Thinking Positively Gets you There

Someone defined 'positive thinking' as a mental attitude. An attitude that admits into the mind images, thoughts and/or words that encourage a positive worldview, that propels one towards the achievement of goals and success; it is, in sum; a 'never say die attitude'; and the ability to see the good part of every situation. Sure, that’s a lot of words to define one concept, but the fact is, it is well worth.

Optimism or positive thinking is one major trait that differentiates happy and successful people from timid, fearful and depressed failures. There would always be challenges in life, but the ability see through them and think positively determines ones success in life. A lot has been said and read about positive thinking, but am sure the topic is never oversaturated.

The following story I got from somewhere illustrates the power of positive thinking:

Allan applied for a new job, but as his self-esteem was low, and he considered himself a failure and unworthy of success, he was sure that he was not going to get the job. He had a negative attitude towards himself, and believed that the other applicants were better and more qualified than him. Allan manifested this attitude, due to his negative past experiences with job interviews.

His mind was filled with negative thoughts and fears concerning the job for the whole week before the job interview. He was sure he would be rejected. On the day of the interview he got up late, and to his horror he discovered that the shirt he had planned to wear was dirty, and the other one needed ironing. As it was already too late, he went out wearing a shirt full of wrinkles.

During the interview he was tense, displayed a negative attitude, worried about his shirt, and felt hungry because he did not have enough time to eat breakfast. All this distracted his mind and made it difficult for him to focus on the interview. His overall behavior made a bad impression, and consequently he materialized his fear and did not get the job.

Jim applied for the same job too, but approached the matter in a different way. He was sure that he was going to get the job. During the week preceding the interview he often visualized himself making a good impression and getting the job.

In the evening before the interview he prepared the clothes he was going to wear, and went to sleep a little earlier. On day of the interview he woke up earlier than usual, and had ample time to eat breakfast, and then to arrive to the interview before the scheduled time.

He got the job because he made a good impression. He had also of course, the proper qualifications for the job, but so had Allan.

What do we learn from these two stories? Is there any magic employed here? No, it is all natural. When the attitude is positive we entertain pleasant feelings and constructive images, and see in our mind's eye what we really want to happen. This brings brightness to the eyes, more energy and happiness. The whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even the health is affected in a beneficial way. We walk tall and the voice is more powerful. Our body language shows the way you feel inside.

Positive and negative thinking are both contagious. All of us affect, in one way or another, the people we meet. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through thoughts and feelings transference and through body language. People sense our aura and are affected by our thoughts. Is it any wonder that we want to be around positive persons and shun negative ones? People are more disposed to help us if we are positive. They dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity.

Negative thoughts, words and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions. When the mind is negative, poisons are released into the blood, which cause more unhappiness and negativity. This is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment.


Words For Today
People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday
regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past...
We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.
We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have,
and that is our attitude.
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me
and 90% of how I react to it.
And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.
Chales R. Swindol

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Gratitude

Gratitude is a commonly misunderstood concept. But without going into much detail, it suffices to say that gratitude involves showing appreciation for everything life has offered you; from the very minute to the very conspicuous blessing in your life. Gratitude enables us to reach down within us, it shows us the numerous blessings life has been generous enough to endow us with, and by these, gratitude lead us to contentment and happiness.

Gratitude is a commonly misunderstood concept. But without going into much detail, it suffices to say that gratitude involves showing appreciation for everything life has offered you; from the very minute to the very conspicuous blessing in your life. Gratitude enables us to reach down within us, it shows us the numerous blessings life has been generous enough to endow us with, and by these, gratitude lead us to contentment and happiness.

There are a lot of things in your life worth appreciating and until you look within and appreciate these favors, happiness would remain elusive. By appreciating what you are, you gain a better perception of yourself, instead of what someone else wants you to believe. It becomes easier to build courage and self esteem, you become capable of taking control of your life, instead of blaming everything on someone else; and consequently, you become a happier person.

In same light, by showing gratitude for what you have; the little successes you have had in life, it becomes easier to believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. You learn to magnify your little success, so that they overshadow your fear of failure. Success then comes to your more often and more easily and with this comes fulfillment and lasting happiness.

When you learn to show gratitude to the people around you, those inspiring smiles from your neighbor, that beautiful remark from your co-worker, those loving kisses from your spouse, all these come together, so that at the end of the day, you find yourself happier, more friendly to people around you and more lovable.

