Is Negativity Holding You Back? The Commentary

I hope that you have had a chance to read the post yesterday, “Is Negativity Holding You Back?” I hope you enjoyed it and from the feedback that I am getting on it, I know you did!

It’s given me a lot to think about as I am sure it’s done the same for you.  Even as a positive thinker, I struggle at times with negativity.  It’s an awful feeling that creeps in sometimes when you are the most vulnerable.  Over worked?  Tired? Not Feeling Well?  Stressed? These are all things that allow that little bug of negativity to pop in and cause havoc in your life.  Well, life is life (or as I say a lot – “It is what it is…”) and certainly these things mentioned above aren’t going to go away and are bound to crop up in your life from time-to-time.

The real nugget here is how you manage them.  I’ve said time and time again in various places that it’s all about attitude and mindset. With the right attitude and the right mindset we can do just about anything.

I have been challenged a lot in the past few years and 2009 ranks up there.  Honestly, I will be happy to finish out 2009 and look forward to the promise of 2010 (not that I’m rushing the time, believe me!)  I know what gets me through each day is my positive attitude and my determined mindset.  Sure, I can be derailed from time-to-time because things happen (that’s life) and sometimes things don’t pan out the way that I see them.  I always try to challenge myself to look for even the smallest shred of positive that I can take away from a negative experience to turn it around.

We’ve all heard that “things happen for a reason.” It’s so very true!

When Judy and I first started the Gratitude Collection back in early 2007, we were thrilled to participate in a product search with QVC in conjunction with Oprah Winfrey.  We were thrilled – the Universe put this tremendous opportunity right in our laps!  We were very proud of our “pitch” and knew we did the best job that we could.  We knew that if it was meant to be at that moment in time that it would happen and if not we were okay with that.

Well, if you haven’t heard the story, we didn’t get picked.  For the first time in my life, though – I wasn’t disappointed! I couldn’t believe it – it was such an incredible feeling!  We knew some way and somehow our little brand would get to where it needs to be and at that point in time, this avenue wasn’t it.  I still believe that from the bottom of my toes and continue on its path today.

We all have a choice and today, if you have not done so already, I challenge you to “choose positive.” If you have chosen positive – keep it up, you are doing a great job! Know that life happens and you have all the tools you need to manage that pesky little critter of negativity.

In gratitude,

Is Negativity Holding You Back?

I’ve gotten some really great feedback from an article that was included in my last newsletter.  I think it really rings true.  I wanted to share it with my blog readers just in case your are not on our list because I know you’ll love it.  Not on our list yet?  Join here – it’s FREE!

I hope you enjoy reading it.  I will be back later in to make some comments on it.

*********************************************

Negativity always finds a way to creep up in your life from time to time even for those of us who are already positive thinkers. It’s when negativity builds up too much or shows up too often that you have an obstacle to overcome.

A negative attitude can hold you back from truly living your life. However, you don’t need to feel stuck because you can bring positive thoughts back into your life!

How Negativity Can Hold You Back

Negativity can hold you back in a number of ways. Have you heard the saying: “If you think you can’t, you’re right.” It’s true!  Negative thoughts like this really do sabotage your efforts.

The good news is that you can gain control over how you think.  When you’re expressing complaints and negativity all the time, it not only affects you, but it also affects the people around you.  Negativity, itself, can be the reason why you create roadblocks that don’t really exist! So it’s time to choose the positive (and, yes, it is a choice!)

Manifesting A Positive Attitude

When you adopt a positive attitude, you open yourself up to the wonderful world of possibilities. When positive energy is in the air, you’ll be able to transform your negative feelings and maybe even bring others out of their negativity clouds.

Believe it or not, positive thinking is very powerful. It’s the driving force that steers your life into the direction of your dreams. Remember, your thoughts affect how you feel, and how you feel affects what you do, so if you can change your thoughts, you can change your outcome.

How To Develop A Positive Attitude

How can you change your attitude? It’s easier than you think.

Follow these tips to develop a positive attitude:

1. Visualize. When the negative thoughts come crawling into your mind, transform them with positive images. Visualize something that you find pleasing, peaceful, or exciting. Remember what your ultimate goals are and imagine what it feels like to achieve them.

2. Write it down. Keeping a journal has many positive effects. It helps you vent your frustrations, organize your life, and reflect on your innermost thoughts and feelings. Instead of focusing on the bad, use your journal to chronicle the things that have gone well in your life lately.

3. Relax. Negative feelings are bound to arise when you’re in a stressful state. It’s important to take time out of each day for yourself. This means that you need to adopt a relaxation method that works for you. Perhaps you can take a bath, go to church, attend a yoga class, or meditate. When you’re relaxed, a peaceful and positive mindset will likely overtake you.

