‘Think, believe, dream and dare.’ Walt Disney

There is an attitude that sets apart the mediocre from the majestic. It is called the success attitude.

Did you know that when Walt headed west to pursue his dream, that he sold his possessions – even his camera, to purchase a First Class train ticket, because he wanted to arrive first class? Now that is success attitude exemplified.

Success attitudes don’t arrive once you’ve achieved success. Success attitudes must be present in the midst of your failure or your disaster.

These are the attitudes that will sustain you, and equip you to handle success when it suddenly appears, seemingly out of nowhere, for all to see.

So let’s have a closer look at the 4 success attitudes.

1. Think

To think is to drink from the very depths of your soul. To think is hard work and that is why so few do it. To think is to sink your dream-teeth into the depths of your imagination.

This is where plans are made. This is where dreams are laid. This is where visions are displayed.

Blueprints of your future are forged during these times of focused thinking.

To pinpoint that thinking I have always found it essential to thrust those thoughts into the page. For there they are captured and held prisoner for future reflection and initiation.

The recording of your thoughts forges a foundation for the creation of future edifices that will be formed by applying massive action.

2. Believe

My old friend Napoleon Hill summed up these first two concepts when he wrote ‘What the mind of man can conceive (think) and believe, he can achieve.’

Believe your thoughts. Be convinced by your ideas.

Before being a published author or a successful entrepreneur I had to believe in myself long before anyone else did.

Belief saves you from grief and gives you relief – protecting you from the thief of unbelief.

When you believe you can receive.

Belief beneath – to the depths of your inner man – will sustain you and carry you past all the naysayers and the dream stealers who say it can never be done and it will never happen.

Don’t believe what you hear. Believe what you have already buried deep within your heart.

3. Dream

While you’re dreaming, don’t dream miniscule dreams. Dream dreams that are of maxiscule proportions.

Go on dream the impossible and the improbably dream!

Don’t dream ordinary. Dream extraordinary Dream beyond. Dream above. Dream while you’re wide-awake. Write your dream. Speak your dream/ Do your dream. Align your dream with your passion and watch a love affair ignite.

Even though I have entered my fifth decade on planet earth I still ask myself the question, ‘what do I dream of doing when I grow up?’

Never lose the wonder of a child, nor the dynamo of a dream in your heart.

4. Dare

I dare you. I dare you to be magnificent, magnanimous and marvelous all wrapped up into one.

Go on. I dare you. I dare you to learn that foreign language. I dare you to run that marathon. I dare you to travel to every nation on the planet. I dare you to be a best-selling author. I dare you to create a musical played on Broadway. I dare you to write the most popular blog on the planet in your niche.

I dare you to be a leader and not just a follower. I dare you to do the unattainable, the unachievable, and the not yet done.

I dare you. I double dare you. I triple dare you to dream a HUMUNGOUS  dream.

I dare you to surround yourself with a team of people much smarter than yourself and take notes furiously. I dare you to – in the words of Disney – ‘to wish upon a star’, and watch what wonderful things will come your way throughout the rest of your days.

So here’s a question for you – How are you using these 4 success attitudes to set yourself up for stupendous success?

Motivational Memo: The word success has your name written all over it – so go get it.

Peter G. James Sinclair is in the ‘heart to heart’ resuscitation business and inspires, motivates and equips others to be all that they’ve been created to become. Receive your free copy of his latest eBook Personal Success Blueprint at – http://www.motivationalmemo.com and add him on Twitter @PeterGJSinclair – today!

PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement| PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement

What if we could go through life without worrying about money, jobs, kids, relationships, and just be happy?

Happiness is not a destination. It is a positive feeling of appreciation, gratitude, and contentment about our current situation. We achieve this feeling by focusing on and acknowledging all the good things in our lives.

Abraham Lincoln said: “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” It’s really not so much what happens to us in life, but how we respond to those happenings.

