On Being Positive...

Why is a positive and proactive attitude so important? Because it actually changes our physiology... causing our bodies to heal themselves!

What’ca think?

A recent article entitled "Mind Over Matter” appearing in a publication called "Health Features" reported…

"Positive thoughts can be as effective as drugs in beating diseases. Studies show preventive medicine may soon be more than just monitoring your vegetable intake and exercise levels, and include how many negative thoughts go through your head in a day.

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that a patient's beliefs and hopes affect their prognosis.

One of the major contributors to maintaining health and removing disease is the attitude of the patient, says Professor Oakley Ray, a psychologist from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

He reviewed one hundred years of research on psychology and disease for a paper published in American Psychiatrist and concluded that WORDS can have the same effect as DRUGS; thinking optimistically can change your whole biology.

Ray quotes a wide range of evidence including various studies linking mind set to heart disease. One such study from the Harvard School of Public Health established that optimism lowers the risk of heart disease in older men while pessimism and hopelessness increase it. There is strong evidence that patients with heart disease who feel hopeless about their condition do worse.”

It has always appeared to me that people with a positive attitude (and equally positive self-talk) were significantly more successful, well-balanced and effective than people who go through life with a negative, self-defeating attitude.

The bottom line is, while positive WORDS may not be a miracle drug... what if they are and you refuse to accept the miracle?!!!

If for no other reason, find a way to inject POSITIVE words into your life each day, and maybe MIRACLES will find there way into your life as well!

Go Miracles!

Picture - Butch from Our Gang - The original Little Rascals movie.

Miracles - Anyone?

You don't need an explanation for everything.

Recognize that there are such things as miracles, events for which there are no explanations. Later, knowledge may explain those events away.

The fact that you plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return are common miracles.

Your duty to yourself is to believe that for which you have sufficient evidence, and to suspend your judgement when you have not.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Some things have to be believed to be seen. Vision is the art of seeing invisible things.

© Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com Reproduce freely but maintain Copyright notice.

The secret of life

Here are some comments from Coach Bob Tschannen-Moran*.

What’s the secret of life?

I think it has to do with connection, generosity, and joy. The more focused we become on self-protection the harder it is to experience laughter, love, and luxury. It may be tempting in these difficult economic times to hunker down with a wary-and-weary mentality, but we do so at our peril. Not only does this cut us off from that which makes life worth living, it also endangers the well-being of us all. So don't let that happen. Reach out and touch someone. Be extravagant with your generosity. Take time to notice the little things in life. Find ways to celebrate the wonder of it all.

What do you think?

How's this for an explanation of the human life span. (Author unknown)
A silly story.

On the first day, God created dog and said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years." Dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?"

So God agreed.

On the second day, God created monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span." Monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like Dog did?"

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created cow and said: "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years." Cow said: "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created human and said: "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years." But human said: "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty that cow gave back, the ten that monkey gave back, and the ten that dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

We humans do, indeed, go through many phases although not in such a linear fashion.

Here's to more monkey tricks and less barking at every age!

*Bob Tschannen-Moran, IAC-CC, CWC, is President of LifeTrek Coaching International
http://www.lifetrekcoaching.com/

Fire Engine Red

Why is the fire engine red??

The fire engine has a ladder...Ladder has steps.
Steps are a foot and is measured by a ruler.
A ruler can be a King or queen.
Elizabeth was a queen of England.
Elizabeth was also name of the ship.
Ship floats on water.
Water has fish.Fishes have fins.
Fins are people of Finland.
The national flag of Finland is red, so fire engine is red.

Now you know. Tell all your friends. Go for it!

Make lots of great days.

Being a better YOU.

You - You - You - You - You

Begin your day by choosing to be a Better You.

Choose ENERGETIC instead of permitting yourself to become run-down and burned-out.
Choose PASSIONATE instead of permitting yourself to become apathetic and indifferent.
Choose ENTHUSIASTIC instead of permitting yourself to become half-hearted and discouraged.
Choose SELF-DIRECTED instead of permitting yourself to become directionless and uncertain.
Choose PREPARED instead of permitting yourself to become shortsighted and reactive.
Choose FOCUSED instead of permitting yourself to become scattered and impulsive.
Choose SUPPORTIVE instead of permitting yourself to become critical and judgmental.
Choose SYSTEMATIC instead of permitting yourself to become haphazard and disorganized.
Choose TIMELY instead of permitting yourself to become distracted and preoccupied.
Choose PROACTIVE instead of permitting yourself to become procrastinating and hesitant.

