We hold a silent conversation with ourselves many times in the day. Some experts even said that we have these silent conversations for about 50.000 times a day. This “selftalk” has a direct effect on our thoughts and behaviors.
Self-talk is the inner monologue (and sometimes dialogue!) when confronted with a situation. What we silently say to ourselves about the events we experience influences us in many profound ways. Selftalk changes what we see and hear around us, what we feel within us, and what we remember when we look back on the experience.
Have you ever heard about self fulfilling prophecy? Self-talk is very much like a self-fulfilling prophecy—something you think about a lot can actually make it happen. When your self-talk is positive—“Things will work out,” “I know I can do the job”—you’re giving yourself permission to succeed and chances are you will. You ordered your subconscious mind to provide you all the resources to succeed. When your self-talk is negative—“I know I’ll have a terrible time,” “I’m not good enough to be a supervisor”—you’re giving up on yourself and chances are you won’t even try to succeed. Because you’ve ordered your subconscious mind to let go all the chances to succeed.
Self-talk can direct your thoughts and behavior. If you think, “I know I can do the job,” you’ll be more willing to apply. During the interview, you’ll be more likely to show confidence in yourself and your abilities, and have a better chance to succeed. But if you say to yourself, “I’ll never get hired for that position,” you may not even apply, guaranteeing that you won’t get the job.
So, it is very important to “rewrite” all negative self-talks with a positive ones. The idea is to erase the mental “tapes” you normally play for yourself when confronted with stress, and replace them with new ones.
There are several thought patterns that we usually have, especially the negative ones, such as:
1. Black or white thinking (You’re either perfect or a total failure!)
· I am from a small town and everyone else is from a larger city. No way can I compete with them
· Now it’s my turn. I have to show them how good I am.
2. Catastrophic Thinking (Exaggerating the significance of one single event!)
· This is the most embarrassing moment of my life!
· No one has ever insult me such a way as he’s just did to me!
3. Pessimistic Thinking (Seeing only the negatives and assuming the worst!)
· I’ve never have good friends before. What makes me think I can start now?
· I know I can’t do it! It’s just a waste of time.
4. Self-fulfilling Prophecy
· If I eat one serving of ice cream, I know Iwon’t be able to stop.
· I can’t start my daily activity without a cup of coffee.
5. Should Statements (Being ruled by a rigid set of rules!)
· I should have practiced more. Now the chance has gone.
· I shouldn't eat after 6:00 p.m. or else all the calories will turn to fat.
6. “It’s-not-my-fault” Thinking (Shifting responsibility for your behaviors!)
· If it wasn’t for her, I would be the one at that position.
· I can succeed if I have more time.
7. Mind Reading (Assuming people are thinking the worst about you!)
· No one would be interested in what I say
· See.. they’re all looking down on me.
8. Discounting (Can’t accept positive feedback!)
· Who does he think he is, trying to give me some advice? Huh?
· I know he is not trying to give me feedback. He’s trying to embarrass me during the meeting.
9. Comparing (Always comparing self to others!)
· No matter what I do, he will be always one step ahead!
· Yes, you can do it because you have more resources than me
The way to induce positive thinking and eliminate negative thinking is simple. First, you have to beware of your self-talk. If it is a negative self-talk, then STOP IT!! Say to yourself right away, “STOP!!”
Then replace the negative self-talk into positive ones. At first, maybe it will make us feel a little awkward. We cannot actually choose the words we are going to say everytime, even to ourselves, because it comes out just like that. It lies in our daily habit. But never mind, if we keep on practicing it, then soon a new habit will replace the old one.
Every habit can be learned. First, we form the habit, and later it forms us, and therefore forms our life. But the most important point is that it was previously formed by us. So, we can change it. It’s our choice. And surely it is our choice to walk path to success in every aspect of our life.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Positive Self Talk - The Way You Talk To Yourself Can Determine How You Succeed
We hold a silent conversation with ourselves many times in the day. Some experts even said that we have these silent conversations for about 50.000 times a day. This “selftalk” has a direct effect on our thoughts and behaviors.
