Home Archives for Motivational Positive Affirmations
September 8, 2010 7 Comments

New Thoughts. New Lifestyle. New Life.

Change your thoughts and you change your world. - Norman Vincent Peale

The mind is a truly fascinating place and the more we learn about it, the more we realize just how true this statement is.  In fact, to say that the mind is fascinating is a bit of an understatement.

Recent studies by neuroscientists have shed new light on the mind and, thereby, made it even more fascinating.  These experts support the claim that we’ve always driven home, here on Out of Bounds:  We are much more in control of our minds, our thoughts, and our lives than we realize.

Consider this:

Your mind, on average processes 60,000 thoughts each day.  Since most thinking is done on autopilot with the mind thinking the same habitual thoughts over and over again, the human mind “syndicates” many of its original thoughts in the same way TV Land syndicates favorite sitcoms.

Not only does the brain play our thoughts out as re-runs, it even protects our habits, whether they’re good or bad.  These habits become Engrained Habits and, like our thoughts, they pretty much act themselves out with little input from us.

Experts say that when we’ve repeated a new thought or practiced a new habit for about 90 days (basically 3 months), it becomes part of the brain architecture… part of our hardwiring.

Remember the saying, first we make our habits and then our habits make us?  Voila, another understatement.

Amazing how everything goes back to our thoughts, isn’t it?  Everything begins as a thought – our every action, our every word, our every habit.  They each were conceived with a single thought.  If that’s not a wake up call to guard our thoughts, I don’t know what is.

We have about 60,000 thoughts each day.  Do you realize the power behind that statistic?

How much power could you generate in your life with 60,000 daily thoughts?

How much destruction could you unleash upon your life with 60,000 daily thoughts?

Positive thinking breeds a positive mindset, positive habits, and positive repercussions. Negative thinking breeds a negative mindset, negative habits, and negative repercussions.

The good news is that we CAN change the way we think.   My favorite illustration of this fact:  Clear your mind for a second.  Now think of a Beagle Puppy.  He’s lying in the green grass, looking at you – cuter than anything has a right to be!

Do you see the puppy?

Now think about a $100 bill.  See Benjamin Franklin’s face in the middle, with the number 100 written boldly in each corner?

So.  Where’d the beagle puppy go?

“It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts.” - Robert H. Schuller

This exercise is proof positive that you can push one thought aside for another thought.  Personally, in this case, I’d rather think about the puppy – but you get the idea.  When we have negative, destructive thoughts, we can easily push them aside and think about something positive instead.

Truth be told, it’d be better to think about the beagle puppy than it would be to think negative thoughts – so, when a negative, destructive, critical thought pops into your mind, replace it automatically with the image of a beagle puppy.  Then, move on to a more positive thought pattern.

Remember, the more time you spend with a negative thought, the greater its power is to harm you. Take this power and make it work for you!  Think positive thoughts and repeat positive affirmations.

As Henri Matisse said, “There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”  Or beagle puppies…..

Filed Under: Inspiration, Mental Fitness, Motivational, Positive Affirmations Tagged: , , , ,
August 18, 2010 1 Comment

Tips for Absentmindedness and Forgetfulness

If you’re like me, on most days you have a great relationship with your mind.  If you want to remember a favorite song from the ’80s, you can conjure up the title, band, and possibly even relive the video within minutes.

Then. There.  Are. THOSE. Days. You know the ones – the days when you can’t remember the song, let alone anything else.  Some people call these slips “senior moments,” but unless you’re over the age of 70, you don’t want to be saddled with this term.  Those of us who aren’t even 50 certainly have no use for such a term.  A better term might be “absentmindedness” because it cuts right to the chase… your mind, at least for this “call to action” is pretty much absent.

I also like the fact that the term implies EXACTLY what it should imply, that the condition is temporary and 9 times out of 10, certainly no big deal.

I hate (to the point of cringing) when people panic over absentmindedness.  Some worry that it’s a sign of a loss of memory, dementia, old age, or even Alzheimer’s disease.  To make it even more bizarre, some of the people who express these concerns haven’t even seen their 40th birthday.  To think these thoughts creates a negative environment and robs the individual of self confidence.  It also creates an air of, “Well, there’s nothing I can do.  May as well fade out…”

See why I cringe?

