do the work necessary to open that door.

Today, I perceive everything with a positive attitude. Each task, opportunity, or challenge is a door half open, and it is up to me to walk through.

As Nancy Sinatra said long ago: "These boots are made for walking... "

Self-Reflection Questions:


  • How do I overcome negative perceptions (both mine and those of others)?
  • Who inspires me to think positive?
  • How can I inspire others to be optimistic?


http://ezinearticles.com/?Living-a-Purposeful-Retired-Life-Depends-on-Your-Attitude&id=9205424

Want to Be Happier? Ask Yourself This Question Every Morning

Albert Einstein called this "the most important decision" we make in our lives.


When you first wake up, what pops into your mind?
Do you start thinking about all the work you have to do? The emails you have to reply to, the pile of paperwork on your desk that has to be completed, or maybe it's the housework that still needs to get done?
Or...
Do you think about the things that make you happy? The kiss your little boy or girl is going to give you before heading out to school, the hug your partner will greet you with when you come home, or the fact that, even though you may not have everything you want, you're doing just fine?
Albert Einstein once said,
"The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or a hostile universe."
Is the world you live in hostile or friendly? How do you look at it? It's up to you to decide.
Every single day I make that decision.
I wake up and ask myself: "Do I live in a good world or a bad world?"
Whether you view your world as good or bad impacts your attitude as you go about your day. Remez Sasson puts it another way by saying that positive thinking "...brings brightness to the eyes, more energy, and happiness."
It makes you more understanding when things happen that you didn't necessarily expect.
Someone cuts you off in traffic? It's okay. At least they didn't hit you, causing you to be late for your appointment and forcing you to deal with your insurance company, starting the lengthy and often frustrating process of getting your vehicle repaired.
Tourist walking slowly in front of you on the streets of New York City? Have patience! Take in the sights and smells and enjoy your "extra" time. (I had to add this one to remind myself.)
By starting your day with a conscious decision that the world is good, you're less likely to react in a negative way when things happen that you didn't plan. You have a little more patience. A little more hope.

Good begets good.

Plus, how you view your day right at its onset also affects how many good things will happen to you as the day progresses.
Susan Reynolds, co-author of Train Your Brain to Get Happy, says that "feeling pleasure can be so stimulating for your brain that it is primed to respond to pleasure in a way that reinforces that pleasure."
In other words, the more good you search out in this world, the more good you'll receive in return.
When you wake up and choose (consciously or unconsciously) to live in a "bad" world, you go through your day much differently. You feel frustrated when you wind up behind somebody who's walking super slowly or if you get stuck in traffic. Standing in line at the store feels like an eternity and everything you do seems ten times harder.
Nothing works out like it should and you're constantly waiting for things to go wrong (which they usually will) -- things that "prove" that the world is a hostile place.

It's good for you physically, too.

Choosing to think positively provides a lot of great health benefits as well.
It reduces your risk of depression, decreases your anxiety, and even makes you more resilient against whatever bug is going around. People who look at the bright side of life tend to live longer, and they have an easier time coping with the stressors that ordinary life has to offer.
Look, I know it's really easy to get stuck and stay stuck in negativity, especially with everything going on in the world. You can't go through your social media feeds without seeing quite a few posts of all of the things that are "wrong."
But feeling that way keeps you from being happy. It keeps you from reaching higher levels of success because negative thinking has been linked with a reduced ability to think, be creative, and even respond to life in an emotionally healthy way.
If you want to be your own personal best, thinking positive first thing in the morning is the way to get there.

How to start your day more positively.

If you're new to this whole "positivity" thing, here are some tips to help you focus more on the good than the bad:
  • Choose words and statements that reflect a positive attitude: "I will have a good day" or "I'm excited about what lies ahead today."
  • Focus on things that make you happy:"I look forward to seeing my kid's school play tonight" or "I can't wait to see where this project at work takes me!"
  • Appreciate the good things in your world: "I'm thankful for my health, the fact that I can pay the bills, and that I have such a wonderful family!"
  • Spend more time with positive people, making it easier to be positive yourself!
It's never going to be 100 percent, but if you focus on the good just a bit more than the bad, you're making progress. It's all about baby steps.
So when you wake up tomorrow, ask yourself this question:
"Do I live in a good world or a bad world?"
And I want you to remember that you have a choice. Do yourself a favor and choose the good. It will make you happier and healthier.

"When you wake up every day, you have two choices. You can either be positive or negative; an optimist or a pessimist. I choose to be an optimist. It's all a matter of perspective."
Harvey Mackay
http://www.inc.com/chris-winfield/want-to-be-happier-ask-yourself-this-question-every-morning.html