Have you ever heard about self fulfilling prophecy? Self-talk is very much like a self-fulfilling prophecy—something you think about a lot can actually make it happen. When your self-talk is positive—“Things will work out,” “I know I can do the job”—you’re giving yourself permission to succeed and chances are you will. You ordered your subconscious mind to provide you all the resources to succeed. When your self-talk is negative—“I know I’ll have a terrible time,” “I’m not good enough to be a supervisor”—you’re giving up on yourself and chances are you won’t even try to succeed. Because you’ve ordered your subconscious mind to let go all the chances to succeed.
Self-talk can direct your thoughts and behavior. If you think, “I know I can do the job,” you’ll be more willing to apply. During the interview, you’ll be more likely to show confidence in yourself and your abilities, and have a better chance to succeed. But if you say to yourself, “I’ll never get hired for that position,” you may not even apply, guaranteeing that you won’t get the job.
So, it is very important to “rewrite” all negative self-talks with a positive ones. The idea is to erase the mental “tapes” you normally play for yourself when confronted with stress, and replace them with new ones.
1. Black or white thinking (You’re either perfect or a total failure!)
· I am from a small town and everyone else is from a larger city. No way can I compete with them
· Now it’s my turn. I have to show them how good I am.
2. Catastrophic Thinking (Exaggerating the significance of one single event!)
· This is the most embarrassing moment of my life!
· No one has ever insult me such a way as he’s just did to me!
3. Pessimistic Thinking (Seeing only the negatives and assuming the worst!)
· I’ve never have good friends before. What makes me think I can start now?
· I know I can’t do it! It’s just a waste of time.
4. Self-fulfilling Prophecy
· If I eat one serving of ice cream, I know Iwon’t be able to stop.
· I can’t start my daily activity without a cup of coffee.
5. Should Statements (Being ruled by a rigid set of rules!)
· I should have practiced more. Now the chance has gone.
· I shouldn't eat after
6. “It’s-not-my-fault” Thinking (Shifting responsibility for your behaviors!)
· If it wasn’t for her, I would be the one at that position.
· I can succeed if I have more time.
7. Mind Reading (Assuming people are thinking the worst about you!)
· No one would be interested in what I say
· See.. they’re all looking down on me.
8. Discounting (Can’t accept positive feedback!)
· Who does he think he is, trying to give me some advice? Huh?
· I know he is not trying to give me feedback. He’s trying to embarrass me during the meeting.
9. Comparing (Always comparing self to others!)
· No matter what I do, he will be always one step ahead!
· Yes, you can do it because you have more resources than me
The way to induce positive thinking and eliminate negative thinking is simple. First, you have to beware of your self-talk. If it is a negative self-talk, then STOP IT!! Say to yourself right away, “STOP!!”
Then replace the negative self-talk into positive ones. At first, maybe it will make us feel a little awkward. We cannot actually choose the words we are going to say everytime, even to ourselves, because it comes out just like that. It lies in our daily habit. But never mind, if we keep on practicing it, then soon a new habit will replace the old one.Every habit can be learned. First, we form the habit, and later it forms us, and therefore forms our life. But the most important point is that it was previously formed by us. So, we can change it. It’s our choice. And surely it is our choice to walk path to success in every aspect of our life.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Positive Self Talk
One of the most powerful influences on your attitude and personality is what you say to yourself. It is not what happens to you, but how you respond internally to what happens to you, that determines your thoughts, feelings, and your actions. By controlling your inner dialogue, or your “self talk,” you can begin to assert control over every part of your life.
Your self-talk determines the majority of your emotional life. The words that you use to describe what is happening to you, and how you feel about external events, will trigger the emotions of happiness or unhappiness that you experience. When you see things positively and you look for the good in every situation and in each person, you will become a very positive and optimistic person. Since the quality of your life is determined by how you feel moment to moment, you should make it a habit to only think and talk about what you want and keep your mind off of what you don’t want.
You are constantly faced with challenges, difficulties, and problems every day of your life. They are unavoidable and one of the inevitable parts of being human. But as you draw upon your resources to respond effectively to each challenge, you grow and become a stronger person. When you look back over your life, you’ll see that you are the kind of person that you are because of all the difficulties and problems that you have had to overcome in your life. Without those setbacks, you could not have learned what you needed to know to developed the character and strength that you have at this point in your life.
Much of your ability to succeed comes from the way you deal with life. Having a positive mental attitude is indispensable for success and happiness. It is the key to success in business, and it is vital to building strong relationships with other people. Everyone wants to be around a positive person with a cheerful attitude towards life. But no one wants to be around a negative person who is always pessimistic about everything. Your ability to develop and maintain a positive mental attitude, no matter what the situation may be, will play a critical role in any success you achieve.
One of the best ways to define a positive mental attitude is having “a constructive and positive response to adversity.” It is only when you are confronted with a setback or adversity that you really know if you have a positive attitude or not. Anyone can be positive when things are going well. It is only when things are going against you, that you are able to demonstrate to yourself and others, that you have a positive character and personality.
One of the common characteristics of all high achieving men and women is that they recognize the inevitability of temporary setbacks and disappointments. They accept them as a normal and natural part of their life. They do everything possible to avoid problems, but when they come up, successful people learn from them and rise above them. They continue to move forward towards their goals.
Optimistic people develop the habit of talking to themselves in constructive ways. Whenever they experience adversity of any kind, they immediately describe it to themselves in a such a way that it looses its ability to trigger negative emotions. They are able to exert a sense of control by how they describe any event or situation to themselves.
There is a natural tendency in all of us to react emotionally when our expectations are frustrated in any way. When something we wanted and hoped for fails to materialize, we feel a temporary sense of disappointment and unhappiness. We feel hurt and disillusioned. We react just as though we had been punched in the “emotional solar plexus.”
A person who is positive and optimistic is resilient and bounces back fast when he or she encounters a problem or setback of any kind. He or she responds quickly to an adverse event and interprets it as being temporary and only external. An optimistic person takes full control of his or her inner dialogue and counters any negative feelings by immediately reframing the event so that appears positive in some way.
Since your mind can hold only one thought at a time, either positive or negative, if you deliberately choose the positive thought to dwell upon, you keep your mind optimistic and your emotions positive. Since your thoughts and feelings determine you actions, if you keep your words and thoughts positive, you will automatically be a more positive person and move more rapidly toward your goals.
It all comes down to the way you talk to yourself on a daily basis. When a problem or difficulty comes up you must learn to change your language from negative to positive. For example, you should learn to use the word situation instead of problem. A problem is something you wrestle and struggle with. It represents a potential loss and difficultly. A situation, on the other hand, is just something that you deal with. The event is the same. But the way you interpret the event to yourself is what makes it sound and appear completely different.
An even better word to substitute for problem is the word challenge. When you are faced with a difficulty of any kind, instead of saying, “I have a problem,” you should say, “I have an interesting challenge facing me.” The word challenge is inherently positive. It is something that you rise to and that makes you stronger. It is again the same situation, only the word that you are using to describe it is different. As a result, your emotional response will be different as well.
The best of all possible words for any event or situation is the word opportunity. When you are faced with a difficulty of any kind, instead of saying, “I have a problem,” you should say, “I am faced with an unexpected opportunity.” Within ever difficulty or problem, there lies the seed of an equal or greater opportunity or benefit. If you focus your attention on finding out what the valuable lesson is, you will always find it.
You should start your day in front of a mirror saying affirmations, such as “I like myself,” “I am the best,“ and “I can do it.” These are personal and positive affirmations that will build your levels of self confidence and self-esteem. You should say these affirmations out loud in front of a mirror at least 50 times a day. By doing this, you will be driving these new positive thoughts deep into your subconscious. At first when you do this, you’ll feel kind of funny doing it, only because your mind over many years has been programmed with so much negativity that it will take time to reprogram your mind with these new positive affirmations.
The hallmark of the truly successful and happy person is the ability to be objective and unemotional when caught up in the inevitable storms of daily life. The high achieving individual has the ability to continue talking to himself or herself in a positive and optimistic way no matter what the situation is. They are always calm, clear, and completely under control. As a result, they are able to exert a far greater sense of control and influence over their environment, and are less likely to be angry, upset, or distracted by problems or difficulties.
The starting point of becoming a more positive person is to monitor and control your self-talk every minute of the day. Keep your thoughts and words positive and consistent with your goals. Keep your mind focused on what you want and on becoming the person you want to be.
Remember that it is impossible to learn, grow and become successful without adversity and difficulties. You must rise above them in order to become a better person. So, welcome each difficulty as a learning experience and look into the situation to find something good or beneficial in it.
Always, keep your thoughts on your future and on your goals. Constantly think about the person you want to become. When things go wrong temporarily, respond by saying to yourself, “I believe in the perfect outcome of every situation in my life.” Resolve to be cheerful and pleasant in every situation. Resist every temptation to respond to a situation negatively. View disappointment as an opportunity to grow stronger, and talk to yourself and others about it in a positive and optimistic way.
When you practice positive self-talk, and keep your words and your mental pictures consistent with your goals, nothing can stop you from being the success you are meant to be.
Author: Joe Love
Copyright© 2005 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
Your self-talk determines the majority of your emotional life. The words that you use to describe what is happening to you, and how you feel about external events, will trigger the emotions of happiness or unhappiness that you experience. When you see things positively and you look for the good in every situation and in each person, you will become a very positive and optimistic person. Since the quality of your life is determined by how you feel moment to moment, you should make it a habit to only think and talk about what you want and keep your mind off of what you don’t want.
You are constantly faced with challenges, difficulties, and problems every day of your life. They are unavoidable and one of the inevitable parts of being human. But as you draw upon your resources to respond effectively to each challenge, you grow and become a stronger person. When you look back over your life, you’ll see that you are the kind of person that you are because of all the difficulties and problems that you have had to overcome in your life. Without those setbacks, you could not have learned what you needed to know to developed the character and strength that you have at this point in your life.
Much of your ability to succeed comes from the way you deal with life. Having a positive mental attitude is indispensable for success and happiness. It is the key to success in business, and it is vital to building strong relationships with other people. Everyone wants to be around a positive person with a cheerful attitude towards life. But no one wants to be around a negative person who is always pessimistic about everything. Your ability to develop and maintain a positive mental attitude, no matter what the situation may be, will play a critical role in any success you achieve.
One of the best ways to define a positive mental attitude is having “a constructive and positive response to adversity.” It is only when you are confronted with a setback or adversity that you really know if you have a positive attitude or not. Anyone can be positive when things are going well. It is only when things are going against you, that you are able to demonstrate to yourself and others, that you have a positive character and personality.
One of the common characteristics of all high achieving men and women is that they recognize the inevitability of temporary setbacks and disappointments. They accept them as a normal and natural part of their life. They do everything possible to avoid problems, but when they come up, successful people learn from them and rise above them. They continue to move forward towards their goals.
Optimistic people develop the habit of talking to themselves in constructive ways. Whenever they experience adversity of any kind, they immediately describe it to themselves in a such a way that it looses its ability to trigger negative emotions. They are able to exert a sense of control by how they describe any event or situation to themselves.
There is a natural tendency in all of us to react emotionally when our expectations are frustrated in any way. When something we wanted and hoped for fails to materialize, we feel a temporary sense of disappointment and unhappiness. We feel hurt and disillusioned. We react just as though we had been punched in the “emotional solar plexus.”