Step #1 Make The Choice …

Regardless of the situation or circumstances, we get to choose whether we want to feel happy and energized, or miserable and lethargic. Obviously, we will feel better if we respond to life with
positive energy and a plan for moving forward. Taking the low road by moaning and groaning about life’s injustices can only lead to anger, resentment and frustration. What a lot of wasted energy!

That doesn’t mean the high road is easy. Often our first impulse when something unexpected happens is to tense up, burst into tears, throw a tantrum, or look for something or someone to blame. This is a typical knee-jerk response that is related to our basic survival instinct. Acknowledge this instinct and then take a deep breath.

Stop and reflect. Ask yourself: How do I want to feel? What do I want? (What is the desired outcome?)

Step #2 Let Go …

What’s on your unhappiness laundry list?

Go ahead; make that list. Here are some samples:

1. Not enough money.
2. Too busy.
3. Betsy is always in a bad mood.
4. Bruce never does want I want him to.
5. My sister acts so nasty toward me. There’s no reason for her to be nasty!

What can you do to change each of these unhappiness items? I’ll give you some hints.

1. I’m so grateful for the money we do have. I’m also grateful that we live in a world of opportunities where we can always look for ways to augment our income.

2. I enjoy managing my time well, so I never have to feel that I’m too busy to read stories to my children, or create a wonderful bedtime experience for them when they can share all the events of the day with me.

3. I’m going to do something special for Betsy today. I know she’s depressed about being overweight. I’m going to compliment her on her computer skills; she’s a genius and I think she doesn’t really know that.

4. Bruce is only two years old and he’s eager to test his wings. I will be loving and firm with him, letting him know who’s in charge. I’ll make the rules into a game.

5. Repeat Number 3 with a variation. What would make your sister feel special, loved, wanted, and needed?

Place those negative feelings into the washing machine and add plenty of detergent.

How many people do you know who can still recall some of the terrible things that happened to them years, even decades ago? I know a woman in her mid-sixties who can still remember names that the “mean kids” called her in elementary school.

That’s a long time to carry around that memory. I wonder if she remembers any of the compliments her grade school friends paid her.

For some reason, our minds tend to store “junk.” We hold on to all the bad things that people have said or done to us through the years.

Over and over in our heads, we replay tape loop of life’s injustices: justifying our hurt, anger, or bitterness. Why? Why hold on to all of that? Make a list of reasons. Can you come up with at least one reason for keeping yourself in a state of feeling bad, resentful, angry or depressed?? What is the pay-off? Release the junk. Make room for more joy!

Step #3 Be Grateful …

Being thankful for what you have and who you are is critical to the way you feel about yourself and your situation. It’s so easy to focus on what’s going wrong, but why not be thankful for what’s going right? Again, we are deciding to feel this way, based not so much on what is happening around us, but with what is happening within us.

Our bodies respond with a powerful, positive sensation when we express our gratitude; it is that sensation that creates happiness. Focusing on good things makes us feel good.

Has anyone ever paid you a compliment that you didn’t accept? For example, has someone told you your new dress is very becoming and you responded by saying, “Oh, this old thing?”

Maybe at work someone complimented you on a job well done and you responded, “It was nothing.”

Why is it often difficult to accept a compliment? Why can’t we be grateful and just say “thank you”?

When we decline a compliment, we think we are being humble, but the message it delivers to our subconscious is altogether different.

Rejection of a compliment sends a message to the brain that we are not pretty, or smart, or hard working! This response also makes the person who paid us the compliment feel bad because we didn’t accept it.

When we are grateful and accept the kind words someone has given us, it makes us feel good inside. That compliment is stored in our “hard drive,” and continues to deliver positive energy.

Have an attitude of gratitude. Make a choice to be grateful and happy. Be grateful for the job you have, even if you are not happy in that job. Be grateful for your co-workers, even though they may drive you crazy. Be grateful for your boss who is hard on you, but also challenges you, and makes you stretch further than you thought you could.

I guarantee if you will start being grateful for the things in your life that make you happy, or even unhappy, you will experience a wonderful upsurge of new energy.