Everyone, even people with extremely good memories and razor sharp minds, experiences absentmindedness.  My husband (Michael) is the brightest person I’ve ever met.  Sharp as a tack.  Honestly, the way his mind works reminds me of a computer as opposed to a mind. He has a goofy, hilarious, life-of-the-party, good-ol-boy personality and approach to life so you’d never really know just how smart he is until you see the mind in action.

Anyway, it kind of makes me smile when he squares off against absentmindedness.  He’ll take off out the back door and have to come back in for this or that – he used to get so mad at himself, but now he just kind of chuckles (along with the rest of us who nod and think, “Welcome to the human race.”).

I think of absentmindedness as a chipper sign in a shop window “Closed for Lunch. Back in an Hour!”

There are several causes of absentmindedness and, when you think about it, it’s a wonder we don’t have MORE mental lunch breaks.  Consider all that we have going on when birthday number 40 has come and gone:

  • Many baby boomers have aging parents to care for, or to at least keep an eye or two on!
  • Baby boomers have children of all ages. Some of these children are still school-age, some have gone off to college, some have gotten married, and some baby boomers have babies still in diapers.  Irregardless of the age, children require a great deal of thought, worry, time, and care.  Don’t ever think any of this slows down when the child hits 16.  Many say this is when the REAL parenting begins!  As well as the sleepless nights, phone calls, financial help, late night talks, parental advice, wringing of hands…
  • Baby boomers are often at the height of their career. Hard work and expertise has paid off and they are enjoying the fruits of their labor – more clients, more responsibilities, more customers, more headaches, more assignments, and longer to do lists.
  • Many people, now, have several jobs. Some may work odd jobs on the weekend, some may work outside the home while running a home business.
  • Add bills, a mortgage, an irritable economy, depressing news (oil spills, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, war…) – is it any wonder people of all ages often feel that their minds are over taxed?!
  • Something else that many people don’t take into consideration is this: The longer you’ve lived, the more memories you have… the more information you have stored on your hard drive, if you will. A 20 year old will be able to recall and recite the entire roster for a baseball team 2 years ago more easily than a 45 year old could.  It doesn’t have so much to do with age as it does the pure fact that the 50 year old has a lot more baseball seasons under his or her ball cap.  There’s more information to sort through – more names, numbers, and faces.  They say that young minds are like sponges – able to soak up information easily. No, kidding, their sponge is fresh and nearly empty!

So, there you have it.  Now don’t you agree that it’s a wonder we don’t experience absentmindedness more often?!?!   Even people between the ages of 20 and 40 are busier than ever before.  The economy has everyone working at a frantic pace, just trying to keep up – and, Heaven help the ones who actually want to get ahead!

Busy, busy, busy = Absentmindedness.

I know, it doesn’t make it any funner or any less frustrating, but hopefully you’ll be able to keep from panicking the next time it happens.

Fortunately, there are some tips that can help you handle absentmindedness and forgetfulness.  Here they are – write them down… just be sure you remember where you put the list!

  • Keep the items you use the most in a consistent place. Your car keys by the front door, your cellphone on a particular table, your reading glasses beside your favorite chair, and so on.  Searching around for things isn’t any fun and having your daughter call your cellphone, so you can find it, makes her giggle a little too much.
  • Organize everything around you. I cook a great deal (I guess daily counts as a great deal, wouldn’t you say?), so I keep my measuring cups, spoons, rolling pin, blender, mixer, etc. all in appointed spots.  If I need a particular spice or kitchen gadget, I know where it lives and can put it to work within seconds.  My home office should be as organized as my kitchen!
  • Don’t listen to the time management gurus who say that multi-tasking is the be all and end all (although mulit-tasking could be the end of it all!). Give your full attention to what’s at hand – even if it’s watching a ballgame (besides, 2 years down the road, some smarty pants 20 year old may challenge you to name the roster).  Multi-tasking basically says that you’ll devote half of your brain to a particular thing and half of your brain to the other.  Now how is any part of that a good thing?
  • Write notes and to do lists – then use them. I’m one of those people who draws little boxes in front of the to do list so that I can joyfully check it off when I’ve completed the task.  You’ll never find lovelier check marks than mine.  Works of art.
  • Do not procrastinate. Do it the minute you realize it needs to be done.  Procrastination leads to a traffic jam in your mind – the ideal spot for absentmindedness and forgetfulness.
  • Keep a calendar near your work area and one in the kitchen. At the beginning of each month, write in big letters, key dates, assignments, appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
  • Keep a notebook with you at all times. When you lead a busy lifestyle, you’re apt to hear new names, dates, and bits of information. Never trust yourself to recall any of these later – Heaven only knows what’s going to go on between NOW and THEN.  Write it down, even if you’re certain you’ll remember.  What’s the worst that could happen, you got a little extra penmanship practice?

