How to Stay Positive

Guest Writer this week....Josh Hinds

I'm often asked how it is that I stay so positive. Now allow me to clear up some misconceptions you might have based on that last statement. I am not one of those folks that walk around with what is commonly referred to as a career politician's smile painted across my face. Although I do believe whole-heartedly in the power that a simple smile can impart on another. No, you see, just like everyone else, no matter how over all a positive person I am, or attempt to view things I still have my down moments. I like to call it being human :-)
The very fact that we are just that, human, allows us all to have down times. The difference lies in how quickly we choose to get over those things that are holding us back, or making us feel at less then our personal best. And that I believe is a major key - being able to get past the downtimes in ones life as quickly as possible and getting back on with being your best.

Moving towards continuous improvement. Remember, self-improvement is a hands on project. That is to say that without ongoing implementation and attempting of the new ideas we learn, try as we might, we aren't going to miraculously wake up one day changed people. No, we've got to apply those ideas and bits of advice we learn.

Now if I might elaborate a bit on motivation itself. And how I believe you can better stay on the path of leading a more positive life, as well as pursuing your journey with greater motivation. I'll use the saying of Zig Ziglar; he has such a simple - yet powerful way of getting the point across... Zig say's, "People often say motivation doesn't last, well that may be true, but neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it every day." Now if that's not an ahhh haaaa moment for you, I'd like to ask you to really take in the simplicity of Mr. Ziglar's words. You see, that is the "gasoline" that has fueled my own journey to where I am now. It's how I stay positive in a world that others might tend to view as negative. It's how I tune out most of the negative things around me, and tune into what's positive. But enough about me...

Most importantly, it's how you can lead a more positive daily life. And as you can see, it's not really all that complex is it? Let's look at it another way. You wake up and you pretty much have a clean slate. In most cases your day is fresh - neither overly negative nor positive. That being the case - and if you'll concede that what I illustrated above is true, then wouldn't it stand to reason that importing positive thoughts (i.e. reading, listening, reciting, etc.) first thing in the morning, and throughout your day could do wonders towards reprogramming your mind and the over all way in which you see your world? I would say that it would - So here's your homework for today... Ugghhh, I never was that great of a student, and so I must tell you that even hearing that word homework, gives me the shivers as I'm sure it did some of you... Even so, like I said before, self-improvement is a hands on project so it's worth getting over it and now embracing the view that you are a life long learner. I did, and I can tell you - I've been infinitely better for it as I'm certain you will as well. It really is just a shift in your thinking from - I'm not a good student to - I enjoy learning for what it will make of me. Simple? Of course, but I'm living proof that simplicity is often all it takes. So here's what I'll ask you to do.... Copy the following quote again on a 3x5 index card - or somewhere you can keep it handy and not lose it: "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily" - Zig Ziglar. Read that several times a day. Also, choose to read something or listen to something of a positive nature at least three times a day - preferably, morning, noon and evening.

What would be even better is if you could immediately counter any and all negative experiences with something positive. Given the events of most people's days this isn't always feasible, but it can pay dividends and is worth attempting. The big thing to keep in mind here is that no matter how great any idea or advice is, unless YOU choose to implement it and give it a fair shot to work its magic in your life you're not going to get results. Let me say that again - because it's that important! YOU have to be a part of your own success journey. If you want to see real lasting change for the better in your life, you've got to be the biggest part of the process. So simply knowing that you can offset your negative feelings by introducing positive thoughts into your mind simply isn't enough. No - you've got to actually do it - it's going to mean keeping that motivational book, or tape handy to refer to when you need to. It might mean stopping what you're doing at the moment or even scheduling yourself (and sticking to it) sometime to take in positive or motivational material. Like dieting, or exercising, developing a positive mental attitude is a choice. It requires nurturing. It's not always immediate, but if you will work on it, and cultivate it you will see results. And those around you will as well.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Dr. Covey is the author of several acclaimed books, including the international bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It has sold more than 15 million copies in 38 languages throughout the world. In 2002, Forbes named The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People one of the top 10 most influential management books ever. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People audio book on tape is the best-selling non-fiction audio in history, selling more than 1.5 million copies. Here is the Coles Notes on the 7 habits of Highly Effective People. If this interests you and you want to learn more visit http://www.blogger.com/www.franklincovey.com.