4. Read and write affirmations. Grab a book with positive affirmations in it, or better yet, write your own. Affirmations are a powerful way to bring positive thoughts into your present state of well being. Affirmations are short statements in the present tense that remind you of positive attributes and goals in your life. Here’s an example: “I am strong and competent.”

5. Live for the moment. Live your life for the moment and let go of everything else going on in your life. Negative feelings can easily overwhelm you if you’re consumed by past failures or the fear of the future. When you concentrate on the present, your life becomes more peaceful and positive.

In the end, go easy on yourself. You don’t need to be your own worst critic, instead, try being your biggest advocate!  Just concentrate on your well being and you will develop a more positive attitude.

5 Benefits of a Practice of Gratitude

Showing your gratitude can be a great way to spread positive feelings in the world around you. When you think about it, reaching your goals starts with a single positive thought, right?

How do you feel when someone sincerely expresses his or her gratitude to you for something you did?  Doesn’t it make you feel good about yourself?  These positive feelings can lift you up, boost your enthusiasm, and motivate you to achieve even more.

Feeling grateful for what you have can produce the same good feelings and sustain your drive toward your goals.

This shows how gratitude can have some seriously positive snowball effects.

Here are some of the benefits of gratitude:

1. Reaching your goals. When you feel grateful, it tends to be a lasting and selfless feeling.  It’s much more than just a momentary burst of positive energy; it has staying power that will provide a great boost for you to reach your goals.

* When you express your gratitude to others, ensure that you’re open and expressive. People don’t know what you’re thinking; hearing it can make all the difference.

2. Strengthened relationships. There are many ways you can express your gratitude to your loved ones, including saying, “Thank you,” writing a letter, or giving them a thoughtful gift.  When you learn to avoid taking your loved ones for granted, you’ll have a long lasting and loving relationship.

* Showing gratitude is a two way street.  Learn how to effectively express your gratitude and, just as importantly, to receive it as well.

3. Improved communication. Gratitude can mean better communication all around.  By expressing your gratitude to strangers, they’ll be more likely to show an interest in helping you, too.

* Gratitude is such a powerful entity that it can even help you communicate with your pets!  They should be appreciated too.

4. More effective constructive criticism. No matter how we express constructive criticism, it often makes the recipient defensive or even angry.  No one likes a blow to the ego.  In this situation, a grateful attitude can take you a long way.  You can express criticism quite effectively when you also emphasize what you appreciate about them.

5. Preserving memories. You can preserve memories in a positive way when you keep a gratitude journal.  You’ll be able to enjoy your memories again and again when you read about these happy times in the future.

Show Your Gratitude Every Day

Showing gratitude to others may seem like a selfless act, but it’s something that you also benefit from.  When you show your gratitude every day, you change the way you think.

You’ll appreciate your good life when the majority of your thoughts remain positive.  Negative thoughts can sometimes be overwhelming, and just because you have them doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.  They happen to everyone, but you can strive to keep them to a minimum with the help of a grateful attitude.

One way to show your gratitude every day is to remind yourself of the big picture when a negative thought arises.  If a petty argument with your spouse makes you feel angry and heated, take a deep breath and think for a moment.  Remember that the argument is not permanent and, instead, feel grateful for the gift of this relationship.

We need to value our time here on earth and make the best of each and every day.

Be True to Yourself

Find the courage to hold on to your beliefs, even if the world around you chooses to believe differently.  Have the courage to change those beliefs that no longer fit the person you have become.  In doing so, you truly become yourself. -Daniel Levin

Today this inspiration resonated with me.  I wear a small cuff bracelet on my right wrist (right next to my Gratitude Bracelet) that my sister, who is my best friend, gave me.  It’s a small subtle piece that has the words, “Be True to Yourself” stamped on it.  I’ve spent the past several years really learning who I am through all the good and bad.

I’ve had growing pains, which sometimes really hurt (can you relate?) and major joys.  Through it all, I’ve grow into the person I am today – confident and true with a depth of character and tenacity. I’m full of heart and love to feel the energy of others which is why I choose to surround myself with those who share my desire to live my life with an abundance of positive energy.

Where are you at in your life?

We are all on a different journey.  I seen to have chosen the road less traveled over the past several years, but know that I am leading and leaving my footprints on the ground for those to follow me.

Be well today and be true to yourself.

Creating a Healthy Mindset

Do you feel you could use a healthier attitude toward life?  Would you like to approach things in a different way?  Is a healthier lifestyle attainable?

The stress of modern life can sometimes make it difficult to lead a healthy lifestyle.  However, you can start living healthy, today, by adopting a healthy mindset.

Even if you find yourself leaning toward a pessimistic attitude, you can still achieve a healthy mindset.  You just need to go about it in the right way.

How You Can Have a Healthier Mindset

Many people sit back, look at their lives, and wish they could view things in a more positive manner. Then they beat themselves up for being negative or not having the attitude and responses they wish they had.  This typical response doesn’t do anybody any good.