Finally, the best advice (dealing with this subject) I’ve ever read came from author Richard Leviton. His advice was this:  Periodically, throughout the day, repeat this positive affirmation, “I am paying attention.“  Say it firmly, with conviction, and aloud when possible.  This affirmation reminds you to fight off distractions and to pay attention to what’s going on around you.  It keeps you in the moment and sharpens your mental cutlery.

Stay positive, stay focused, and stay in the moment.  And speaking of moments…..

Make each moment count double!
~ Joi

Filed Under: Positive Affirmations Tagged: ,
January 20, 2010 5 Comments

Is Constant Improvement Really Necessary?

The following is a guest post by Rachel King and it honestly gives the reader a great deal to think about.  Enjoy!
Is Constant Improvement Really Necessary? A Guest Post by Rachel King

We live in a world where there is intense competition to get ahead and stay there. We’re constantly being asked to improve and innovate if we are to achieve success. And we continue to strive for that exclusive prize (be it money or fame or both) throughout our lives because no amount is enough. But, no matter what self-help gurus advocate, is constant improvement really necessary? Must we really push ourselves further and further even if it means we are not really happy with what we are doing?

A very good friend came to me depressed because she could not find the motivation to complete certain projects she had taken up. She felt guilty because she procrastinated and kept them till the last minute. And she felt upset because she did not want to complete them because she had lost all interest in them. The funny part of this was that she had been so enthusiastic about this project just a few months ago. She is an alpha achiever in anything she does and is a very shrewd and clever person. So why, she asks me, am I not able to sustain my interest in this?

She had actually taken on the project as a way to improve and better herself. But once she got into it, she began to question the constant and continuous process of self improvement. She made a very valid point; in the quest for improvement, we usually leave behind and forget all the simple things in life that are pleasurable – watching television on a cold evening by yourself with a tub of ice cream, spending time with your children without yelling at them or ordering them around, cuddling with your spouse in front of a fire on a random night, taking time out to go visit a neighbor who is sick, visiting the shops even when you’re broke just for the pleasure of it, and so on and so forth.

Because we strive to do something “purposeful” with our lives, we end up stressed and depressed because we are unable to reach the standards we set for ourselves. We feel guilty at not being able to achieve our goal and this has a detrimental effect on our psyche. We take out our frustration on those close to us and ruin relationships in the process.

Improving yourself does not have to mean you must achieve some milestone that others will appreciate; rather, it means you must be satisfied with and happy about the quality of your life; you must be able to live it on your terms rather than by the standards set by others; and you must be content and at peace when you go to bed each night and wake up each morning.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Rachel King, who writes on the topic of  Online Christian Universities.

Filed Under: Motivational, Positive Affirmations Tagged: ,
December 22, 2009 3 Comments

Self Help Tips for Stress Relief

Stress is a common problem encountered daily, but it is not always bad. Stress often occurs when you take on too many tasks at once or you are preparing for something you are not used to doing. Your body responds as if it senses danger and produces cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are good in small amounts because they allow you to overcome certain obstacles in life. During a stressful situation, your body may produce excessive amounts of these hormones and it can have a negative effect on your body. Small amounts of cortisol and adrenaline are helpful for helping you through certain situations. For example, these hormones can help you react quickly if you are in a dangerous situation.

