Positive Thinking

PART ONE

A life of success and achievement is a direct result of utilizing the power of positive thinking. The most important asset you have in your quest to live your dreams? It’s right under your nose. Actually your nose is part of it. It’s simply – YOU. More specifically YOUR MIND.

THE POWERHOUSE TO YOUR DREAMS - YOUR MIND AND THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING.

Your thoughts are the most important asset you have in your desire to achieve your dreams. They affect you in ways you never thought possible. The truth is, whether you know it or not, your thoughts are responsible for whatever place or situation you are in right now.

Nobody would argue that electricity exists. You can’t touch, smell, hear or see it, but its effects are evident everywhere you look. Its power is evident everywhere you look.

In the same way, your thoughts are energy. Your thoughts drive your life just as electricity drives a motor. That is the power there is in having apositive mental attitude. 

Yes, I am not the first one to say this and I bet I won’t be the last either. You know why? Because it is true. It’s simple, but true. There is power in thoughts; in negative and in positive thinking. Choose positive thinking and you will enjoy positive energy and positive results.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK. This is one of my favorite positive thinking quotes:

• If you think you are beaten you are
• If you think you dare not, you don't
• If you want to win but think you can't
• It's almost a cinch you won't
• If you think you'll lose you're lost
• For out of the world we find 
• Success begins with a fellow's will
• It's all in a state of mind
• Life's battles don't always go 
• To the stronger and faster man
• But sooner or later the man who wins
• Is the man who thinks he can

Author Unknown

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PART TWO - Power of positive thinking

James Allen describes one of the best analogies on the power of positive thinking that I have ever read in his timeless classic “As a Man Thinketh.” He likens the mind to a garden. If planted with beautiful plants and carefully nurtured and tended to, the garden will yield beautiful flowers and be a place of comfort, beauty and peace. If neglected, weeds will creep in and destroy the beauty and yield thorns, destruction and harshness. Of-course, some twisted or strange gardener may actually deliberately plant weeds and unpleasant plants.

It is the same with the mind. If you plant beautiful, healthy thoughts into your mind you will reap a beautiful, healthy life. If you plant negative thoughts you will reap destruction and despair in your life. If you neglect to feed your mind healthy thoughts and to protect it from negative thoughts, the weeds of destruction will creep in and choke your mind. Another way thoughts can be planted in your mind is through subliminal messages. 

The power of positive thinking will yield good results in the same way that negative thinking will yield bad results.

You cannot sow poison ivy and hope to reap apples. You cannot think negative thoughts and hope to live a positive life. Seedtime and harvest are the laws we live by. You reap what you sow. You live what you think.You live what you say. That is why it is important to say the right things and sometimes we have to make a deliberate effort to do so through positive affirmations 

Here is a quote that can be related to the power of positive thinking:

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Here’s another quote illustrating the power of positive thinking:

• Finally, brethren
• whatsoever things are true
• whatsoever things are honest
• whatsoever things are just
• whatsoever things are pure
• whatsoever things are lovely
• whatsoever things are of good report
• if there be any virtue
• and if there be any praise think on these things

Any self-improvement program or journey of personal development starts with your thoughts. Master your thoughts first. Then you can master your environment and circumstances. Self motivation is easy if you have this step figured out.

Realize that your thoughts are under your control. If you don’t, you will be under the control of your thoughts! Realize what the power of positive thinking can do to change your life and give you a brighter future – the kind of future you want!

YOU ARE IN CONTROL - HARNESS THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING.

Isn’t that good news? That means YOU are in control. Not fate. Not lady luck. YOU. If you can think it, you can have it!

Whatever
THE MIND OF MAN
Can
CONCEIVE
And
BELIEVE
it can
ACHIEVE

Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill.

That has got to be the best positive thinking quote ever. It’s short and to the point, yet so powerful and true. Absorb it. Memorize it. Live by it!

Negative thoughts as well as positive thoughts will bear fruit. Conceive negative – achieve negative. Conceive positive – achieve positive. Positive thinking is the key. Norman Vincent Peale knew this when he wrote his classic book - The power of Positive Thinking 
Self motivation begins with believing in yourself. 

DEVELOP THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING - THINK THE RIGHT THOUGHTS.

There are many techniques that I have come across to do this. Some of the most practical are:

• Expose your mind to the right things.
• Watch the right movies.
• Listen to the right music.
• Read the right books. 
• Associate with the right people. 

Stay away from negative people – they will drain you of your energy and drag you down with them. Avoid them like the plague.

Thinking right is not a quick-fix process. You cannot change 20 year old habits in one week. You should not attempt to. It will frustrate you. Start slowly. Before long, it will become a habit to think right. Don’t get discouraged if you struggle a little with it. It takes time. It is a lifelong process. It is a way of life. It only ends when you die. Persevere. 

Anything that is not in harmony with your dreams and desires – throw it out. Weed it out of your mind. Continually work at it and you will develop abeautiful mind. You will develop a mind that will deliver to you the power of positive thinking and all the lovely things that go with it.

"Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny".

David O. McKay

Ready to take the next step? The Power of positive thinking - Believe in Yourself and in your abilities. If you truly desire to live your dreams you need to take stock of your worth. Maybe you will realise your dreams are not as big as they should be!

Once you are sure that your dreams are in harmony with your worth and your deepest convictions, you need to talk your dreams into reality. It's all up to YOU. YOU are in charge of your destiny. YOU CAN do it.

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Helpful resources on the power positive thinking, mental and physical health:

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• Thought Freedom - Free Self Help Articles 

A growing collection of free self help articles to empower you to create positive change right away - including overcoming low self esteem, self motivation, dealing with anxiety, and self help for depression.

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• Discover How to increase Your Mind Power 

As you explore new dimensions of thinking, there are many techniques that can help you improve your existing mind powers. Find information about mind power and how to increase it at this wonderful site.

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• The complete guide to the Law of Attraction... 

Exploring the History, Background, Definition and the ways that you can utilise the Laws of Attraction. With free resources, eBooks and Conceive-Believe-Achieve Magazine. What is Cause and Effect? How does Attraction work? Metaphysics or just Positive Thinking? Can you really bring into your life anything you desire?

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• Fitness for Fun - and great mental health 

Looking after your mind and your thoughts is only one part of the equation for a great life - you need to look after your body too. Getting into shape is not only good for your heart, it makes you look and feel better. You can spend more quality time with your family and friends and maybe teach them a thing or two.

MOTIVATION IS YOUR ”WHY”

Forget all those thesis type definition of motivation sites that just end up getting you more confused. I have experienced the frustration of searching for a definition for motivation so I will save you the trouble.

Motivation is simply 
- The reason for an action
- That which gives purpose and direction to behaviour.

Motivation is “WHAT drives you” to behave in a certain way or to take a particular action. It is your WHY.

MOTIVATION IS YOUR ”WHY”

Your WHY is the strong reason for you to desire something. It is not what you desire, but the strong reason you desire it. Let me give an example. If you want to stop working and go into business for yourself here are some possible explanations:

Your desire – to have your own business.
Your WHY – to be independent, to have more time for your family, to have more time to pursue your dreams.

So you see that your WHY often goes beyond the physical objectives themselves. Your why often satisfies a psychological need. That is important. If your reason for doing something is just material (e.g. to own a Mercedes or have a huge house), it is unlikely to see you through the difficult times to achieving your dreams.

Your WHY has to look beyond the physical. It has to be from deep within. That way when the going gets tough, your WHY will see you through it because it is a strong, burning reason. It is a reason that will stand strong in the face of opposition.

Now you have a working definition of motivation. Let’s take the next step.

If YOUR “WHY” IS BIG ENOUGH, THE HOW DOESN’T MATTER

If your reason for wanting something is strong enough, even if at the time you don’t know how to achieve it, pursue it. It has often been said that when you desire something strongly enough the whole universe conspires to bring about the circumstances, people and resources you will need to achieve that purpose.

Step One – decide what you want.

Never mind how you are going to get it – decide what you want. Be as clear as possible on what you want. There will be more on this in a later section on setting goals. Write it down.

You must have a definition of motivation that is personal to you. 

Step Two – Think about WHY you want it.

Remember these have to be strong reasons. Write them down.

By carrying out these two steps you will have sorted out your personal definition of motivation. Your WHY is your personal definition of motivation.

These are simple steps but I guarantee you if you do them you are well on your way to achieving your dreams. This is where a lot of people get stuck. They just don’t know what they want. But not YOU. You know whatyou want and you are ready to work to achieve it. If you know what you want, you are already a winner.