Be Proactive (Confidence – to feel empowered – take initiative)
Choose response and ability. Be a light, not a judge: a model, not a critic. Be Helpful, not critical. Proactive people develop the ability to choose their responses, making them more a product of their values and decisions than their moods and conditions.

Begin with the End in Mind (Planning – selection and maintenance of the aim)
All things are created mentally before they are created physically. You lead people and mange things.

Put First Things First (Time Management)
Time Management in four quadrants:
1. Crisis, pressing problems
2. Planning, crisis prevention. Opportunities, preparations
3. Interruptions, mail, reports, popular activities
4. Busywork, mail, phone calls, procrastination

The aim is to spend as much time as possible in the second quadrant, work to avoid quadrants three and four which will result in less time in quadrant one which could easily become the most time consuming.

Think Win-Win (Hierarchy of Needs)
Think of others as much as yourself in desired results, guidelines, resources, accountability and consequences. Maintain Emotional Bank Accounts.

Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood (Effective Communication)
Only when you seek to understand the point of view of others can you hope to be understood. This is the bait of effective communication. Beware of messages in body language, Know which emotional bank accounts are in the red. Avoid probing, evaluating and advising – listen.

Synergise (Team Building)
Creative co-operation and team work. Synergy results from valuing difference by brining different perspectives together in the spirit of mutual respect.

Sharpen the Saw (Self-Improvement)
This is the habit of self-renewal. Too many people concentrate on sawing and forget to sharpen the blade because this does not produce immediate tangible results. Self-Improvement must also concentrate on the whole being and to include physical, social, emotional, spiritual and mental.

Taking Personal Responsibility

One of the single most important words in the English language is

R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y. Your ability to respond. Why? Most of the problems we experience in life are because we fail to take responsibility. Look at your own life. Be honest with yourself. What problems can you identify that point back to you not taking responsibility either in a timely fashion or not at all? I bet it's 90% or higher. We are a country of people who seem to believe problems are always someone else's responsibility.

With all the violence in our society it is difficult to find anyone willing to admit we are all responsible, either by what we have done or what we have neglected to do. Evil prevails when good men and women do nothing. So if you are pointing a finger at any one entity, take a look at how many fingers are pointing back at you.

So you have a problem. And you have a good excuse for living with it, right? You're unappreciated, misunderstood, your parents raised you wrong, the school didn't teach you the right thing, the system is against you, you're broke, unemployed, you can't do anything right, you made a lot of mistakes … There is nothing you can do about it because you are too young, too old, you are under-educated, overweight, you won't conform, you don't have any money.

Do you realize these are all excuses? Donald Trump said " When we want to do something we find a way, but when we don't we find any excuse." Most people do not accept personal responsibility for what they want. They tend to blame others, circumstances, and conditions. Blaming makes us feel better, but it does not solve problems. What happens to us when we allow someone or something else to become responsible for us? We give up our personal power. The power to make decisions about our own lives, and to control our destiny. Are you willing to take that kind of chance with your life?

So if you are a person who has never been good at taking responsibility:

1. Look around and find the most responsible person you know and ask for help or model their behaviour.
2. Take on small projects and see them through to completion. Then slowly increase the amount of responsibility you take on. The more we do, the more we can do, and the better we get.
3. Accept 100% responsibility for what happens in your life, and know that you have the power to take control of many aspects of your life, mental and physical.
4. Stop blaming and start making decisions and be responsible for the outcome good or bad.

Self-control is the key. Take responsibility for creating, developing, and maintaining your place in this world. It's not so much what happens to you in life, but how you handle it. How you respond to it. Whether or not you are willing to step up to the plate and be responsible.

Success has been defined as having the greatest number of positive experiences over the longest period of time. Responsible people are proactive in making those experiences happen. Make it a point today to take responsibility for your own life and get away from blaming others for anything. So take personal responsibility and start enjoying your life!!