7 Tips To Help You Benefit From Positive Thinking

Copyright © Success Network Group
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I'm sure you have a bright idea hidden somewhere in the back of your mind that you just can't wait to test out. Of course you're not the only one with a bright idea. So what motivates you to crank out those creative, or even inspiring, juices to their utmost flavor?

It's always best to set up an achievable personal goal, where you can accomplish the most in record time, such as mowing the lawn in an hour. A correct and positive attitude in whatever you do will make life easier, and even enjoyable.

Here are some tips to help maintain a positive mental attitude. An idea takes time to form in your head and is always at work, even while you are busy just sitting.

Positive thinking can help you realize things that you never thought were possible. Thinking big is indeed the American way and that's what made our country prosperous!

1. Take passionate action towards living your life by design. Talk is cheap. Action = deposits in the bank and a passionately authentic future. Without it, passion is void.

This is a perfect example of what dreams are made of. You start by tinkering with your mind, then with your hands. And if the idea weakens, you can always go back to it later until you finish it.

2. Commit to yourself as well as those you love to create a powerfully fulfilling life you can love. Instead of reacting, commit to creating from your heart and soul, out of love rather than fear.

The dream will always be there, but a dream will still be only just a dream without activity and forward motion. Take action and you'll be amazed as the transformation begins.

3. Recognize and embrace the thought that each moment is perfect, regardless of its outcome. Every time you hit on something that may appear too extreme, why not give it a shot and see if it will work?

You will be surprised to see that there are other ways to get a task done in a reasonable time. If you are not pleased with the outcome, decide to use that moment to learn from and make the appropriate and required adjustments.

Failure doesn't have to be a negative thing. Use your failure to learn and grow … and to not do the same thing again!

4. Dwell completely in a place of gratitude. Learn to utilize what you have in your hands and make use of it in the most effective and constructive way.

Slipping into neediness will become less of a habit when you repeatedly shift towards gratitude. Stay away from a poverty state of mind.

Focus on what you want, not what you don't have! Whatever it is you focus on, that is what you will get.

Don't focus or think about not being poor, think about being rich! If you focus on not being poor, you will only attract negativity and will get more of the same … poverty. Focus on being wealthy and you will attract wealth!

Look at yourself every morning and every evening in the mirror. Tell yourself "I am successful!", "My bank account is overflowing!", "I have no financial worries!" etc.

You need to speak your future, not your present. You need to concentrate and focus on your future, not the situation you are currently in, otherwise your current situation will never change!

5. Use a Passion Formula of Recognize/Reevaluate/Restore in place of the Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda whirlwind. The former is based on increased knowledge and abundance while the latter focuses on scarcity and lack.

As you face people or tasks that may seem more difficult than climbing the summit of the Himalayas, allow yourself to realize that the task itself is just as important as delegating the task to the proper person who can manage it.

6. Keep humor at the forefront of thought, laughing at and with yourself when possible. You may find yourself quite entertaining when you loosen up!

Life has too much to offer for you to mope around in self pity. Humor is very attractive, very passionate: life-giving.

7. Believe that you are the architect of your destiny. No one can take your passionate future from you, except for you! Create your life authentically. As long as there's still breath in your body, there is no end to how much you can accomplish in a lifetime.

The concept of thinking big is all about enjoying your work. This will lead to celebrate a discovery that is born within your mind and then created with your hands. Watch everything flow into place with perfect, passionate precision.

It's interesting how people get hung up by something as trivial as learning to use a computer when nowadays computer companies are manufacturing software that even the kids can use.

I don't mean to be patronizing, but that's really just a result of not having any positive thinking in your life; you'll just end up as a dim bulb in a dark corner.

So instead of subjecting yourself to what you will be doomed for, set your own path by taking the first step with a positive attitude. Everything is possible and "What the mind can conceive, a man (or woman) can achieve!"


As Always ... Make it a GREAT day!

7 Tips For Stress Management

Copyright © Success Network Group
www.SuccessNetworkGroup.com


They say there's more than one way to skin a cat. The same applies when you start tearing your hair out with all the frustration, grief, anxiety, and yes, stress.

It's a state of mental conditioning that's like taking that bitter pill down your throat. It causes you to lose your sense of self, and worse, your sanity. Just thinking about it can drive anyone over the edge and out of control.

As one (ex)stressed-out person to another, I know how it feels. Believe me, there are many variants when it comes to stress. Coping with life, and carrying the problems that may or may not belong to you, can whittle away at the little joy and happiness that you carry once you head out that door.

You can't blame people for being like that; they have their own reasons, just like we have our own reasons for allowing stress to weigh us down too.

They say that stress is all in the mind. Ok ... so ... what's bugging you anyway?

There are several ways to manage stress, and eventually remove it from your life. So let's divide it into a seven different processes. I promise it's not going to be too taxing on the body or the mind.