Suddenly, change is in the air! You might arrive at work one day and notice that you really do enjoy your job and appreciate the uniqueness of your co-workers. You might even think everyone else has changed, but it’s really you who flipped the switch to the Happiness Channel.

Why not give that flip-switch a try? The alternative is staying exactly where you are; and if that doesn’t feel good, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
___________
Michelle Prince is the Best-Selling Author of the book “Winning in Life Now… How to Break Through to a Happier You!”. Aside from being an author, Michelle is a sought after motivational speaker and one-on-one mentor. Contact her at www.WinningInLifeNow.com or info@princeperformance.com.

-So many great ideas were shared in the article above, but for me the point about “being grateful, and accepting the compliments others pay us”, stood out in my mind. What was your biggest takeaway lesson from the article shared above? Use the comments below to share your thoughts.

Motivation Articles, Essays, Tips and Advice

Have you ever felt totally filled with enthusiasm, fired up for achieving something new?

Chances are, you felt that way at the start of a big project. Perhaps you were determined that you’d finally lose weight, or that this year, you’d actually start that small business you’d been dreaming about.

Motivation can give you a ton of energy when you’re embarking on something new. The problem is, motivation doesn’t always last. After a few weeks of sticking to your diet, or slogging away every evening at your business, it’s easy to start feeling discouraged.

Don’t Give Up

You’ve already achieved a lot – even if you can’t see that yet. Try asking yourself these three questions. If possible, write down your answers – it’s much more powerful than just thinking about them.

#1: How Far Have You Come?

Look back to the start of your project. What have you already achieved? Maybe:

• Losing weight: You’ve lost 10lbs and established some healthy new habits
• Starting a side-business: You’ve created a business plan and read three books
• Getting out of debt: You’ve paid off your smallest debt

Whatever you’ve achieved, it’s worth something. Perhaps it’s taken a bit longer than you’d hoped – but in the context of your whole life, an extra few weeks isn’t a big deal.

#2:  Have You Learnt On the Journey?

Sometimes, we get too fixated on an end goal and forget that the journey itself is important.

Even if you’ve not yet achieved the results you want, you might still have found a ton of benefits:

• Losing weight: You’ve learnt a lot about healthy eating – helping you to make good food choices
• Starting a side-business: You’ve realized that your original idea for the business was a bit short-sighted, and you’ve been able to come up with a new plan
• Getting out of debt: You’ve found that you’re spending a lot more money than you thought on little things like coffee and lunches

#3: What Will You Achieve Even If You Don’t Reach Your Goal?

Maybe you’re worried that you won’t reach your final goal. There are still plenty of reasons to keep going. For instance:

• Losing weight: You might not get down to your target weight of 150lbs, but even if you weight 170lbs, you’ll be a lot healthier than you are at 200lbs
• Starting a side-business: Your business might never provide a full-time income, but it’s still going to bring in extra money for you every month
• Getting out of debt: You might not manage to pay off all your debts, but you’ll still have massively improved your financial situation

Get Re-Started

Hopefully you’re feeling a bit more positive about your project, and you’ve decided that it is worth continue. So let’s get you through going again:

#1: Where Are You Stuck?

Often, we get bogged down because we’re stuck.

It can be helpful to acknowledge where you got stuck before trying to move on. Perhaps:

• Losing weight: You lost 10lbs in the first three months of your diet, but now you’re finding it hard to stick with healthy eating
• Starting a side-business:  You’re ready to start getting clients, but you’re not sure how to begin doing that
• Getting out of debt: You went on a shopping trip and ended up spending money that was supposed to be used for paying off your debt

#2: What Are Your Next Steps?

When you’re stuck, it’s often because you haven’t figured out what you need to do next. Try to work out a few next steps:

• Losing weight: Keep a food diary, figure out what times of day you’re most likely to snack on unhealthy foods
• Starting a side-business:  Brainstorm possible ways to get clients – e.g. advertise in trade magazines, create a website
• Getting out of debt: Cut back your spending for the next couple of weeks, avoid “splurges” in the future (perhaps by only taking cash when you go shopping)

#3: Who Can Help You?