The 10 Most Effective Ways to Finish What You Start

I have been the champion of the fizzing out game. My father would joke that I would start anything new with enormous enthusiasm and fervor but somewhere along the way, it would fizz out and I would leave it midway. This habit even got in the way of things I actually wanted to do since I started doubting myself for the genuineness of my effort and desire to perform.
We all experience this at some stage. We start off with a brilliant idea full of energy and enthusiasm but somewhere along the way, this energy fades away and we lose sight of the end goal.
It is this ability to follow through each project; task and goal at hand that differentiates an ordinary idea from a brilliant and successful one.
There are many benefits that explain the importance of seeing things till the end:
1. Making it a point to always finish your tasks speaks volumes of your attitude and defines your character.
2.  It is a lesson in self-awareness which introduces you to your own capabilities, forces you to confront your weaknesses and fears head on and makes you learn valuable lessons to grow better with each task.
3. It instills confidence in other people about your abilities and they see you as accountable, professional and responsible.
4. Completing your tasks and making sure you tie up all loose ends leaves you with true inner peace and adds purpose and meaning to your life.
5. Seeing something through to the end paves the way for your next job.
But that leaves us with the question that if finishing is so important, what are the reasons behind the ever increasing burn outs?
Main barriers/Factors:
1.    Wrong time allocations/ No time allocations.
Every project or any task has 4 main phases – Idea, planning, execution, Finish.
But an idea cannot be planned infinitely or executed forever….spending too much time in developing the idea or planning can lead to the idea (and the enthusiasm) dying out. So can a lengthy execution phase!
Solution: Allocate equal amount of time for each phases. Once the time is over, move on to the next and then the next. Maintaining a rhythm will keep the momentum going and ensure the idea not dying out at any one stage
2. The perfectionist block.
A lot of people give up things in the middle that they consider they cannot perform too well at. In such cases, finishing seems like submitting yourself to judgement and a potential situation in which you may be criticised, looked down upon or poorly judged by others.
Solution: You may finish a task still doubting your own performance but the important thing is that you finished and if you do realize you could have done better, then consider this as an opportunity to learn and receive valuable feedback which you can apply to your future performances.
3. Choosing the wrong starting points.
Sometimes people do not reach their finishing points because they choose the wrong starting ones. Many a times the major reason for giving up things sooner is not based on lack of focus, time or laziness but an offspring of undertaking the wrong projects.
Passion plays a very important role here because if you do not have a compelling reason to finish the task and aren’t driven to move towards the finishing line, you are more likely to fizzle out.
Solution: Before you take up a task or a project, ask yourself….” Why am I doing this?”…if the answer is based on some external factors that you don’t feel too strongly about and differ from your own purpose, chances are you won’t be able to carry it out
4. Fear of failure.
Stalling or putting things off to be done later can also be caused by lack of confidence in one’s own abilities and the consequent fear of failing if they were executed. I gave up my swimming classes midway not because I didn’t want to learn how to swim but I feared that the further I proceed in the course , the more I would lack behind compared to other students because mentally I just couldn’t imagine myself being able to swim.
Solution: When I confessed my fears and doubts about my imaginative incapability to swim with my father one evening, he simply shrugged and pretended as if this was the easiest problem in the world and said “so what, at the worst, your fears would come true and you would not learn how to swim even after the course ends….but then again it would still be a better experience than not having tried at all.” It is always a better option to finish things than to leave them midway for the sake of gaining experience if not results.
5. Size does matter.
Sometimes the task at hand is so tedious and demanding that we shy away from them. It is almost the same procrastination that we practise before initiating a project. Does that mean we should not be taking up big projects or difficult goals?
Solution: The key to handling such big projects is to break them down into smaller, actionable and achievable tasks and activities and then allocating a definite time frame for completion to each of them. Dividing a big project into small categories and further sub categories makes you get a hold of things and the activity becomes less intimidating and more achievable.
6. Multi – directional goals.
It is the same as moving in all directions but getting nowhere. Taking up to many tasks or projects especially if they are unrelated can exhaust you physically and mentally. If you have more than you can chew, it is highly likely that you won’t see any of your projects to the finishing point.
Solution: Take up one project or activity at a time, focus 100% on it, turn down other tasks explaining your situation, move in one direction and totally commit to the one task you are engaged in. Finish the task at hand before taking up another.
7. Underestimating the length of the task.
Sometimes we take up long-term projects but lose interest midway because with time our interests, inspiration and goals get new meanings. “We get up one morning and suddenly find ourselves wondering “why we took up this project in the first place.”
Solution:
It’s absolutely normal to feel like giving up because you no longer feel driven to move ahead. It is thus very important to
1) Plan out the time schedule for project completion in advance so that you have your expectations right. Not a very thorough or accurate analysis but just a rough estimate to put things into perspective early on.
2) Keep end goal in mind always, remind yourself everyday what you set out to achieve.
3) Regularly track your progress, and to make sure you are in line with your schedules and deadlines you set out for yourself.
4) Celebrate every little success and achievement along the way to keep yourself motivated.

8. Shutting out the distractions/interruptions.

Finishing is all about maintaining focus. To ensure a focussed approach and to put on board your best performance, all distractions should be moved out of the way. The radio playing in the background can hamper your performance without you even realizing it.
Solution: When you sit down to finish a task, turn that radio/tv off, close all other windows on-screen except the one you are working on, logout of all your social media and chat accounts and for some time mentally close your to-do list in your head.
9. Flowing but not moving.
It is easy to be blown away trying to keep up with simple things like a job, house work and your daily routine. Your ever-growing To- do list ensures that you completely lose track of how life is moving and just keep switching from one task to another without realizing your actual goal.
Solution:
Take charge: First things first, don’t be over whelmed. If there is a lot to do, don’t keep it in your head, jot it down in your little notebook or feed it in your phone. Next assign a time for it to be done. Be a self-starter, design the first working hour of the day to set the right tone for the rest of the day by planning your day’s to-do. The best way is to start with what you left unfinished the day before. Finish each day and be done with it.
10. Nothing is trivial.
Sometimes we are so focused on the end goals that the smaller tasks at hand that are required to be finished seem too trivial to be worked at. We keep ourselves busy tracking schedules, planning, attending meetings that the smaller tasks get ignored but in the end it is these little loose ends that crop up and stop us from finishing what we started.
Solution: Remember, it is the small steps that lead to the biggest destinations of our life. It is important to attach the same amount of importance with every task that you take up for it is these small steps and the little goals achieved on the way that pave the way for bigger achievements.
For e.g. If you cannot stick to the small goal of lowering your sugar intake every day, it would be impossible to achieve the higher goal of losing weight or shaping up in the long run.
When you connect back the dots keeping the end goal in mind, you would realize the importance of even the smallest jobs.
Apply these small tips to the new projects you take up in your life, and experience the joy of finishing!