Monday, July 5, 2010
Positive Thinking as a Precursor to Positive Action
With the unrelenting doom and gloom still a constant feature in people’s lives, it can sometimes be very challenging to maintain a positive mindset. However one of the greatest feel good boosters is a positive mindset, which subsequently can lead to positive change. This is particularly important in a difficult economic climate, because it still requires many people to make necessary and sometime life changes, to their personal and professional lives.
A positive mindset requires an individual to assess his/her situation through a realistic perspective in order to implement effective strategies that enable the facilitation of positive change. Consistently undertaking a mental and physical audit can lead to significant positive changes within short periods of time. This is as a result of adopting a proactive approach to any given situation which inevitably leads to greater empowerment.
To obtain real and longer lasting positive change, an individual needs to adopt a positive mindset, which is sustainable and consistent. Short positive bursts and temporary positive states of mind will not leave longer and sustainable positive changes. Instead, the danger here is that it will create even more anxiety and unnecessary frustration, due to inconsistency in effort.
It is imperative to point out that it is a futile exercise, to attempt to adopt a positive mindset, if this cannot be matched by the appropriate action. Even if there is an iota of dissonance in thinking and action, there will be no real authentic positive change. Why? This is because of a lack of self belief and the genuine desire to achieve positive change.
A positive mindset requires an individual to assess his/her situation through a realistic perspective in order to implement effective strategies that enable the facilitation of positive change. Consistently undertaking a mental and physical audit can lead to significant positive changes within short periods of time. This is as a result of adopting a proactive approach to any given situation which inevitably leads to greater empowerment.
To obtain real and longer lasting positive change, an individual needs to adopt a positive mindset, which is sustainable and consistent. Short positive bursts and temporary positive states of mind will not leave longer and sustainable positive changes. Instead, the danger here is that it will create even more anxiety and unnecessary frustration, due to inconsistency in effort.
It is imperative to point out that it is a futile exercise, to attempt to adopt a positive mindset, if this cannot be matched by the appropriate action. Even if there is an iota of dissonance in thinking and action, there will be no real authentic positive change. Why? This is because of a lack of self belief and the genuine desire to achieve positive change.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Courage to Break Away
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. (Psalms 27:1-2)
Sometimes pain can become too familiar. Ungodly relationship often become familiar. Change doesn’t come easily. Habits and patterns are hard to break. Sometimes we maintain relationships because we fear change. However, when we see our value the way Jesus sees us, we muster the courage to break away.
He will defend you before your critics. Now is the time for you to focus on receiving the miraculous and getting the water that you could not get before. He is loosing you to water. You haven’t been drinking for years, but now you can get a drink. With Jesus, you can do it.
Some of you have been a pack horse for many years. People have dumped on you. You’ve never been allowed to develop without stress and weights, not just because of the circumstances, but because of how deeply things affect you.
Our God, however, is a liberator.
Sometimes pain can become too familiar. Ungodly relationship often become familiar. Change doesn’t come easily. Habits and patterns are hard to break. Sometimes we maintain relationships because we fear change. However, when we see our value the way Jesus sees us, we muster the courage to break away.
He will defend you before your critics. Now is the time for you to focus on receiving the miraculous and getting the water that you could not get before. He is loosing you to water. You haven’t been drinking for years, but now you can get a drink. With Jesus, you can do it.
Some of you have been a pack horse for many years. People have dumped on you. You’ve never been allowed to develop without stress and weights, not just because of the circumstances, but because of how deeply things affect you.
Our God, however, is a liberator.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Your Mindset Determines Your Life
To keep at the top of your game you have to keep a clear head.
You can't afford to fill up on news and negativity. The world's overflowing' with it and the only way to be a winner is to be in control of your thoughts.
Your thoughts become words, your words become actions and your actions become your destiny. Someone else came up with that, but I've always remembered it because it's true. Our actions show who we truly are and how shallow or deep our character is.
Where you are today is a direct reflection of the words, thoughts and actions you took days, months and years ago. No matter how much some people blame their parents, teachers, where they grew up, television, the government or anything else, the truth is that nobody got them where they are today but themselves. The longer we choose to not take responsibility for our lives, the longer we'll living uninspired lives that we don't love.
I've heard 40 year old adults who complain about their lives and take no responsibility for what they've created. Give me a break. If you think you're on the receiving end of life you're mistaken and too lazy to do anything about it.
Simply think about the pictures you've seen on TV of people in third world countries. When I start to get mad about having to stand behind two people in a line at the grocery store I remind myself that a lot of people don't even know where their food will come from tonight. This shifts me from anger to gratitude.