Gratitude opens the door to lasting happiness.

Starting from NOW, search within you everyday and find something to be grateful for. Write out every success you've had in life and remind yourself of these, every time failure stares you in the face. Don't let those inspiring smiles you get go unappreciated. Learn to smile more often, be more friendly, go out of your way to help people when the need arises. And before you know it, happiness would flow into your life and become a part of it.


Words for Today

Cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight
In the mind, and it fills it with a steady
And perpetual serenity
Joseph Addison


We secure our friends, not by accepting favors,
But by doing them
Thucydides

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Paths to Happiness [2]

Positive Attitude
We started on the 'Paths to Happiness' yesterday, and I said building the foundation for enduring happiness requires a positive self esteem. If 'loving yourself' and building a positive image of yourself prepares the foundation for happiness, then maintaining a positive attitude, at all times, builds a lasting structure on that foundation.

We all know that it is easy to 'feel good' about yourself and what you doing when things are going as planned, but what about when things get real bad. The real test of your faith in the self comes when failure hits you hard on the face; when something you've devoted your best to, suddenly comes crashing. While positive attitude is vital in our everyday life, it becomes even more important in situations like this.

People who have a positive view of life, who are optimistic enough to take everything life serve them; good or bad, with a smile and still move on, are the real 'happy people'. Someone once said 'the ability to see the good in every situation is worth more than a million dollars'.

However, positive thinking is not a thing you achieve overnight; it's a habit you have to develop. It takes faith and strong will to remain positive when things aren't so good, but it helps. When you can see a glass of water as 'half full', instead of ‘half empty’ and that, it is 'darkest just before dawn', a deeper understanding of life dawns on you. You feel empowered to take control of your life, and whatever happens, you'll still find the strength to believe in your life.

People that have developed a positive attitude towards life don't spend their life crying over failures; they learn from it and move on. They don't expect people to show them the path to follow; they take their lives as their responsibility and whatever happens, they don't blame anybody. They live their life 'one day at a time’; they don't worry about tomorrow’s challenges and refuse to cry over yesterday's failures. And the result is, they are always happy, healthy and successful.

Words For Today

Nobody has things just as he would like them. The thing to do is to make a success with what material I have. It is a sheer waste of time and soulpower to imagine what I would do if things were different. They are not different.
Dr. Frank Crane

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The Power in You

Napoleon Hill was damn right when he titled one of his best books 'Think and Grow Rich'. 'Thinking' the right 'thoughts' can indeed propel you onto wealth and fullness of life, if properly harnessed. But the right 'thoughts' won't bring you wealth alone; your entire life - finances, career, relationship and all, would do a lot better with positive and creative thinking. Your mind is the real power in you.

'Winners don't quit' is a popular maxim often thrown around, have you ever stopped to ponder the meaning of this statement? It means that only those who truly and practically believe in their dreams and in their ability to actualize these dreams, not minding the harshness of reality, would enjoy lasting success.

In most cases, 'quitters', are people who fail to harness their real power; people who cannot crystallize the beauty of their dreams in their minds, people who lack, or fail to develop the ability to believe in themselves and trust in their strengths. In short, people fail because they expect to fail. Search deep within you, you would realize that each time you failed at something, you were truly expecting failure; you were using the power in you against yourself. I don't know of a better definition for failure.

Some people would argue that realities sometimes defy optimism; that there are times you just can 'go on'. I would say reality exist on various planes, the only constant factor in life is your perception of, and attitudes towards life.

If for you, everything is bad, poor, gloomy and always end in failure; you would always see the 'bad' side of things as 'real' and failure at everything you set your hands on. But if you chose to live on a higher plane, if you believe there is good in everything, if you can hold a positive attitude no matter what life serve you, then you'll always find success, happiness and fulfillment with everything you do.

Funny enough, a pessimistic attitude creates its own false realities. With the wrong attitude, one challenging day is like a year of hardship. When you allow your mind to dwell on the problems before you, instead of finding a solution, the problems become larger than life and finding a way out appears to be impossible.

But with the right attitude, challenges are less intimidating, the mind can think clearly and it becomes easier to plan and execute a way out of the problem. The power in you is strong and effective, it can work for or against you; it's your choice!

The only time we fail in life is when we truly and fully believe we have failed.


Words for Today
Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal. Impatience breeds anxiety, fear, discouragement and failure. Patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to success.
Brian Adams

To die is nothing; but it is terrible not to live.
Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)

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