SMILE... SMILE... SMILE...

When Was The Last Time You Had Any Fun? One great way to cultivate an energetic attitude is to be sure you enjoy what you do. Look for things that are fun to do, and find new ways to have fun at what you're already doing.

Smile and laugh as much as possible. Instead of lunch, why not go to recess?

"An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?" Michel De Saint-Pierre

Reflection

A beautiful reflection

A Poem by Portia Nelson shared with me by Stephanie Kirksey:

1) I walk down the street.....
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk....
I fall in.....
I am lost —
I am helpless.....
It isn't my fault.....
It takes forever to find a way out.

2) I walk down the same street.....
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.....
I pretend I don't see it.....
I fall in again.....
I can't believe I'm in the same place.....
But it isn't my fault.....
It still takes a long time to get out.

3) I walk down the same street.....
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk....
I see it is there.....
I still fall in — it's a habit....
My eyes are open....
I know where I am....
It is MY fault.....
I get out immediately.

4) I walk down the same street.....
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk....
I walk around it.

5) I walk down a DIFFERENT street.

***************************

"When I change how I look at things, the things I look at change."

Communication

Be a better you.

Improve your communication with another person.

A few tips from Linda Talley, "The Body Language Expert" to use at home or at the office.

So simple to do. No energy needed.

1. Instead of talking to another person using “hitler” hands, turn them around with palms facing up. This is less threatening and indicates a desire for “coming together” in community. People will tend to be more open with you during discussions or giving feedback.

2. If you’re sitting down, instead of leaning back in your chair, lean towards the other person. This shows interest and empathy.
3. Move your chair so that you’re sitting at a 45 degree angle to the other person vs the confrontational position where you are directly across/in front of them. This helps the other person relax by taking pressure off the conversation.
4. Keep your legs and arms uncrossed. Many people tell me it’s just comfortable for them to sit with their legs or arms crossed and my response is: “Yes, but what does it make the other person feel like?”
5. Refuse to walk and talk about business. It’s a waste of time anyway because neither one of you are listening to what is being said. You are watching the other person’s movement. When you really want to understand the other person, stand still, in an open, positive position and talk or listen.

When you make the other person comfortable, they will relax, exhale and you will learn a lot more about them.

PAC remembered

Wilder Penfield’s (a Canadian Brain surgeon) 1950s studies revealing that the brain records everything that comes into our conscious awareness is verified by current neuroscience studies using fRMI. This translates to me as a reason to relook and update my thinking about Eric Berne’s model of Parent, Adult, and Child as a tool to help other people get more of what they want out of life.

Remember Berne’s theory is called Transactional Analysis.

Transactional Analysis (or TA as it is often called) is a model of people and relationships that was developed during the 1960s by Dr. Eric Berne. It is based on two notions: first that we have three parts or 'ego-states' to our 'personality. The other assumption is that these converse with one another in 'transactions' (hence the name).

Parent, Adult and Child

We each have internal models of parents, children and also adults, and we play these roles with one another in our relationships. We even do it with ourselves, in our internal conversations.

Parent
There are two forms of Parent we can play.
The Nurturing Parent is caring and concerned and often may appear as a mother-figure (though men can play it too). They seek to keep the Child safe and offer unconditional love, calming them when they are troubled.
The Controlling (or Critical) Parent, on the other hand, tries to make the Child do as the parent wants them to do, perhaps transferring values or beliefs or helping the Child to understand and live in society. They may also have negative intent, using the Child as a whipping-boy or worse.

Adult
the Adult in us is the 'grown up' rational person who talks reasonably and assertively, neither trying to control nor reacting. The Adult is comfortable with themselves and is, for many of us, our 'ideal self'.

Child
There are three types of Child we can play.
The Natural Child is largely un-self-aware and is characterized by the non-speech noises they make (yahoo, etc.). They like playing and are open and vulnerable.
The cutely-named Little Professor is the curious and exploring Child who is always trying out new stuff (often much to their Controlling Parent's annoyance). Together with the Natural Child they make up the Free Child.
The Adaptive Child reacts to the world around them, either changing themselves to fit in or rebelling against the forces they feel.

