| Ever wonder how 'they' do it? You know the ones, | | | | from the book Ask & It is Given by Esther |
| they are positive, always see the glass as half full, | | | | & Jerry Hicks, is called the "Rampage of |
| and no matter what the situation, they can always | | | | Gratitude", and here is how it works: |
| find a positive thing to pull from it. How do they do | | | | At any point, but especially during an upset moment, |
| it? What is different in their day to day thinking that | | | | take a quick look around where you immediately are, |
| allows them to see the good in all? | | | | and find something you are thankful for at that |
| I have watched, spoken to, listened to, and studied | | | | moment. It can be the wedding band on your finger, |
| many leaders, who seem to stay positive, and | | | | it can be the shoes on your feet, the car you are |
| professionals who make it their business to keep in | | | | driving, the baby you're holding, etc. Recognize why |
| the right frame of mind. I have pulled some bits of | | | | you appreciate it and give thanks. Here's an example: |
| advice and information that is free to implement, and | | | | The other night I was sitting in bed and having an |
| some may even save you some money. | | | | especially rough night. I won't go into details, but let's |
| One of the most giving things we can do for | | | | just say it was one of those nights where you just |
| ourselves is to discover different ways to stay | | | | want to hide. As I sat in bed I remembered the |
| positive throughout the year. I know there are times | | | | exercise. I looked around the room, and then I |
| when I just feel the weight of the world on my | | | | thought, 'I love my bed. It's big, it's soft and warm, |
| shoulders and, I'll be honest with you, last year was | | | | and is such a heavenly retreat. I am so grateful to |
| probably one of the most challenging years I've ever | | | | have this bed.' |
| experienced. But having these outlets really serves to | | | | It's as simple as that. Soon, you'll find yourself noticing |
| remind me that, in the long run, things are ok. | | | | all sorts of little things to be grateful for, without |
| So, when I started thinking about this topic, the old | | | | even thinking about it. |
| saying by Timothy Leary came to mind. "Turn On, | | | | 2. Listen to music. It is scientifically proven that music |
| Tune In, And Drop Out". | | | | has an effect on your mood. There is a great book |
| By doing these three things in a variety of ways you | | | | called, 'This is Your Brain On Music' that writes about |
| really can change your thinking and, truly, your life. I'm | | | | the physical reaction our body has when it comes to |
| going to kind of go out of order with the saying so, | | | | music. Music can enhance your mood. Get yourself an |
| Mr. Leary, where ever you are, please forgive me. | | | | I-pod, an mp3, a cd player, whatever, and burn some |
| I'd like to start with Tuning In: | | | | of your absolutely favorite uplifting songs that you |
| Now the brain is amazing, and even though we don't | | | | have and listen to it. Regularly. |
| consciously register everything that is being | | | | Now with this, you need to remember the 'tuning in' |
| presented to the brain in the way of sights, sounds, | | | | rule of be mindful of what you are listening to. If the |
| etc, our subconscious does register it. Some things | | | | lyrical content is that of a negative origin, it kind of |
| we're just so used to doing we don't even register | | | | defeats the purpose. Remember, you want to lift |
| what we are doing, and that allows some pretty | | | | yourself up, not bring yourself down. |
| negative messages to get through. | | | | Find what fills your heart and soul, musically, and listen |
| So let's start by tuning in to what messages ARE | | | | to it on a regular basis. Play it loudly and dance. Belt |
| around us, and what we are receiving. Here are a | | | | that song out! Let those endorphins rush around! |
| few examples: | | | | 3. Subscribe to positive daily messages. Let the first |
| Do you watch the news? Lots of good, happy stuff | | | | things you see when you log into your email is an |
| with that, isn't there? Do you read the paper? More | | | | uplifting message, or thought provoking message |
| good news, on every page. What do you watch on | | | | that puts you on the right track for the day. |
| tv? Crime shows? Reality shows? What are your | | | | Now there are so many different ones you can |
| casual conversations like? What about the magazines | | | | subscribe to, but some of my favorites are Bob |
| you read? | | | | Proctor, Abraham-Hicks, and Brian Tracy. One of my |
| Now, starting immediately, I invite you to go through | | | | absolute favorite ones is from Mike Dooley, and he |
| the day and really pay attention to your actions. How | | | | writes them from the perspective of the Universe. I |
| do you talk to yourself? Others? How do you think | | | | print out quite a few of these and post them. That |