Some of the negative effects of stress include an upset stomach, back pain, insomnia, or headaches. Too much stress can also affect your immune system resulting in difficulty fighting disease. It may cause you to become moody, tense, or depressed, and this can have a negative effect on your relationships.

Because of these problems, it is important to learn proper stress management techniques. There are several changes you can make that can help you feel much better.

Don’t take on more than you can handle. By accepting a reasonable workload, you place less pressure on yourself and should be able to meet your deadline without any added frustrations.

Meditation is an excellent method of relaxation and this can help calm your body and mind. Meditation has many positive effects on the body such as helping clear the mind of any negative thoughts.

Another method of stress relief is to see things from a different perspective. With a different viewpoint, you may see the positive in an otherwise bad situation. This also allows you to have a more positive outlook on life, which can lead to many health benefits.

If you are suffering from stress, it is important to relax and find out what is causing this problem. After figuring out the cause, you can begin making changes to reduce the negative effects of your stress.

Filed Under: Positive Affirmations, Relaxation, Stress Tagged: , , , ,
November 20, 2009 2 Comments

Needed: A Guest Post by B. Lynn Goodwin

You Want Me To Do What?

NEEDED by B. Lynn Goodwin

“When are you planning on going to the grocery store?” my mother asked after our trip to the hairdresser followed by a late lunch at Emil Villa’s. I’d taken her back to her condo, helped her open her mail, and I thought my day was over.

“I’ll go right now.”

“Don’t go now. You don’t have time.” I did though, and we both knew it. I hated being reminded that I had no life.

“When would you like me to go, Missus?” I asked with all the patience I could muster. She was Missus and I was Person, names that kept us unique and reminded us that we loved each other, even in trying times.

“I don’t care. Go tomorrow or the next day or whenever you want to.”

We did this dance every day. She needed help; I needed space. She feared I would abandon her, while I feared that her blood pressure would soar, causing another stroke.

It would be four years before I knew that Alzheimer’s was eating her brain, robbing her of logical thought, and returning her to the emotional dependence of a child. I had no idea I was engaged in a psychological battle with a woman who was losing her ability to think logically. I put on my patient face and said, “I’ve got time and I want to go now. What would you like me to bring?”

She looked up with vacant, pleading eyes. Four years later I would call them Alzheimer eyes. “Can we look at the list?”

She’d spent all one afternoon sitting at a wobbly card table typing the list, letter by letter, then going back and XXXing out her mistakes. I offered to type on either her typewriter or my computer while she dictated, but she said, “I have to do something for myself.” Watching her struggle with the scraps of memory lurking in her brain made me want to scream. I dug my fingernails into my crossed arms until little red half-moons dotted my elbows.

I found the typed grocery list in a stack of old Saks catalogues, but nothing appealed so I breathed deeply and said, “Why don’t I see what’s in the freezer?”

In my best Vanna White imitation, I pulled out each item, turned, showed it, and called out its name. If I read the names while I looked in the freezer, she couldn’t hear me. Besides my Vanna poses were entertaining, and I loved her approval, though at 48 I should have been far too old to care.

Crisp fall air filled my lungs as I scurried to my car. I never realized how stale the air in her kitchen was until I escaped to the real world. I looked up at the bare spots already showing on the trees. I didn’t know yet that Alzheimer’s speckled her brain with holes in exactly the same way as fallen leaves made holes in the trees. I only wondered if this was the last year she would see the leaves turn.

If I had known about her disease, maybe I could have stopped trying to be the perfect daughter. Maybe I could have loved her for needing me instead of craving her approval. Maybe I could have recognized that I was an adult daughter, doing what needed to be done.

When I came back from the store, she thanked me profusely. “I don’t know what I would do without you, Person.”
+++

B. Lynn Goodwin is a freelance writer, editor, teacher, former caregiver, and the author of You Want Me To Do What? – Journaling for Caregivers. She is published in numerous anthologies, e-zines, magazines, and blogs. She facilitates journaling workshops for caregivers and publishes Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com. A longer version of this piece was originally published in Voices of Caregivers.