The next time you notice yourself getting frustrated or angry about something in your life I invite you to shift your focus onto what's great in your life. It doesn't matter if you think you don't have enough money or you're mad at your dog for chewing up a shoe. Remember how much love you get from having your dog in the first place and how your weekly earnings are more than some people make in a month or year.
Keep your focus on what is working - for you and for others. We are bombarded with negative input all day long. We need to watch what goes in because our livelihoods depend on what we creatively crank out. Our heads need to be full of positive inspiration or free space where we can dream.
A recent study revealed that the people who watch the most television news are the most fearful in our society. Crime has been going down in America for over a decade, but since the news focuses on it and repeats it over and over, a lot of people are receiving multiple messages that the world isn't safe. These people end up being less confident and less successful as a result of being emotionally paralyzed to a degree by their fears.
Remember the old phrase "garbage in, garbage out"? If you Were asked to be on television based on the person you are today would be on Jerry Springer or Oprah?
Yeah, I know. You're probably laughing or snickering right now.
I can practically see that questioning look of disbelief on your face.
You may even think that you wouldn't be on either one. Just imagine that there's a guy at your door and he's going to put you in a limo right now and you have to pick one show or the other to be a guest on or you'll be locked in your house for a month. (It's silly, but you get the point, I want you to get into it).
There's a definite difference between Oprah guests and Jerry's guests. Oprah's guests radiate confidence and have taken responsibility for their lives and have created lemonade out of lemons. Jerry's guests radiate low self esteem and think they're victims of life. Even worse, they think they have a right to inflict their negative self-defeating attitude on others.
Oprah people know that they're on the creative end of life.
Jerry people choose to think they're on the receiving end of life. And the truth is that if that's what they believe then that's what they get. It's an easy cop out to settle in life and a lot of folks do it.
It's important to keep a positive mental attitude no matter what your life is like because nothing is more important than your thoughts. They determine how you'll experience the next minute, hour, day, week, year, decade and century. Rid your life of people and circumstances that don't inspire and enliven you.
Life's simply too short to put up distracting drama and complainers who never change anything.
We all throw around phrases about how life is too short, but we don't live that way. Take at least one action today to reaffirm that you're creating a life you love.
Fire a friend who drains your energy. Read from an autobiography of a person who inspires you. Turn off the TV and write your goals and values. Take a walk in nature or with a friend who supports the best in you. Write a note to someone who has impacted your life in a positive way to let them know you're grateful for having them in your life. Rub your dog's belly and watch a doggy smile of ecstasy come out to greet you.
You're building a powerful future. Study successful people and you'll notice they all surround themselves with other inspired and successful people. Your life is your show, choose to be an Oprah person and avoid the Jerry people who show up in your life. Or better yet, treat the Jerry people you meet like they are the Oprah person buried inside them so we can all shine together.
Let your positive mental attitude infect everyone you meet and we'll all enjoy better lives.
You can't afford to fill up on news and negativity. The world's overflowing' with it and the only way to be a winner is to be in control of your thoughts.
Your thoughts become words, your words become actions and your actions become your destiny. Someone else came up with that, but I've always remembered it because it's true. Our actions show who we truly are and how shallow or deep our character is.
Where you are today is a direct reflection of the words, thoughts and actions you took days, months and years ago. No matter how much some people blame their parents, teachers, where they grew up, television, the government or anything else, the truth is that nobody got them where they are today but themselves. The longer we choose to not take responsibility for our lives, the longer we'll living uninspired lives that we don't love.
I've heard 40 year old adults who complain about their lives and take no responsibility for what they've created. Give me a break. If you think you're on the receiving end of life you're mistaken and too lazy to do anything about it.
Simply think about the pictures you've seen on TV of people in third world countries. When I start to get mad about having to stand behind two people in a line at the grocery store I remind myself that a lot of people don't even know where their food will come from tonight. This shifts me from anger to gratitude.
The next time you notice yourself getting frustrated or angry about something in your life I invite you to shift your focus onto what's great in your life. It doesn't matter if you think you don't have enough money or you're mad at your dog for chewing up a shoe. Remember how much love you get from having your dog in the first place and how your weekly earnings are more than some people make in a month or year.
Keep your focus on what is working - for you and for others. We are bombarded with negative input all day long. We need to watch what goes in because our livelihoods depend on what we creatively crank out. Our heads need to be full of positive inspiration or free space where we can dream.
