How To Increase Your Level of Positivity:

They say that you are what you eat. You are also what you think. Think positive, hope and wish for positive things and you are more likely to get them in your life.
As an example, imagine walking across a room with a cup of coffee full to the brim, when someone says ‘be careful.' From that moment on, you are more aware of what you are doing and more likely to spill some!

The following 7 ideas have been designed to get you thinking in a more positive way:

1. Know what you want. If you don't know exactly what you want in (and out of) life, then you are saying to yourself that anything will do. It is important to have a well-designed set of written goals. This does not have to take days and days to develop, just a simple set of things that you would like do and achieve in your life, over the short-, medium- and long- term. You can then put a plan in place to achieve these goals.

2. Take passionate action. Action is the key and motivation comes after action, not before it. You have to make an investment first. Think of the gymnasium--you're tired, aching, and have other things to do. Force yourself to go and 9 times out of ten, you will feel good about yourself, have more energy and positive thoughts. Take regular positive steps towards your goals and remember that motivation often comes after action!

3. Commit. It is important to commit to yourself, to those important in your life, and to what you say you will do. Commitment is following through on a course of action long after the emotion that was present when the initial commitment was made has gone. You might feel differently now but you made a commitment so it is important to honor it. If you don't, then what are you saying to yourself and your subconscious mind?

4. Live the moment. Life is about the here and now. Although what happened in the past is very important (as is the future), it is this moment that is key, this moment that will never be lived again. Do you know someone who cannot enjoy today because they always say, ‘I remember when' or someone who says, ‘Next year when I have finished this, then things will be different.' Learn from the past; plan for the future, but live for today!

5. Recognize yourself. No matter what or who you are, you are a unique and amazing individual. You have an incredible set of strengths, ideas, dreams, knowledge, experiences and beliefs. Do not let any individual suck the "you" from you. Take note of your strengths and consider writing them down and keep them close to you, along with your goals. Review and add to these regularly.

6. Stay grounded. Use the positive PDR model of "Plan, Do, and Review" rather than the negative "Should, Would, Could" and take small daily steps towards your objectives, reviewing how things go along the way. Stay grounded and no matter how successful you become, remember other people, think of others and remember where you came from and who you are. It is important to continue to do what made you successful in the first place.

7. Positive language. As we grow and develop from childhood, we learn a set of words and phrases from our parents, teachers, friends, work colleagues and other influencers. Some of this language supports us in what we want and do, and some may not. Some is positive and some is not. What you say to yourself and others has an impact, so getting this communication right is important. Review the words and phrases you use and remove those that might be negative. Make a list of these words and replace them with natural but more positive ones. (The words have to be right for you so experiment.) For example:

1. Change "might" to "will."
2. Change "I've had enough" to "I am going to make things more positive."
3. Change "if only" to "when."
4. Change "this always happens" to "next time I will ensure that."


To your success
Derek Owen