Filed Under: Positive Affirmations, Tough Love!
October 26, 2009 3 Comments

Keeping Small Issues Where They Belong

Relaxed Squirrel!

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this:  To rise above the little things.  – John Burroughs

The quote above is a lesson in self improvement, self help, stress management, health, and happiness.  I think everyone should write this quote down on an index card and place it in the place they’ll see it the most often – on the refrigerator, by your desk, on your bathroom mirror… Small things (like the ones listed below) simply aren’t worth getting riled up over:

  • A leaking faucet.
  • Finding yourself low on gas.
  • The cost of gas.
  • A driver who pulls out in front of you.
  • A barking dog.
  • Having to run to the store for butter or milk.
  • Your team losing a game.
  • The server not bringing your refill as quickly as you’d like.
  • A slow internet connection.
  • And so on….

Think about it – these things are so trivial, they’re almost funny!  Yet how many times do people get hot and bothered over these very things… and often things even sillier.  Recently, my husband and I were eating at an Outback in Nashville, Tennessee (Amazing food!).  A group came in and were seated in a booth, by the window no less.  One of the women got ticked off because they didn’t get to choose their own booth.  There were only a handful available anyway!

If a person can get to the place where small things barely even register a response from them, they’ll be happier than they have ever been.  What’s more, they’ll experience stress so rarely that they’ll think they’ve been given a new lease on life. We spend a great deal of emotions needlessly on small things.  Then when then the larger problems arise – we don’t have much left in our tank.  The larger problems overwhelm us because we’re spent!

Start challenging yourself to handle life’s small disappointments and setbacks better.  Amaze everyone around you by smiling and even laughing when something cooky happens.  Several great things will happen: You’ll feel happier and more relaxed.  What’s more, anyone who sees you handling life’s little annoyances this way will think, “Wow. I want to be more like that!”  Before you know it, you and everyone you know will enjoy a much happier and calmer life.

Worth trying, right?!  The next time something starts to register on your stress scale, take a deep breath.  Then ask yourself, “What if this is the worst thing that happens to me this week?”   The diminutive nature of the problem will leave you amazed and probably even laughing!

Make each moment count double,
~ Joi

Filed Under: Mental Fitness, Positive Affirmations, Quotations, Relaxation, Stress Tagged: , , , ,
July 7, 2009 2 Comments

Self Growth Generally Doesn’t Happen in a Recliner

comfy recliner

This morning I went about my normal, blissful, much-beloved morning routine. I fed my inside cat, Alexa. I fed my outside cat Ming Li and tried to catch a site of Ming Li’s kittens and baby daddy. The daddy (Jet Li) was nowhere to be found, but the adorable babies were running amok.

Then I came back inside to pour myself and my husband some Heaven – also known as coffee. None of our daughters are ever awake at this point, and they look as cute sleeping now as they did when they were 4, 3, and 1.

My beautiful, picturesque morning came to an end when I remembered what was at the top of my “To Do” list for today. I glanced at the notebook I keep such lists in and could have sworn I heard thunder clap and demons shriek as I opened it up to today’s list. Sure enough, there at the top was the task that I was dreading. I won’t bore or frighten you with the details – besides, unless you’re a web publisher/designer you wouldn’t fully grasp the horror.

Suffice to say, the task that lies before me is one that summons up all of my attention, all of my mental resources, all of my courage… oh, it sucks a gravedigger’s big toe, okay? The left one.

It’s a particular task that I swore I’d never do again because it’s so tedious. It’s a completely different detour from the path my days normally take and, frankly, I love my normal path!

Alexa and I were both glaring at the list when I remembered a quote by Anais Nin: Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.

Oh. Okay.

Then as I was getting my mind around that quote, another one came to mind: Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. – Ronald E. Osborn

That’s a good one, isn’t it?

The next time you’re up against something that’s intruding upon your blissful, happy, comfortable setting – thank it for its arrival. It bears good fruit.  Self Growth generally doesn’t happen when we’re comfortable.  It’s when we step out of our comfort zone that our potential to grow escalates.   So, I guess it should be something we welcome rather than try to dodge?