A recent study revealed that the people who watch the most television news are the most fearful in our society. Crime has been going down in America for over a decade, but since the news focuses on it and repeats it over and over, a lot of people are receiving multiple messages that the world isn't safe. These people end up being less confident and less successful as a result of being emotionally paralyzed to a degree by their fears.
Remember the old phrase "garbage in, garbage out"? If you Were asked to be on television based on the person you are today would be on Jerry Springer or Oprah?
Yeah, I know. You're probably laughing or snickering right now.
I can practically see that questioning look of disbelief on your face.
You may even think that you wouldn't be on either one. Just imagine that there's a guy at your door and he's going to put you in a limo right now and you have to pick one show or the other to be a guest on or you'll be locked in your house for a month. (It's silly, but you get the point, I want you to get into it).
There's a definite difference between Oprah guests and Jerry's guests. Oprah's guests radiate confidence and have taken responsibility for their lives and have created lemonade out of lemons. Jerry's guests radiate low self esteem and think they're victims of life. Even worse, they think they have a right to inflict their negative self-defeating attitude on others.
Oprah people know that they're on the creative end of life.
Jerry people choose to think they're on the receiving end of life. And the truth is that if that's what they believe then that's what they get. It's an easy cop out to settle in life and a lot of folks do it.
It's important to keep a positive mental attitude no matter what your life is like because nothing is more important than your thoughts. They determine how you'll experience the next minute, hour, day, week, year, decade and century. Rid your life of people and circumstances that don't inspire and enliven you.
Life's simply too short to put up distracting drama and complainers who never change anything.
We all throw around phrases about how life is too short, but we don't live that way. Take at least one action today to reaffirm that you're creating a life you love.
Fire a friend who drains your energy. Read from an autobiography of a person who inspires you. Turn off the TV and write your goals and values. Take a walk in nature or with a friend who supports the best in you. Write a note to someone who has impacted your life in a positive way to let them know you're grateful for having them in your life. Rub your dog's belly and watch a doggy smile of ecstasy come out to greet you.
You're building a powerful future. Study successful people and you'll notice they all surround themselves with other inspired and successful people. Your life is your show, choose to be an Oprah person and avoid the Jerry people who show up in your life. Or better yet, treat the Jerry people you meet like they are the Oprah person buried inside them so we can all shine together.
Let your positive mental attitude infect everyone you meet and we'll all enjoy better lives.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Just Hold On
Like a desperate sailor trying to plug a leaking ship, Job frantically cast back and forth in his mind, looking for some shred, some fragment of hope, to plug his leaking ship. Exasperated, he sullenly sat in the stupor of his condition and sadly confessed, “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there.” (Job 23:8a) “I can’t find Him where I thought He would be.” Have you ever told yourself that the storm would be over soon? And the sun came out and the sun left, and still the same rains beat vehemently against the ship. It almost feels as if God missed His appointment. You thought He would move by now! Glancing nervously at your watch you think, “Where is He!” Remember, dear friend, God doesn’t synchronize His clock by your little mortal watch. He has a set time to bless you; just hold on.
Someone once said that studying the past prepares us for the future. It is important to look backward and see the patterns that cause us to feel some sense of continuity. But Job said, “Looking back, I could not perceive Him” (Job 23:8b). “Why did I have to go through all of this? Is there any reason why I had to have this struggle?” Quite honestly, there are moments when life feels like it has all the purpose of gross insanity. Like a small child cutting paper on the floor, there seems to be no real plan, only actions. These are the times that try men’s hearts. These are the times when we seek answers! “God, if You don’t fix it, please, please explain it!” We are reasoning people; we need to know why. Isn’t that need one of the primary characteristics that separate us from animals and lesser forms of life? We are reasoning, resourceful creatures. We seek answers. Yet there are times that even after thorough evaluation, we cannot find our way out of the maze of happenstance!
Someone once said that studying the past prepares us for the future. It is important to look backward and see the patterns that cause us to feel some sense of continuity. But Job said, “Looking back, I could not perceive Him” (Job 23:8b). “Why did I have to go through all of this? Is there any reason why I had to have this struggle?” Quite honestly, there are moments when life feels like it has all the purpose of gross insanity. Like a small child cutting paper on the floor, there seems to be no real plan, only actions. These are the times that try men’s hearts. These are the times when we seek answers! “God, if You don’t fix it, please, please explain it!” We are reasoning people; we need to know why. Isn’t that need one of the primary characteristics that separate us from animals and lesser forms of life? We are reasoning, resourceful creatures. We seek answers. Yet there are times that even after thorough evaluation, we cannot find our way out of the maze of happenstance!
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