| about others, or yourself? What shows do you | | | | website it and it's called 'notes from the universe.' I |
| watch every night? What is the last thing you read | | | | also subscribe to one called the Daily Word, which is |
| or listen to or watch before going to bed? | | | | on a more spiritual plane. |
| Take some time, be aware. That alone may change | | | | It's so nice to be able to go to my email in the |
| your life. Once we actually tune in and become aware | | | | morning and the first emails I see are those that |
| of where we need to work on staying positive, then | | | | remind me how great things are. |
| we can! | | | | 4. Associate with people who are where you want |
| Drop Out: | | | | to be. You Want to be a high up in your networking |
| Now most of you may very well have done a quick | | | | company? Find your highest upline and get to know |
| once over of your day in those past few moments | | | | them. I remember when someone gave me this |
| as you read those examples, looking to see where | | | | challenge last year They said, 'To you want to be |
| the weak spots are. Here are the big ones and some | | | | successful? Then go find a success story in your |
| of the hardest ones to let go. | | | | town and call that person up.' So I did. I called him up, |
| 1. Stop watching the news. I'm not saying never ever | | | | and chatted with him for a while. I'm not kidding. I |
| watch the news anymore, but really, in the morning, | | | | wanted to know what was important to him, how he |
| and evening, every day is really unnecessary, as well | | | | got to where he is, and so on. It's as easy as that. |
| as reading the paper, and check on the internet, and | | | | You'll discover these people these people are always |
| so on. Once a week or so is probably more than | | | | willing to help. |
| enough. It's been a proven fact that bad news sells, | | | | Associating with people who are where you want to |
| so it's what is focused on. Almost every expert I | | | | be helps you expand your mind and grow. You are |
| have come across who is involved in attitude | | | | able to see a different perspective from people who |
| adjustment, time management, and so on have | | | | have done what you want to do. Again, this doesn't |
| made this the number one change to make, and to | | | | mean you have to get rid of all your current friends, |
| make it immediately. Stop watching. | | | | family, etc. You never know when you might find |
| If you feel you absolutely need to get a dose of | | | | your mentor among those new friends. |
| daily news, a great website I found recently is It's | | | | 5. Go to what fills you, spiritually. For some that can |
| news that you won't read in the newspaper for the | | | | be church, for others meditation, it's your life, only |
| most part because it's good news, but it's such a | | | | you can make that connection. And here's what I |
| breath of fresh air, and helps you to realize there are | | | | mean by that. I'm a trail runner, and years ago I used |
| good things happening in the world. | | | | to live by a trail that I would run on regularly that |
| Along those same lines.. | | | | would take me right by a church. I remember running |
| 2. Get rid of cable. Better yet, get rid of your | | | | by the church on Sunday, seeing all the parishioners |
| television altogether. Now for those who just shut | | | | filing into the church, and thinking, 'that's their church, |
| down at that thought, take a deep breath and stay | | | | this is mine.' Being outdoors on those crisp mornings, |
| with me here. Trust me, I understand the want for | | | | on the trail with the long blades of grass, drinking in |
| the entertainment. I really do. But for the most part, | | | | the fresh air was what connected me to my source |
| the programming is unnecessary and a waste of time | | | | and allowed me to come alive and be in the moment. |
| if it dominates your entire evening. Get rid of it. Think | | | | These days, I have discovered a spiritual community |
| of the money you'll save. | | | | that gives me the same feeling. I encourage you to |
| If you can't handle totally getting rid of the television, | | | | do the same. Doing this really helps lift you on those |
| then just get rid of the cable. At least drop down to | | | | hard days. |
| basic cable, and I mean basic cable, not the option of | | | | 6. Help others. Now, perhaps you just had an |
| 75 channels or more. I know, it will be rough at first, | | | | immediate thought of, 'I work full time! I have |
| you will more than likely go through withdrawals, I | | | | children! Where do you expect me to carve out time |
| know I did when I couldn't watch some of the | | | | to volunteer?!' Well, take a deep breath. How much |
| programs I had adjusted to watching on a regular | | | | you time you donate is up to you. It can be 10 |
| basis, but you really will feel the cobwebs clear out | | | | hours, 10 minutes or 10 seconds. You will be surprised |
| of your head after a while. If nothing else, you can | | | | the impact only a few moments can make. |
| sign up for something like Netflix or Blockbuster and | | | | The other day, the high temps for the day was only |
| get movies in the mail and online. | | | | about 20 degrees. I was driving home from the store |
| 3. Steer clear of negative conversations, including the | | | | and passed a woman with a young girl, no more than |
| ones you have with yourself. If you find the | | | | five years old, standing at the bus stop with bags of |
| conversation drifting towards being catty, or | | | | groceries waiting for the bus. I knew it was going to |
| constant complaining, and we've all done it, stop | | | | be a while for the bus to come. After driving down |
| yourself. These are habits that need to be broken, | | | | the street I turned around and went back. I picked |
| and a great way to help stop the habit is to wear a | | | | them up and drove them home. I found out the |
| rubber band around your wrist. Whenever, you feel | | | | woman had gone to the store in order to get some |
| the conversation heading in that direction, or you are | | | | medicine for her son who had the flu. |
| hard on yourself, snap that band. It will remind you | | | | I can't tell you the feeling I had after I had dropped |
| that you are someone who wants to grow in a | | | | them off and made sure they made it safely into the |
| positive manner and those conversations that tear | | | | house. So if you don't feel you have time to |
| down someone else or yourself are not allowed | | | | volunteer at the local shelter, I invite you to go |
| anymore. | | | | through your day and as you do, see who you can |
| I've discovered these days that if I do start | | | | help even if it's just with a re-assuring smile, or a |
| becoming involved in a negative conversation, I can | | | | simple, 'can I help you in any way?' |
| actually feel a sense of poisoning and discomfort in | | | | It will change your mood immensely. |
| myself during the conversation. I know then that it's | | | | 6. Read a book. Find a feel good book! The library is |
| time to check the conversation and adjust | | | | full of books that offer other tips on how to improve |
| accordingly. | | | | on thinking positively, autobiographies about people |
| This leads us right into.. | | | | who overcame the odds, and so on. |
| 4. Keep your distance from dreamstealers, and | | | | One of the books I refer to when I'm feeling a bit |
| crazymakers. We all know who they are in our live. | | | | down is anything by Jack Canfield. His writings are so |
| They are the ones who say, 'that sounds too hard | | | | uplifting and don't allow for excuses. Perfect! Some |
| to do.' Or, 'Why would you want to do that??' Now, | | | | of the other books I read when I'm feeling a bit |
| you don't have to disown them, just distance | | | | down, Marianne Williamson's 'A Return to Love', Andy |
| yourself a little. Your dreams, goals, and ambitions are | | | | Andrew's book, 'The Traveler's Gifts'. Feed your head |
| important to you and to others in this world. You | | | | with the good stuff. |
| absolutely do not need someone who is threatened | | | | And that's it! It require taking a seminar, or a huge |
| by your ambition to be constantly attempting to | | | | investment, this is one of those things that you can |
| quietly sabotage your efforts, whether their | | | | accomplish with just a few changes. |
| intentions are well meaning or not. They are, hands | | | | It was mentioned to me recently that many people |
| down, the quickest reason we give up our dreams | | | | don't even try to do anything because it just seems |
| and goals. Tell your dreams and goals to people who | | | | too daunting and extreme to try to do it all, but as |
| will support them, not tear them down. | | | | the experts explained, you don't have to do |
| After the cleansing, the out with the bad, we want | | | | EVERYthing. By changing just one little thing, you can |
| to fill the space with good things. Things that will lift | | | | create a profound effect on your outlook and life. |
| us up, and take us higher. This brings us to the final | | | | Then when you are comfortable with that small |
| part...turning on. This is my favorite part, because | | | | change, you can make another small change, and so |
| replacing all the icky stuff in your head and heart with | | | | on. After a while, you look back on all the small |
| the good stuff just feels so nice. | | | | changes you've made and it really adds up. |
| 1. Be grateful. Not just at dinner during grace, not just | | | | The goal is to be aware...tune in, find where small |
| at bedtime during prayer, but all day. Allow | | | | changes can be made, and make them. Trust me, |
| thanskgiving to be more than just one day out of | | | | you will feel pounds lighter, stand inches taller, and |
| the year in your life. A great exercise I do, which is | | | | make you smile that much easily. |