Make each moment count double,
~ Joi

More quotes about self growth can be found in Self Help Daily’s Inspirational Quote collection. But be careful, they’ll affect you in a powerful way!

Filed Under: Inspiration, Motivational, Positive Affirmations, Quotations Tagged: , , ,
February 22, 2009 4 Comments

You Can Sharpen Your Brain at Any Age

The Memory Bible Did you know that most memory functions can continue to sharpen over the years? If, that is, they’re exercised and challenged.

“Memory can be trained just like muscles,” says Gary Small, M.D., author of Memory Bible, The: An Innovative Strategy For Keeping Your Brain Young and director of the University of California-Los Angeles Center on Aging. “If you make the most of your memory and use it regularly, that portion of your brain can actually get better as you get older.”

To sharpen your memory and strengthen your mind, do mind-challenging activities, on a daily basis. “Try to do a crossword puzzle every day to help build and maintain vocabulary and memory,” recommends Small.  The experts also agree that learning a second language is beneficial.

As we’ve been learning in recent posts, certain foods can also age-proof the brain.

“A 2008 British study found that eating blueberries can enhance memory and learning, and drinking apple juice may improve memory by preventing the decline of an important neurotransmitter, according to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.” – Everyday Health

DID YOU KNOW?
According to Mamas Health.com, a cooked potato can jump start your brain when you’re feeling mentally sluggish. Click the link to go directly to a page filled with fascinating facts about the brain. They’re presented in a list that will most definitely teach you a few new things.

QUOTE
“I’m hoping that I rewrote the rules for anyone who wants to do something and they think they’re too old to do it.” Dara Torres (41), the only swimmer to medal in five Olympics

Filed Under: Brain Games, Positive Affirmations Tagged: , , ,
January 19, 2009 2 Comments

Clean Out Anxieties and Stress!

Clean and Declutter For a Better Mood!Research shows that clutter (in your home, office, or vehicle) causes stress and increases anxieties. Research also shows that physical activity decreases stress and anxiety. So, the solution’s almost too easy, isn’t it?

Get moving and actively declutter, clean, and straighten!

Did you know that studies actually show that people who spend at least 20 minutes a day cleaning suffer from less stress than those who don’t? I guess the reason’s obvious, they’re cutting down on clutter while increasing their activity. Making their living quarters clean and stress free makes them feel better.  That, in turn, increases self confidence and self worth.

It’s all good.

Below are a few tips on ways to find more time for cleaning as well as ways to keep clutter from getting out of hand in the first place.  If you do it like you mean it, you can also burn a lot of  nasty calories while you’re at it.

  • A place for everything and everything in its place.  Take a walk around your home or office and take note of the places where clutter tends to congregate.  Wherever it holds its meetings is the place you need to focus your attention on.  Pay particular attention the room most people enter through.  If that’s the kitchen, your counters probably suffer from mail pile up.  This would be the perfect spot for a neat little mail caddy or at least an attractive basket.  They, at least, say to the world that they’re supposed to be there.
  • Clean your closets (and some rooms, for that matter) out and either haul things off or store them away in the garage.  Invest in some of those plastic bins with matching lids that you find in department stores.  Some may still be on sale from the first of the year – if not, they’re worth the money.  They look so much neater stacked in a garage or storage building than boxes or bags, plus if you buy the clear ones, you can see what’s inside.
  • Clutter and untidiness can be overwhelming and depressing.  Be proactive and put it in its place.  Set aside a day of the week that’ll be your designated Cleaning Day.  Granted, if you’re like me and are blessed with multiple children and cats, more that one Cleaning Day may be called for.  Just make sure nothing gets in the way of Cleaning Day.  Round up your cleaners, dust rags, broom, Swiffer (LOVE my Swiffer!), etc. and just have at it. Swiffer is Love.
  • During commercials of your favorite shows, get up and straighten.  Use each commercial break for a different room.  By the time the movie or show is over, you’ll have a much cleaner house.
  • Keep all of your cleaning supplies together – maybe in a pail. Then, pack the whole lot of them into whatever room you’re focusing on at the time.
  • Swiffer is love.

