The Power of Words

The challenge then becomes how to make sure that both your attitude and your effort are aligned with YOUR vision of the future.  There are lots of different theories and approaches on how to do this.  In my opinion one of the easiest ways to address is via the use of affirmations which you review a few times a day.  Try these two on for size:

• I stay positive at all times.  When things do not go my way I recognize that the setback is only temporary.  I’m thankful for all that I have and remind myself of how fortunate I am compared to most of the other 7 billion people on earth.  My positive attitude is contagious and helps others with the challenges they face.
• I start each day with a plan of the three most important items to accomplish that day.  I focus my efforts solely on these items until they are complete.  I know that by steady, consistent effort each day I will make small steps towards my large goals

The mind is an amazing thing.  Simply by reading your affirmations a few times a day (when you get up, when you start work, at lunch, before you go home, before dinner, before you go to bed), you’ll slowly reprogram your behaviors.  It’s not important to understand the biology or psychology of the phenomenon.  What’s important is to assume control of your fate.

With that in mind:

• Why would you ever let someone else control your fate?

Why is it that we are so goofy and forget the simple things that we knew when we were born?  Yes it’s important to focus on getting things done.  However, not at the expense of our health or relationship with others.  Sleep is an example of one of those basics that are absolutely critical to our health.  The list of basics that are key to our relationships contains many others:

• Be nice to people
• Be polite
• Do what you say you’re going to do
• Do not speak ill of others
• Smile
• …..

So consider today’s post a gentle reminder of the importance of getting back to the basics — and I can highly recommend a good night of sleep as a wonderful place to start!

With that in mind:

• What’s at the top of your list of basics?

From Monday through Friday (when I’m not on vacation / Holiday), I pull together one of these posts.  Not because they’re going to change the course of humanity.  Rather, because I know that if I want to learn more, grow as an individual, and live life more fully it’s critical that I reflect on what’s going on in my mind.  And the way the mind works is absolutely amazing to me!!!  Currently I do NOT pick out topics for my daily post before hand.  Rather, I review a long list of ideas that I keep on file.  Today “consistent” just sort of popped out at me.   I went through my normal process of pulling in a shell template and saving a draft.  I then glanced up and noticed that yesterday I posted my 200th post and today would be number 201!!!  Amazing the way that my mind focused on “consistent” for today’s topic given that yesterday was such a nice, round number.  Now I’ve got a LONG way to go to get to “Ripken-esque” numbers, but hey 201 isn’t bad!  And I absolutely know that I’ve grown a ton over the past year by doing a bit of writing on a regular basis.

My hope is that a few of you that read this take the time to reflect on those things you encounter day to day.  To reflect on what you might do to improve yourself.  What you might do to help others improve.  And never forget that it’s only through long, sustained, consistent actions that we will be able to make a real impact.

With that in mind:

• How would being more consistent help you with your success?

• The verb definition – “Work hard over a period of time”, or
• The noun definition – “A spell of difficult, tiring work or travel”

We all encounter ‘slog’ — be it the verb or noun form — as we go through life.  Sometimes the situation we’re in is definitely a slog; and, similarly, sometimes we have to slog through those trying times.  Neither the situation nor the action is a lot of fun.  However, situations and actions are temporary AND they help us to get to our destination.  So the next time you’re in the process of or facing a slog, don’t think about the now.  Think about the then.  It’s the tough journeys and tough situations that help us learn more, grow as individuals, and live life more fully.

With that in mind:

• Do you have the mental strength to overcome the slog?