You might feel that you need to achieve your goal on your own – but that simply isn’t true.  Often, it’s a mark of strength, not weakness, to be willing to allow others to help.

• Losing weight: Get a personal trainer to help you stay motivated to exercise, or ask a friend to come jogging with you
• Starting a side-business:  Hire a website designer to create a professional-looking website for you
• Getting out of debt: Talk to friends who’re good at managing their money, and ask them for advice

So – over to you! What are your big goals right now, and how could you regain your motivation?

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PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement| PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement

Do you ever feel like curling up in a ball and trying to forget the problems around you? With everything going on in the world today — sky high unemployment, the housing market at its lowest point, prolonged wars in the Middle East, famine and genocide in Africa, the stock market in free-fall, and our economy sputtering almost to a stop — you sure wouldn’t be alone in wanting to do this. But there may be another option…

What typically happens when you experience a crisis in one part of your life such as a major health problem, getting laid off, or having trouble paying your bills? Everything else in your life grinds to a halt. You stay at work a little longer. You exercise a little less. You dismiss your healthful diet for something faster. You neglect to write in your gratitude journal. You start to focus more on what has happened and less on the future. Basically, you stop doing all of the things you know you should do to feel and live better.

This is one of those times when it would be easy — even understandable — to forget about your dreams, about doing the small things that lead to a better life, and instead become frozen in the negativity of the moment. But there’s an important lesson here. Yes, do what you need to do to survive, but don’t neglect doing all of the positive things you know are right and that will benefit you.

Here are six things that you can — no, scratch that — must do today (and every day!) that may not jump-start the economy, but can certainly jump-start your well-being during these difficult times:

1. Replace TV/radio with something (anything!) else. The media is in the business of selling fear. And right now, business is very good. Nothing good comes from experiencing a panic attack after watching the news or listening to talk radio. Being informed is good. Being tormented is not. Instead, create an upbeat playlist, listen to books on tape, write a book, or play Angry Birds if you must.

2. Focus on what is positive. Try to balance the onslaught of negativity with some positivity. Take just five minutes in the morning and jot down a few things you are grateful for in your life. It doesn’t matter if these are big or small, as long as they are meaningful to you.

3. Confront your fears. What’s worse than knowing? Not knowing. If you have a general sense of fear or nervousness, dig deeper and look at what is driving your fear. What’s the worst thing that could happen? Of course it’s scary to look, but identifying the worst case situation often leads to some relief once you realize you can survive it.

4. Spend more time with family/friends. When things get bad, a natural reaction for some (myself included) is to isolate from others. This is actually a horrible strategy. A much better alternative is to get around others. Tap into your social network. Get out there and start talking and sharing. Instead of meeting for drinks, go outside and enjoy the summer by taking a walk, working out together, or having a BBQ.

5. Take care of your health. Stress can wreak havoc on your body, so make sure you do what you can to take care of yourself. This means watching what you eat, getting enough sleep each night, and exercising each day. You’ve heard this 1,000 times, but are you doing it?

6. Have some fun! Add as much fun and frivolity in your day as you can – schedule it if you have to. The problems you may be facing are real and serious, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be all the time. If worrying and agonizing about a problem made it go away any faster, I think Eli Lilly and many of the drug manufacturers would go out of business. It’s okay to laugh and it’s okay to have fun even (especially!) when things are tough.

It’s our nature to survive — to do whatever it takes to make it through one more day. And for most Americans right now, surviving has become their full-time job. It is times like this when passivity is our enemy. Reading about what you should do and actually doing it are two very different things. You’ve done the reading part; now it’s time for the doing part. Choose to do any one of these things right now. It’s a much better option than curling up into a ball…

Are you ready to create more money, time, energy, and passion in your life? Learn how to live your best life now with these free resources:

Get the “Achieving Peak Performance” ebook and video now! (free for a limited time)

You can also join a community of passionate people at Richer Life who want to achieve more in life and at work. With your free membership, you can participate in conversations I have with experts, celebrities, authors, and thought leaders that are laser-focused on practical ways to drive more money, motivation, and meaning into your life. Take the first step toward creating a better life by joining Richer Life for free now!