A person who is positive and optimistic is resilient and bounces back fast when he or she encounters a problem or setback of any kind. He or she responds quickly to an adverse event and interprets it as being temporary and only external. An optimistic person takes full control of his or her inner dialogue and counters any negative feelings by immediately reframing the event so that appears positive in some way.
Since your mind can hold only one thought at a time, either positive or negative, if you deliberately choose the positive thought to dwell upon, you keep your mind optimistic and your emotions positive. Since your thoughts and feelings determine you actions, if you keep your words and thoughts positive, you will automatically be a more positive person and move more rapidly toward your goals.
It all comes down to the way you talk to yourself on a daily basis. When a problem or difficulty comes up you must learn to change your language from negative to positive. For example, you should learn to use the word situation instead of problem. A problem is something you wrestle and struggle with. It represents a potential loss and difficultly. A situation, on the other hand, is just something that you deal with. The event is the same. But the way you interpret the event to yourself is what makes it sound and appear completely different.
An even better word to substitute for problem is the word challenge. When you are faced with a difficulty of any kind, instead of saying, “I have a problem,” you should say, “I have an interesting challenge facing me.” The word challenge is inherently positive. It is something that you rise to and that makes you stronger. It is again the same situation, only the word that you are using to describe it is different. As a result, your emotional response will be different as well.
The best of all possible words for any event or situation is the word opportunity. When you are faced with a difficulty of any kind, instead of saying, “I have a problem,” you should say, “I am faced with an unexpected opportunity.” Within ever difficulty or problem, there lies the seed of an equal or greater opportunity or benefit. If you focus your attention on finding out what the valuable lesson is, you will always find it.
You should start your day in front of a mirror saying affirmations, such as “I like myself,” “I am the best,“ and “I can do it.” These are personal and positive affirmations that will build your levels of self confidence and self-esteem. You should say these affirmations out loud in front of a mirror at least 50 times a day. By doing this, you will be driving these new positive thoughts deep into your subconscious. At first when you do this, you’ll feel kind of funny doing it, only because your mind over many years has been programmed with so much negativity that it will take time to reprogram your mind with these new positive affirmations.
The hallmark of the truly successful and happy person is the ability to be objective and unemotional when caught up in the inevitable storms of daily life. The high achieving individual has the ability to continue talking to himself or herself in a positive and optimistic way no matter what the situation is. They are always calm, clear, and completely under control. As a result, they are able to exert a far greater sense of control and influence over their environment, and are less likely to be angry, upset, or distracted by problems or difficulties.
The starting point of becoming a more positive person is to monitor and control your self-talk every minute of the day. Keep your thoughts and words positive and consistent with your goals. Keep your mind focused on what you want and on becoming the person you want to be.
Remember that it is impossible to learn, grow and become successful without adversity and difficulties. You must rise above them in order to become a better person. So, welcome each difficulty as a learning experience and look into the situation to find something good or beneficial in it.
Always, keep your thoughts on your future and on your goals. Constantly think about the person you want to become. When things go wrong temporarily, respond by saying to yourself, “I believe in the perfect outcome of every situation in my life.” Resolve to be cheerful and pleasant in every situation. Resist every temptation to respond to a situation negatively. View disappointment as an opportunity to grow stronger, and talk to yourself and others about it in a positive and optimistic way.
When you practice positive self-talk, and keep your words and your mental pictures consistent with your goals, nothing can stop you from being the success you are meant to be.
Author: Joe Love
Copyright© 2005 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
15 Ways To Get Really Motivated
First, recognize that motivation is an inside job. The word motivate means to impel, inspire, hope, stimulate, incite, propel, spur, goad, move, induce, prompt, instigate, fire, provoke, actuate, cause, egg on, drive, excite, and to trigger. Don’t wait for someone to motivate you, here are 15 ways you can motivate yourself.
1. Set daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and lifetime goals. A goal is a goal if it’s writing. Goals get you going in the direction that’s right for you.
2. Listen to a motivational tape. Record into a tape recorder your favorite quotes, anecdotes and personal success stories. Play back your tape frequently. Nothing is more motivating than the sound of your own voice. Try it!
3. Get motivated to make better telephone calls by buying Art Sobczak’s new book, “How To Sell More In Less Time With No Rejection.” To order call Art at 402-895-9399.
4. To overachieve every quota you are given take this advice. First write yourself a check dated for 12/31/05 payable to yourself and write how much you want to earn on the amount line. Make three laminated copies and put one in your briefcase, auto console, and home office. Second, always aim higher than the quota you are given. If you adjust your aim, the results will follow.
5. Buy an inspirational book of quotations and keep it in your car. Read three quotes daily. Remember - inspirational words usually inspire us.
6. Invest 15 minutes daily to read books and articles about the selling profession. This is gourmet food for your brain. Don’t skip a day.
7. Get a mentor, preferably one outside of your company. The truly successful people never go it alone.
8. To jack-up your sales performance, prepare your own laminated cue cards. Create cue cards for making appointments, your 12 best questions, for handling the price objection, and for asking for the order. Each cue card should be prepared word-for-word. Your performances will sky-rocket.
9. Buy a composition notebook for your car. Record your successes, failures, and daily observations about your selling environment.
10. Read the “The Ancient Scrolls” an inspiring book by Tim Connor. To order call 800-222-9070.
11. To get motivated about improving your personal financial situation, set a personal net worth goal and write it on a spread sheet, then review it monthly. Self worth increases proportionately with net worth.
12. Tell your family if you achieve 110% or more of your annual sales quota - you’ll take them anywhere they want to go on vacation.
13. Tell your family when you reach a new monthly sales record milestone, you’ll take them out to celebrate.
14. Select one song that really gets you moving and play it every morning as you back out of your driveway.
15. Make a dinner date with your spouse tonight then go some place special.
Every day is a great day, especially if you don’t see your name in the obituary section of the paper.
It's easy to make every day a masterpiece when you're motivated.
(Jim Meisenheimer, http://www.meisenheimer.com/)
1. Set daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and lifetime goals. A goal is a goal if it’s writing. Goals get you going in the direction that’s right for you.
2. Listen to a motivational tape. Record into a tape recorder your favorite quotes, anecdotes and personal success stories. Play back your tape frequently. Nothing is more motivating than the sound of your own voice. Try it!
3. Get motivated to make better telephone calls by buying Art Sobczak’s new book, “How To Sell More In Less Time With No Rejection.” To order call Art at 402-895-9399.
4. To overachieve every quota you are given take this advice. First write yourself a check dated for 12/31/05 payable to yourself and write how much you want to earn on the amount line. Make three laminated copies and put one in your briefcase, auto console, and home office. Second, always aim higher than the quota you are given. If you adjust your aim, the results will follow.
5. Buy an inspirational book of quotations and keep it in your car. Read three quotes daily. Remember - inspirational words usually inspire us.
6. Invest 15 minutes daily to read books and articles about the selling profession. This is gourmet food for your brain. Don’t skip a day.
7. Get a mentor, preferably one outside of your company. The truly successful people never go it alone.
8. To jack-up your sales performance, prepare your own laminated cue cards. Create cue cards for making appointments, your 12 best questions, for handling the price objection, and for asking for the order. Each cue card should be prepared word-for-word. Your performances will sky-rocket.
9. Buy a composition notebook for your car. Record your successes, failures, and daily observations about your selling environment.
10. Read the “The Ancient Scrolls” an inspiring book by Tim Connor. To order call 800-222-9070.
11. To get motivated about improving your personal financial situation, set a personal net worth goal and write it on a spread sheet, then review it monthly. Self worth increases proportionately with net worth.
12. Tell your family if you achieve 110% or more of your annual sales quota - you’ll take them anywhere they want to go on vacation.
13. Tell your family when you reach a new monthly sales record milestone, you’ll take them out to celebrate.
14. Select one song that really gets you moving and play it every morning as you back out of your driveway.
15. Make a dinner date with your spouse tonight then go some place special.
Every day is a great day, especially if you don’t see your name in the obituary section of the paper.
It's easy to make every day a masterpiece when you're motivated.
(Jim Meisenheimer, http://www.meisenheimer.com/)
Saturday, May 5, 2007
10 Ways To Bring More Balance To Your Life
The World Health Organization has called stress a modern day epidemic affecting every person of every culture, educational status, and financial level across the world. Too much stress is the reason we end up sick and burned out. We know there must be something more than the hustle and bustle of modern-day life and yet forget to take the time to find our unique sense of balance.
Gandhi once said, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” This is even more true in the modern world. It is essential then that you discover what will bring you a harmonious and balanced lifestyle. There are many ways to bring more balance to your life. Here are 10 ways I have found that work, which should get you thinking of even more uniquely suited to you.
1. Have Faith in a Higher Power
Voltaire once said, “Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.” Having faith in a higher power helps you face even the darkest hours. Faith gives you peace of mind and an open heart. It lights the dark tunnel and allows you to walk forward courageously.
Action Step: Choose a favorite inspirational quote about faith and put it in your wallet.
2. Assess Your Life
Human beings are similar to a computer: we both operate on programming. What we put in, we get back. And if we put in or take on too much, we get overloaded, and then burn out. Assessing where you are now will help you to know what to do, where to go, and what to leave behind.
Action Step: List all the stressful events that have happened to you in the last year.
3. Live By Your Values
Choose to make life choices that stem from your core values---those things that feed your soul. Values are intrinsic beliefs and feelings that develop from our experiences, backgrounds, and culture. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that when your orient your life around your values that life is much more to your liking.
Action Step: Identify and define your top 5 values.
4. Develop Boundaries
Boundaries are physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep us safe, protected and nurtured. Having healthy boundaries empowers us to say no when appropriate and attract what we want into our life and keep out “garbage.” Boundaries show others that you love, care, and value yourself.
Action Step: Set a clear boundary with someone close to you this week.
5. Change Your Self-Talk Balanced living requires balanced thinking. When negative thoughts come up, shut them out and focus on the positive. Your personal operating software is often running off of outdated and old tapes. Consciously create a new tape and upload it to your brain!
Action Step: Choose an affirmation that you love and say it out loud ten times every day.
6. Take Control You are in control of your own life. Nobody makes you stay in bad situations. If you are in a job you despise, an unhealthy relationship, do not wait until you get fired or dumped. Choose to change. Recognize the cause of your discontent and take action.
Action Step: Make a change for the better starting now.
7. Clean up and Clear Out
Your physical surroundings have a major impact on your sense of balance. So if you live and work in chaos and clutter, you will feel off center. Cleaning up and clearing out your personal (mind-set and relationships) and environmental (home, office, car) spaces brings instant rejuvenation.
Action Step: Tackle a drawer, closet, or garage by the end of the week.
8. Eliminate Tolerations
If you are like most, you are tolerating way too much. A toleration is anything that is stressing you, for example: things that are undone, incomplete projects, and toxic people, places, or situations. Eliminating tolerations is a great way to unleash stored energy and power.
Action Step: Eliminate 3 tolerations from your life today.
9. Practice Wellness
Wellness means having a holistic program (mind, body, and spirit). Take care of your body by eating healthy, getting regular exercise and enjoying rest. Nurture your heart and mind with good friends, fun adventures, and learning new things. Refresh your spirit by reading inspirational books, attending church, spending time in nature, etc.
Action Step: Do 3 extra things to take care of yourself this week.
10. Simplify Your Life
The key to live more simply is to downsize and release unnecessary things from your life. Simple living is about living deliberately. You choose your existence rather than sailing through life. It is about finding your unique balance. Simplicity asks: Is it right for me? How do I want to live my life?
Action Step: Write your philosophy of an ideal life, incorporating elements you most cherish.
There are many ways to bring balance to your life. It starts with making smart decisions and becoming more aware of what makes you happy. Stress is not going away anytime soon, so you may as well start today by creating a program to manage it. Discover what works best for you and commit to doing it on a daily basis. You will quickly learn that balance is not just a nice idea, but an actual reality!
(Michelle L. Casto, M.Ed., http://www.getsmartseries.com )
Gandhi once said, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” This is even more true in the modern world. It is essential then that you discover what will bring you a harmonious and balanced lifestyle. There are many ways to bring more balance to your life. Here are 10 ways I have found that work, which should get you thinking of even more uniquely suited to you.
1. Have Faith in a Higher Power
Voltaire once said, “Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.” Having faith in a higher power helps you face even the darkest hours. Faith gives you peace of mind and an open heart. It lights the dark tunnel and allows you to walk forward courageously.
Action Step: Choose a favorite inspirational quote about faith and put it in your wallet.
2. Assess Your Life
Human beings are similar to a computer: we both operate on programming. What we put in, we get back. And if we put in or take on too much, we get overloaded, and then burn out. Assessing where you are now will help you to know what to do, where to go, and what to leave behind.
Action Step: List all the stressful events that have happened to you in the last year.
3. Live By Your Values
Choose to make life choices that stem from your core values---those things that feed your soul. Values are intrinsic beliefs and feelings that develop from our experiences, backgrounds, and culture. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that when your orient your life around your values that life is much more to your liking.
Action Step: Identify and define your top 5 values.
4. Develop Boundaries
Boundaries are physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep us safe, protected and nurtured. Having healthy boundaries empowers us to say no when appropriate and attract what we want into our life and keep out “garbage.” Boundaries show others that you love, care, and value yourself.
Action Step: Set a clear boundary with someone close to you this week.
5. Change Your Self-Talk Balanced living requires balanced thinking. When negative thoughts come up, shut them out and focus on the positive. Your personal operating software is often running off of outdated and old tapes. Consciously create a new tape and upload it to your brain!
Action Step: Choose an affirmation that you love and say it out loud ten times every day.
6. Take Control You are in control of your own life. Nobody makes you stay in bad situations. If you are in a job you despise, an unhealthy relationship, do not wait until you get fired or dumped. Choose to change. Recognize the cause of your discontent and take action.
Action Step: Make a change for the better starting now.
7. Clean up and Clear Out
Your physical surroundings have a major impact on your sense of balance. So if you live and work in chaos and clutter, you will feel off center. Cleaning up and clearing out your personal (mind-set and relationships) and environmental (home, office, car) spaces brings instant rejuvenation.
Action Step: Tackle a drawer, closet, or garage by the end of the week.
8. Eliminate Tolerations
If you are like most, you are tolerating way too much. A toleration is anything that is stressing you, for example: things that are undone, incomplete projects, and toxic people, places, or situations. Eliminating tolerations is a great way to unleash stored energy and power.
Action Step: Eliminate 3 tolerations from your life today.
9. Practice Wellness
Wellness means having a holistic program (mind, body, and spirit). Take care of your body by eating healthy, getting regular exercise and enjoying rest. Nurture your heart and mind with good friends, fun adventures, and learning new things. Refresh your spirit by reading inspirational books, attending church, spending time in nature, etc.
Action Step: Do 3 extra things to take care of yourself this week.
10. Simplify Your Life
The key to live more simply is to downsize and release unnecessary things from your life. Simple living is about living deliberately. You choose your existence rather than sailing through life. It is about finding your unique balance. Simplicity asks: Is it right for me? How do I want to live my life?
Action Step: Write your philosophy of an ideal life, incorporating elements you most cherish.
There are many ways to bring balance to your life. It starts with making smart decisions and becoming more aware of what makes you happy. Stress is not going away anytime soon, so you may as well start today by creating a program to manage it. Discover what works best for you and commit to doing it on a daily basis. You will quickly learn that balance is not just a nice idea, but an actual reality!
(Michelle L. Casto, M.Ed., http://www.getsmartseries.com )
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