Our surroundings play a huge role in our emotions and our state of mind.  I’ve noticed that when things around me are neat and clean, I focus better and feel better.

Be sure to surround yourself with things that make you smile, colors that relax you, and products that make organization easier (like bookshelves, bins, desk organizers, etc).  Then, at all costs, keep them clean and tidy!

Filed Under: Mental Fitness, Motivational, Positive Affirmations Tagged: , , , ,
December 3, 2008 9 Comments

The Power of Affirmations and Positive Thinking

Think Positively Those of us in the Self Help and Mental Fitness industry love nothing more than coming up with so-called secrets to personal success and achievement.  While each “secret” carries a great deal of weight and, in its own way, can help us along our route to self improvement, there is one good, old-fashioned, often overlooked truth:  Positive thinking can work wonders.

I know you have heard of affirmations.  They are short and to the point sayings or quotes that people repeat to themselves with varying degrees of frequency.  These sayings serve to “affirm” what it is they hope to accomplish in their life.

The individual who is trying to stop smoking (or another unhealthy habit), for example, may use one of the following positive affirmations:

  • My health is more important to me than this.
  • I am getting healthier every day.
  • I am getting stronger every day.
  • I am strong.
  • I can do this!

We all know how powerful positive feedback is, but we can’t always get it from the people around us.  After all, they’re all busy on their own road to self improvement.  The good news is, we can be our own cheerleading squad.  We can, if we will commit to it, provide our own positive feedback.  The trick is to be very careful what you say to yourself.  Watch your thoughts like an overly protective mother watches her child on a playground. 

As a mother worthy of the title overly protective parent, I can tell you a hawk doesn’t have any better vision!

When negative thoughts creep in, chase them away with positive affirmations.  Make your mind a steel trap – one that keeps positvie thoughts IN and negative thoughts OUT.  To a very real extent, we create our world within our mind before we create it anywhere else.  If it is the birthplace of things that will take root in our life, shouldn’t we want the environment to be as positive as possible?!

The next time you begin to think negative thoughts about yourself, force the thoughts to stop.  Replace them immediately with positively affirming thoughts.  I’ve always taught my daughters this about thoughts:  Never say, to yourself, things you wouldn’t dream of saying to another person.  You would never (I hope!) tell another person, “You’re fat (or worthless or old or skinny or….).”  Never say them to yourself.  Critical, ugly words are emotionally crippling – they act upon your psyche just as a dropped hammer would act upon a toe.

A person’s spirit can be just as broken as a bone, but it takes far longer to heal.  You would never consider breaking someone else’s spirit, right?  Starting today, always be just as careful with your own.

Positive affirmations and positive thinking work wonders in a person’s life.  If you are one of the individuals who have their doubts, do me (and yourself!) a favor:  Try it for yourself.  Grab a few of the affirmations listed below and memorize them.  Use them throughout the coming days and see, for yourself, how comforting and inspiring they are.

After a few weeks pass, I promise you this – you’ll never leave your house without them again!

Favorite Positive Affirmations:

  • I can do this.
  • I’m a finisher.
  • I persevere.
  • I am getting healthier everyday.
  • I am growing each day.
  • I can do anything I set my mind to.
  • Nothing is too hard for me.
  • I’m tough!
  • I am living out my dreams
  • I am surrounded by people who love and support me.
  • I always find a way.
  • Nothing gets in my way.
  • I am getting closer and closer to my goal.
  • I have a wonderful life.
  • My family loves me.
  • I am important.
  • I am in control.
  • I am successful in everything I do.
  • I can change the world!
  • I’m headed in the right direction.
  • I love my life.
  • I’ve got a great attitude.
  • Life is fun.
  • I’m hopeful about the future.
  • I like me as a person.
  • I know what I want and how to get it.
  • Look out world!

Make each affirmation count double,
~ Joi

*** The poster above says, “THINK SMART. Every answer you seek lies within you. Learn to appreciate the questions first. They will guide you to great discoveries. You can do anything. Think big.” I love this poster’s attitude!

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