1. Acknowledge that stress is good

Make stress your friend! Based on the body's natural "fight or flight" response, that burst of energy will enhance your performance at the right moment.

I've yet to see a top sportsman totally relaxed before a big competition. Use stress wisely to push yourself that little bit harder when it counts the most.

2. Avoid stress "sneezers"

Stressed people "sneeze" stress germs indiscriminately and before you know it, you're infected too!

Protect yourself by recognizing stress in others and limiting your contact with them.

Remember, in some of my other articles I mentioned getting the negativity out of your life? Disassociate yourself from negative people and things. It won't be easy, but just this one thing alone will relieve a whole pile of stress!

3. Learn from the best

When people around you are losing their head, who keeps calm? What are they doing differently? What is their attitude? What language do they use? Are they trained and experienced?

Figure it out from a distance, or sit them down for a chat. Learn from the best stress managers and copy what they do.

4. Practice socially acceptable heavy breathing

This is something I've learned from a friend of mine who is always at the gym: You can trick your body into relaxing by using heavy breathing.

Breathe in slowly for a count of 7 then breathe out for a count of 11. Repeat the 7-11 breathing until your heart rate slows down, your sweaty palms dry off and things start to feel more normal.

5. Give stressing thoughts the red light

It's possible to tangle yourself up in a stress knot all on your own. "If this happens, then that might happen and then we're all up the creek!"

Most of these things never happen, so why waste all that energy worrying needlessly? Focus on the task at hand, it'll all work out!

Give stress producing thoughts the red light and stop them in their tracks. Ok, so something might go wrong; but how likely is that, and what can you do to prevent it?

Relax and think logically about the situation! If something does happen to go wrong, look at it as a learning experience so it won't happen again!

6. Know your trigger points and hot spots

Presentations, interviews, meetings, giving difficult feedback, tight deadlines; my heart rate increases just writing these down! But they have to be done, so why worry about it? You'll do just fine!

Make your own list of stress trigger points or hot spots. Be specific. Is it only presentations to a certain audience that get you worked up? Does one project cause more stress than another? Did you drink too much coffee (I used to)?

Figure out how you can change these things so they are not a problem and not a cause for worry for you. You'll perform the task better, more professionally and with much greater ease without putting undue burden on yourself.

Knowing what causes you stress is powerful information. If you know the cause of your stress you can take action to make it less intense.

Do you need to learn some new skills? Do you need extra resources? Do you need to switch to decaf (I did and it helped immeasurably)?

7. Burn the candle at one end, not both ends

Lack of sleep, poor diet and no exercise all wreak havoc on our body and mind. Kind of obvious, but worth mentioning as it's often ignored as a stress management technique. Don't burn the candle at both ends; you'll be the one ending up getting burned!

So having stress can be a total drag, but that shouldn't hinder us in finding the inner peace of mind that we've wanted for so long. Learn how to manage your stress and you'll be so much the better for doing it!


As Always ... Make it a GREAT day!

10 Ways To Start Taking Control!

Copyright © Success Network Group
www.SuccessNetworkGroup.com


At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have nothing to do with one another. But many people with ADD develop negative thinking patterns because they become frustrated by their challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder for them to manage those challenges and move forward. This is not just true for people with ADD, but in all of us!

Practicing positive thinking allows people to focus on their strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. This, in turn, allows them to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:

1. Take Good Care of Yourself:

It's much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest.


2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For:

Stresses and challenges don't seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.


3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions:

A fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality. If you have a fear that a friend or family member's bad mood is due to something you did, or that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you when you turn your back, speak up and ask them. Don't waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.


4. Refrain from Using Absolutes:

Have you ever told a partner "You're ALWAYS late!" or complained to a friend "You NEVER call me!"? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like 'always' and 'never' makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering.


5. Detach From Negative Thoughts:

Your thoughts can't hold any power over you if you don't judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don't follow it. Think positive thoughts as often as possible!


6. Squash the "ANTs":

In his book "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life," Dr. Daniel Amen talks about "ANTs" - Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, such as "Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me," or "The boss wants to see me; It must be something bad!" When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!


7. Practice Lovin', Touchin' & Squeezin' (Your Friends and Family):

You don't have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up.

One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn't touch!


8. Increase Your Social Activity:

By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy, successful people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!


9. Volunteer for an Organization, or Help Another Person:

Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.


10. Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination:

If you find yourself constantly worrying about everything, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative. It's never productive, because it's not rational or solution-oriented, it's just excessive worry. Try changing your physical environment - go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.


When it comes to the corporate world, following protocol is pretty much the religion. Knowing what needs to be done is the basis of productivity, but interaction and having a steady mind makes for true productivity.

There are those who seem to work well even under pressure, but these people are the minority. We are all human and imperfect. To allow these little things like stress under our skin won't solve our problems. So why worry about it? Take control of yourself and the situations around you; you'll be much better off!


As Always ... Make it a GREAT day!