Want to refresh or know more about TA --check out

http://www.itaa-net.org/ta/keyideas.htm

GTD Methodology

The task we all have in today’s world is finding better ways to work and live. David Allen’s GTD (Getting Things Done) methodology will help do just that.

Don’t believe me. Check him out. It’s as easy as 1,2,3.

Step 1.
Listening to his promo alone will deliver you at least one tip you will be able to use in getting things done.

http://ow.ly/3UTH

Step 2.
Plan 45 minutes to listen and look at this seminar on YouTube.

http://ow.ly/3UKF

Step 3.
Go to Amazon and buy his book for just $9.12.

http://ow.ly/3UIN

I know! You just don’t have time.

Wrong, you just don’t want to make time to change the way you do things to make you more efficient, effective and productive.

Plan your work to include David Allen in a time spot this week and then work your plan.

Make every day a gr8 day.

The voice in your head.

Do you talk to yourself?

Did you know the human brain averages 65,000 thoughts a day.

And most people have the same 65,000 thoughts the next day. Here's something else to chew on. Brain scientists determined there is a portion of our brain called the "Reticular Activating System". It's a fancy term for software in our head which focuses our attention on what you ask it to.

Example: Quickly look around you and count how many blue objects you can see. Without looking again tell me...how many red objects did you see? My guess is you counted the blue...and you drew a blank with the reds.

This is an experiment that helps prove if someone is focused on failure...the brain starts showing them more failure. So if people aren't changing their thoughts...their brain is pulling them towards the same thing day in and day out. A big success secret is learning how to control your thoughts.

Manage the little voice in your head with positives.

Social Intelligence

Being a better You by increasing your Self-Management.

Self-management is your ability to use awareness of your emotions to actively choose what you say and do.

SELF-MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
1. Breathe Right
2. Create an Emotion vs. Reason List
3. Make Your Goals Public
4. Count to Ten
5. Sleep On It
6. Talk To a Skilled Self-Manager
7. Smile and Laugh More
8. Set Aside Some Time in Your Day for Problem
Solving
9. Take Control of Your Self-Talk
10. Visualize Yourself Succeeding
11. Clean Up Your Sleep Hygiene
12. Focus Your Attention on Your Freedoms Rather than
Your Limitations
13. Stay Synchronized
14. Speak to Someone Who is Not Emotionally Invested
in Your Problem
15. Learn a Valuable Lesson from Everyone You
Encounter
16. Put a Mental Recharge into Your Schedule
17. Accept That Change is Just around the Corner
***************************************************
Go on and do it!
Be a better you.
I can help - http://www.wilsonmotivational.com/

Highly Successful People

ON HABITS

This is a great list created by LifeHack, of qualities that successful people have, which have been noted in many books on the subject:

They look for and find opportunities where others see nothing.

They find lessons while others only see problems.

They are solution focused.

They don't blame, & take complete responsibility for their actions and outcomes.

They always find a way to maximize their potential & use what they have effectively.

They are busy, productive and proactive.

They align themselves with like-minded people.

They are ambitious.

They have clarity and certainty about what they want.

They innovate instead of imitate.

They don't procrastinate.

They are life-long learners.

Their career is not their identity, it's their job.

They are more interested in what is effective than in what is easy.

They finish what they start.

They know how to relax, enjoy what they have in their life & to have fun.

How do your habits match up with these habits?

Do you need a coach to help you with building new habits?http://www.wilsonmotivational.com/

Staying Up When the World is Down

Ten tips

Here are 10 tips to get you started:

1. Incline Your Mind Toward Joy.

Have you noticed that your mind tends to register the negative events in your life more than the positive? Reverse this by consciously savoring the positive experiences you have as they happen. Let the good feelings sink in!

2. Lighten Your Load.

To make a habit of letting go of worries and negative thoughts, start by letting go on the physical level. Cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien recommends giving or throwing away 27 items a day for nine days. This deceptively simple practice will help you break attachments that no longer serve you.

3. Get Your "Happiness Rest."

One sure-fire way to boost your happiness level is to go to bed by 10 p.m. for three consecutive nights. You'll find that the world is a different place when you're rested and fresh.

4. Become an Inverse Paranoid.

Choose to believe that this is a friendly universe—one that's out to support you, rather than out to get you. When you find yourself facing a challenging situation, ask yourself, "If this were happening for a higher purpose, what would it be?"