Instead of feeling angry with yourself for responding to life the way you normally do, think positively about your desire to have a healthier mindset.

Building a Healthy and Safe Support Network

One of the most effective paths to a healthier mindset is to find ways to deal with the stress in your life.  For some people, this is as simple as writing in a journal or blog every day.  Other people find that talking with friends or joining a support group is a rewarding experience.

It’s important to give voice to your thoughts and emotions. How you do this is up to you.

Eating Healthy = Feeling Healthy

Another way to achieve a healthier mindset is to eat the right foods and get enough rest.  When you feed your body healthy, nutritious foods and get the rest you need, you feel better all over.  Your attitude, as well as your body, feels refreshed.

Food and rest will not change the way you respond to things if you tend to respond negatively, but it will be a great start.  You don’t have to give up all junk food and your late night activities, but try swapping carrot sticks for French fries and an hour of sleep for Leno.

You’ll find that you’ll be able to acquire a healthier mindset when you take active steps to deal with your stress and treat your body with the tender loving care it deserves.  Suddenly the world becomes a much more positive place when you pair these things with positive thinking.

Positive thinking begins when you affirm the positives in your life. You can use the power of positive affirmations to reprogram your mind so you can think in a healthier and more positive way.

For example, each morning you could say, “I make positive choices for the best of my body, mind, and soul.” You can use positive affirmations in moments of weakness when you are tempted to fill up on junk food, respond negatively to something, or trade sleep for something less important.

When you create a healthy mindset by making good choices about food, rest, and positive thinking, you’ll enjoy the new ways you think, feel, and live.  You’ll discover that your happier, healthier lifestyle has arrived!

Tips for Better Life

How to Surround Yourself with Positive People

One of the best ways to achieve your goals is to surround yourself with positive people. I am a big proponent of this and practice this in my daily life.  It’s so important!

Positive people can help you stay on track and energize you toward your own goals.  Many times these successful people share the same goals you have and are happy to pass on their wisdom and their techniques.  After all, I always say that energy is contagious.  Why not catch some positive energy?

So how do you find these positive, like-minded people?

Here are 5 tips to help you find them, network with them, and glean valuable information and advice:

1.  Smile. Although it may sound silly, smiling puts forth an image that instantly draws people towards you, especially other positive people.  Having and showcasing a good perspective of life’s ups and downs makes other people want to be around you-it’s almost magnetic.  Being positive is often a difficult frame of mind to sustain all the time, so something as simple as smiling is a quick trigger to catch yourself before you spiral the other way.

* Staying positive is one of the building blocks to achieving your successes, as its opposite is futile.  Smile and you’ll attract other positive people!

2.  Communicate Positively. Although we all have rough days when nothing seems to be going right, the last thing you want do is complain and whine.  No one likes a complainer, right?

For example, if someone were to ask you in a friendly manner, “how are you today?” don’t shoot back that “life stinks” or that you’re just “alive” or something to that effect.  What a downer, huh? Instead, take a moment – and a breath – and then reply with an optimistic attitude, even if you’re having a tough day.  The practice takes some conditioning, but will help your energy in the long run.  Fake it till you make it right? After some practice it won’t seem as hard.

* Even if you’re not feeling all that positive, by remaining optimistic in your outlook you’ll still attract positive people to you.

3. Think Positively. Keeping a level head in your quest toward success is one key to obtaining your objectives. Thinking positively – even through disappointment – will enable you to find the good in every situation and attract the positive people who share this vision.

* Even if you don’t really subscribe to these positive thoughts at first, or you find positive thinking difficult, sooner or later making yourself think positively will create a pattern of positive thoughts in your brain.

We’ve all got energy within us and we have the choice to use it constructively or destructively.  You’ll soon notice that these type of people try to be upbeat and optimistic, even during difficult times.  After all we are all human, right? We are going to have good days and bad days-it is all in how you approach it with your attitude.

4.  Act Positively. It isn’t enough to smile, communicate, and think positively when pursuing your goal. You must also put forth actions to substantiate this positivism.

For example, perhaps you thought you could get a promotion in the past, but then sat idly by while someone else snatched it up. This time, transform those positive thoughts into action!

* Showing your boss and employees that you are proactive and positive will set you up for more successes.

5.  Reach Out. Lastly, reach out to people at your work, in your circle of friends, or even to people on the street who seem to exemplify a positive attitude.  Ask them what it is that makes them continue to be positive and reach their objectives.

* Seeking out positive people will not only give you valuable information to help you reach your goals, but you will also become a successful person with your own network of positive friends and role models.

Being positive and having a positive attitude attracts others. After all the law of attraction is simple, like attracts like.

People enjoy being around others with similar attitudes and, by maintaining a positive mindset, you’ll surely lead yourself to those successful people you seek.