How to Be Positive, Positive Thinking

Our greatest glory is not in never falling,

but in rising every time we fall.

-Confucius

I recently have come across Jack Canfield’s 5 Steps to Staying Positive and Productive . These 5 steps emphasize the importance of having a positive mindset. They are tools that allow us to weather the many storms we will face throughout our lives. This approach teaches us that success is not about luck and always staying on top, but rather how well we recover and perservere. Our attitude- our approach to live- is often overlooked yet is what makes an important difference in our lives. As many more people face more and more hardships and new obstacles, it is important to stay positive more than ever. Staying positive can mean the difference between rising up and wallowing in our misery. We may not play a role in the reasons why our lives temporarily fell apart but we play the lead role in the direction we take after unfortunate circumstance.

Here are Jack Canfield's 5 things to keep in mind that will help you keep your emotional health in check no matter what is going on:

Stopping your inner critic from inhibiting you is essential.  That inner critic can prevent you from dreaming big. As soon as you commit to a big dream or goal- visualize it daily.  Believe and intend to really go after this new big dream.  Your subconscious creative mind will come up with big ideas to make it happen. This exercise will also help you to problem solve your way through challenges and create positive outcomes beyond your temporary struggles. As you continue to dream big, you'll start attracting the people, resources, and opportunities you need inyour life to weather any storms and make your dreams come true. Big dreams not only inspire you, but they also help you to get through tough times and put certain things into perspective. It doesn't take any more time or effort to dream a big dream than a small dream. So if you are going to dream anyway, dream big.

If you are going to be successful in stabilizing and maintaining your overall emotional wellbeing and creating the life of your dreams, you have to believe that you are capable of making it happen. Begin to believe that you possess more control over your life than you may feel you do when times get tough.  Focusing on the events and details that we do not have control over (i.e. natural disasters) is self-defeating and a waste of precious mental energy.  Instead, focus on the aspects of your life you do have control over.  All the little things in our control have big effects on our life experiences.  We play a role in all of our successes and failures.  Believe in yourself that you have the power to make your failures a temporary experience and create new successes in the future.

As you commit to believing in yourself, also make a commitment to spend less time placing blame and complaining about circumstances.  This is a way we continue to harp and focus on the negative aspects of our lives prolonging the experience of failure and hardship.  Analyze who you are blaming and what you are complaining about. I'm overweight. I don't feel good. I won't get out of debt. I can't get another (or a better job). I can't stand the relationship I have with my family. I'll never get married. The poor economy is to blame. My marriage is the cause of my unhappiness. My boss is ruining my life. Really examine this type of inner dialogue. More than likely, you can do something about them. They are not about other people, other things, or other events. They are about YOU. Decide what you want, and create a plan to get it.

It is easier to succeed in life if the world constantly supported you and brought you opportunities. Successful people believe this. Don't assume the world is a horrible, unwelcoming, and a difficult place to be. Try thinking the opposite! And turn paranoia into something more positive. By expecting to be treated poorly or to not have the opportunity to achieve, we ignore the strange places we find leads and assistance and we lose the doors that are opening for us. Success and luck are found in unexpected places at times. By expecting to find them, we are more likely to actually see what has been there all along just waiting for us to seize it!

One of the most powerful tools for building a positive outlook and self-confidence is the repetition of positive statements until they become a natural part of the way you think. Create a list of 10 to 20 statements that support your belief in your overall worthiness of good things and your ability to create the life of your dreams. Here are some examples of affirmations that have worked for others in the past:

• I am worthy of love, happiness and success.
• I am smart.
• I am loveable and capable.
• I can create what I want and need.
• I am able to solve any problem that comes my way.
• I can handle anything that life hands me.
• I have all the energy I need to do everything I want to do.
• I am attracting all the right people into my life.

You can create the perfect plan and execute the plan as anticipated and still find disappointments, adversity and failure along the way to your final success. Adversity is what gives you the opportunity to develop your inner resources of character and courage. Adversity is a great teacher. It helps you learn how to achieve your future goals despite the many temporary hardships you experience on the way. It will test you and make you stronger, but you have to hang in there and not give up!