5. Hang with the Happy.

Study after study indicates that happiness is contagious! Spend as much time as possible with people who are supportive and upbeat to amplify those qualities in your own life.

6. Don't Believe Everything You Think.

Interrupt the downward spiral of worry and anxiety by questioning your negative thoughts. Just because you think something doesn't make it true.

7. Seek Out Silence.

Prayer, meditation, and being in nature have long been recognized as ways to access a deep place of peace and strength inside.

8. Move Your Body.

All the experts agree that some form of exercise is essential for maintaining optimal well-being. The next time you start to feel glum, get your blood moving faster-even if it's just by standing up and moving around while you talk on the phone, or parking farther away from your destination.

9. Ground Yourself in Gratitude.

Research shows that thinking of the things you're grateful for in life definitely raises your happiness level. Writing them down is even more powerful. So start a gratitude journal today.

10. Wish Others Well.

Try "beaming love" to people—your friends and family, as well as strangers you pass on the street. It fills your own heart in the process.

Marci Shmoff

Can you name all ten tips. If not read again.

Change your thoughts and you change you life.

New offering by James McIntosh

"Coaching the Executive for Ongoing Success"

A guided process based on »Crossing The Nonsense Divide: Steps to Finding Your Path to a Successful Life«« and »Make the Nonsense at Work Work for You.

Explanations on website:
1. The power of 'why'.
2. Why use an executive coach?
3. What is the role of the executive coach?
4. So what is the aim of the executive coach?
5. What should you look for in an executive coach?
6. Am I experienced, skilled and inclined?
7. How does the process work?
8. How much does it cost?

Book Your Free Evaluation Session

804 754 0195 or email

******************************************

Also, Coaching available for everybody on...

"Getting Beyond Stuck"

Are you feeling stuck? Then this is for you.

It is a guided process, based on the book by James Henry McIntosh: Crossing The Nonsense Divide: Steps to Finding Your Path to a Successful Life.

Check it Out - www.nonsenseatwork.com

Brought to you by Wilson Motivational Enterprises.

Here's the link to my Nonsense slideshare... http://ping.fm/PEkUt - check it out.

President Obama please read...

...out-loud to Secretary Clinton.

Go slowly...

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
~~~~~ Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 - 2005 ~~~~~

I don't have the solutions to our Country's problems but I sure wish our answers would take into account the above statement.

God Bless America.

TED Who?

Do you know TED?

If you don't know TED you are missing a real treat.
TED is a collection of videos from conferences featuring some of the most famous, inspiring, educational and brilliant minds of our times.
http://www.ted.com/

Go directly to one of the best talks and you will want to can keep going from there.
Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuro-scientist discussing her stroke and how it changed her life
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

It will only takes 20 minutes to change your world.

Survive and Thrive on Chaos

This is a neat article from

“poweredbypeople.blogspot.com”

The most effective people in the new century will be those who thrive in a world of chaos. They do not believe the world is actually "chaotic" because the laws of cause-and-effect still apply. You still get results based on intelligent action and focused effort. But they understand we live in a world that "seems" chaotic and they thrive on it.

Peak performers in the 21st century will be comfortable with ambiguity. They know they will never have enough information. They know the rules are constantly changing, and yet they play "flat-out" because they expect to win. They know that action and calm, purposeful effort in the midst of the storm are still the keys to success.

In the midst of chaos, winners do not fall into over-whelm and dysfunction. They get things done. As the old cliché says, “When life gives them lemons, they make lemonade.”

Several things are necessary to thrive in the midst of chaos

1. Exceptional boundaries. Winners structure their own lives and refuse to get caught up in other people's drama. They know how to close their doors and ignore disruptions. They know where they are going and they tolerate few, if any, distractions.

2. Exceptional vision. They know their priorities and their desired outcomes. They know what they want and they can see, taste, smell and even touch their results in advance. They have goals rather than mere hopes or dreams.

3. Exceptional self-direction. Winners are in charge of their lives and chaos around them is merely someone else's drama swirling nearby. They maintain their inner calm. They are not easily lost or confused. They know their priorities and their direction, even when their flight is canceled.

4. Exceptional optimism. They see chaos as opportunity. Chaos "stirs the pot" and opens doors. Rather than annoying or frustrating them, they love it! On a wild and windy day, a rainbow may appear at any moment and they welcome it.

5. Exceptional Reserves. They take care of themselves. They eat well, rest often, save and invest wisely and when opportunity knocks, they are waiting to answer the door. They operate from strength and stability, while a chaotic world wreaks havoc on the competition.

Winners thrive on chaos. They'll see and seize opportunities, and they'll love the wild ride. In a world swirling with change and chaos, they invest in themselves and they get things done.
********

Be a winner - You’ll be fine in 2009.

Nonsense-at-Work Newsletter

by James H. Mcintosh
Consultant, Writer, Coach and Speaker
http://www.nonsensenseatwork.www/

February 2009

Cooperate to compete, or struggle easier

People are strange. We dominate the planet mainly because of our ability to work together and yet we compete with each other like crazy.

Our ability for premeditated team work has enabled us to expand our horizons beyond our wildest dreams. And as our reality has expanded to match our dreams we have increased our need to know where we fit in the scheme of things.

Here’s the really strange bit. Our sense of self-worth is mostly based on comparison with others. In other words, I measure myself against my neighbors and colleagues.

Sadly, what this often comes down to is that my success depends on your 'un-success'.

Here’s the real paradox: ‘I win if you lose’ but ‘we survive if we work together’.

We have survived and thrived as a species because we tend to resolve this paradox by finding meaning beyond the expense of our neighbors and colleagues. Please remember this as you compete your way out of this recession.

And while you’re cooperating to compete like crazy, remember this other bit of crazy. We don’t mind so much if bad things happen to us as long as the bad things happen to all of us.

You don’t believe me? Look around. Considering all the bad things happening at the moment, how many really unhappy faces do you see? How unhappy are you, really?

But if you were the only one struggling financially, the only one without a job, how would you feel?

Unfortunately, the opposite also happens. When others are successful, and we are not, we become resentful. Like lobsters. A man asked a fisherman carrying a bucket of lobsters, “Won’t the lobsters climb out?” “No”, replied the fisherman, “When one gets near the top, the others pull him back down.”

So be suspicious when politicians, or anyone else for that matter, tell you that ‘we’re all in this together’.

What if they’re wrong? I mean, what if there is an easier way to struggle?

Many of us were taught that life is a struggle. We heard adults say silly things like ‘no pain, no gain’ and ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again’.

You might be older now, but are you any wiser? Look around you. Nature has many examples showing the success of the easy way. Like rivers. Rivers don’t struggle to reach the sea, they simply find the easiest downward path, even if it means going in the ‘wrong’ direction now and then.

If at first you don’t succeed, don’t try and try again. Fail if you must, then try something else. Even if you must go in what seems to be the wrong direction for a time.

Above all, don’t program your mind with those silly sayings every time your success isn’t immediate. Do what nature does - if at first you don’t succeed, try something easier.

And if the thought of doing that swamps you with guilt? Then don’t go for ‘easy’. Go for ‘different’.

***********
Do you need a speaker for one of your events? James is your man - check out http://www.nonsenseatwork.com/ and contact him.

The Excitement of Discipline

"A Smart Thought."

The excitement of discipline.

Is this an oxymoron? Who cares? Go for it.

To be excited about discipline is the place to start when making any kind of change in your life. While motivation gets the change started it's discipline that gets it done.

Is the best you can do all you can do? The answer is No!

Suppose you fell to the floor right now and did as many push ups as you possibly could. Now let's say the best you could do is 5. You look at me and you say, "Hey Jim, 5 is the best I can do." And maybe it's true that 5 is the best you can do.

But is 5 all you can do? The answer is No! If you rest a little while you can do 5 more. and you rest a little more, you can do 5 more. How did you go from 5 to 15?

It's a miracle!

Did you know you can keep on doing that: Do a little, rest a little. Suddenly, you've gone from 5 to 25. How did that happen?

It's a miracle!

Would you believe: Discipline and a little rest built into your change plan will deliver you a miracle.

It's not the notes that make the music. It's the space between the notes that does the job. It's not stress that does you in. It's the lack of building a little recovery time in between that keeps you from being the best you can be.

As "Human's Doing" we have a major focus on end-results/accomplishments and fail to remember we are "Human Beings." Unlike machines we require mental, physical and spiritual maintenance time. It's well known by highly successful "Human Beings" that a disciplined/scheduled maintenance program in all three categories will let you be the best they can be as a "Human Doing.

"Working smarter and not harder will bring the most success - Go for it!!!!