Photo credit: Cocoip

PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement| PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement

Maybe you’ve experienced this, too. When you made a commitment to try to live your best life, to start a side-business in the other 8 hours, to lose weight, or to go back to school, weren’t you flooded with acceptance, enthusiasm, and unconditional support from your friends, colleagues, and family? No? I didn’t think so. All too often, if you try to better yourself, you will likely face negativity and pessimism from those who are closest to you. Why would those who care about you the most also be the most critical? There are only two reasons.

They either don’t want to see you fail or they don’t want to see you succeed. It’s that simple. They’re either trying to “protect” you from defeat, or they’re worried that you might succeed. I’ve seen this time and time again. Misery loves company and despises success. If you catapult your life to a new level, your friends may feel threatened and left behind.

That criticism might arrive in obvious forms: “That’s a stupid idea,” or it might be the less blatant but equally deflating kind: “That’s interesting. Good luck with that.” It’s going to hurt. It might throw you so much that you decide to give up before you even get started. I don’t want this to happen to you. So let’s go through some of the more common criticisms you’ll hear and try to understand why those who mean the most can also be the meanest.

1. “You’ve tried [fill in the blank] before and it didn’t work.”
   That’s probably true. Sometimes it takes several attempts to achieve something. Failing once, twice, or even two dozen times has no power or influence over your next attempt. In fact, for drug and alcohol addiction counseling, relapse is anticipated. It’s not shameful — it’s simply part of recovery.
2. “You’ve never done [fill in the blank] before.”
   Just because you haven’t done something before doesn’t mean you can’t do it in the future. I think one of the biggest hurdles to achieve change is putting too much weight on the past — what you’ve done, what you haven’t done, etc. Tomorrow isn’t determined by yesterday. Whatever you’re trying to achieve, start small. Learn the ropes. Take classes. But just start. The first step might feel awkward, but you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes you’ve just got to take the plunge.
3. “Don’t you know most people fail?”
   People fail all the time. You’ve got to know that going in and not be surprised if your first or fifth or fifteenth attempt doesn’t work out as well as you’d hoped. Of course, a swing and a miss doesn’t have to be the end of the ball game. Keep your eye on the prize. Focus on your dream and on what you can control. Look around. Not everybody fails. There are millions of people who are flourishing, and there’s no reason why you can’t have a richer life, too.
4. “That’s an interesting idea/invention, but I just don’t think people will buy it.”
   Who died and made this person Donny Deutsch? This is probably the most common response you’ll hear when starting a business or inventing a product, and it can instantly flush all of your hope and excitement down the toilet. This is why I encourage you not to tell your family/friends about your specific idea until you’ve done some of your own research. Test your ideas online very cheaply using Google Adwords by running a text ad for your idea and seeing the response rate.  Get some outside feedback. Maybe your idea really is stupid, but no one person can know this. Do a little research and find out for sure.
5. “Are you sure you want to face rejection and failure?”
   History is littered with people who were rejected but who persevered. For example, there was once a writer who had an idea for a book about a boy wizard. She took this idea to twelve publishers and they all told her, “No way and no thanks.” Finally, a little London publisher took a chance and published “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

Be prepared for negativity and to hear your family and friends criticize your desire for a better life. Don’t let it throw you off track. Use it to propel you forward. Of course, if it gets to be too much, you could always fire your negative friends.

Are you ready to create more money, time, energy, and passion in your life? Learn how to live your best life now with these free resources:

Get the “Achieving Peak Performance” ebook and video now! (free for a limited time)

You can also join a community of passionate people at Richer Life who want to achieve more in life and at work. With your free membership, you can participate in conversations I have with experts, celebrities, authors, and thought leaders that are laser-focused on practical ways to drive more money, motivation, and meaning into your life. Take the first step toward creating a better life by joining Richer Life for free now!

Photo credit: Dwayne Tucker

PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement| PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement