Move To Change Your World

"Change your thoughts and you change your world." - Norman Vincent Peale

Lately I've been on this thread of setting a goal and then moving on it. Many times we as human beings will write down (hopefully) those things we want to accomplish or gain. But in this same stroke of wanting, we fail to make any changes to achieve them.

For some reason we sit back thinking that the stars need to be perfectly aligned or the 'timing' is not right or even leave our destiny in the hands of other events occurring first.

Waiting for the time to be right or for other events to occur first will ensure that we remain steadfastly planted in one place. We will never achieve that which we want by waiting for others to bring our goals to us.

It is much like sitting and waiting for the lottery winnings to become yours. Yes, I will admit that someone, somewhere at some place in time wins the lottery. But do you realize your chances of winning the Powerball jackpot is 1 in 146,107,962. That's right, not very good if you are looking to achieve a financial windfall. Sitting and waiting for that winning number means you will most likely wait a long, long time.

So why not get up and start doing something. Make a change and change your world. It all begins with that first bold step.

The above art work is available at Sally Evans Art.

Make A Move, Make It Now

“Confidence imparts a wonderful inspiration to its possessor” - John Milton

As life unfolds in front of you, those bold steps you take in confidence will open your eyes. Open your eyes to knowledge you never thought possible. Confidence is a key to unlock greater possibility for you and those you come in contact with.

When you dream and vision your goals, that first step is an important one to take. You can not wait for confidence to wrap itself around you. You have to step 'into' that confidence and move towards your goals. With this move to change, things become clearer to you. The fog will eventually clear and you'll be closer to achieving that which you seek.

My wish for you is to take that first step. Step towards the confidence, don't wait for it. When you establish what it is you want, you can not sit and wait for the conditions to be right. You have to move towards what it is you want. Make a bold step forward...do not wait...go for it.

The world will open up before you and things that seemed impossible become possible. There will be new options and opportunity reveal themselves to you. You will be inspired to achieve your dreams and to help others achieve theirs. Make a move, make it now.

Have A Joyful Attitude

"The problem is never the problem. The real problem is our attitude towards it." - Phil Pringle

Having the right kind of attitude is essential in handling problems that occur. Sometimes it is a daily occurrence, so much that we tend to wonder if we walk with a 'black cloud' over our head. I've had these types of days and had to keep bobbing and weaving as I walked. Trying to get out from underneath what I perceived as life's problems. No one else in the entire universe could possibly be having the kind of day I was having.

How does one get out from under this impression. The easy answer is to not let yourself believe you are under this cloud. And that takes work on a daily basis. Just understand that problems are going to occur. The reason for it is life happens. One way of avoiding this cloud is to develop a 'joyful' attitude.

Have a sense of humor about things if you can because it is a great part of attitude. You just can't take yourself too seriously with all things. If the atmosphere you move in is intense and heavy, you and the people around you will find it difficult to develop or grow. "A cheerful heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones" (Proverbs 17:22).

Allow yourself to remain cheerful with a continual spirit of enthusiasm. Don't wait around for this joyfulness. Don't wait around for things to happen. Make change happen in your life. Its a daily commitment and once you decide to do 'something', motivation will become a very powerful force. Use books, music or other communicators to keep yourself motivated.

I'll end with another quote from Phil Pringle that is great advice, "postponing joy until something happens to justify happiness guarantees a miserable life." Get out there, make change happen and enjoy yourself by laughing once in a while.

Building Confidence

I've been reading an article in Readers Digest, Surprising Secrets to Unshakeable Confidence, that provides some ideas for expecting positive outcomes. It is true that not all of our hopes and dreams come true. But placing ourselves in a better position will set us up to achieve them more often. Doing so requires improving your own confidence.

The article describes six strategies to boost your confidence and a short, very short, description of each. I recommend you get your hands on the article to read it more in-depth.

1. The toes and shoulders test

How you carry yourself, your dress, your health and the like. Not only does it signal to others that you are confident, but dressing the part boosts your own self-image. Makes you feel better and you 'carry yourself' in a more confident manner.

2. How to get to Carnegie Hall

Repeat positive messages to yourself and smile. If you enter a room smiling, you are more likely to provoke a positive response from others. This in turn makes you more confident.

3. Flying without spoons

Avoid hanging with negative people and 'gripe sessions'. If someone is being down on things, try to turn it into a positive one. And if there are valid complaints or 'gripes', ask them or yourself to present ideas to solve it. This indicates a "sense that you are in control and can take action that will make things happen." You become more confident in yourself.

4. The angry e-mail file

Remember an article I wrote some time back called S.U.M.O.? SUMO means "Shut Up, Move On", which sounds harsher then it is. Go back in my archives "Monday, September 19, 2005 - So Shut Up and Move On", to read more. It will effect your own self confidence.

5. Let the Confidence Games begin

Simple recognition of others and of yourself goes a long way in establishing confidence. Telling someone something good about them raises their confidence. "Find the strength in somebody else..." and you will find people finding strengths in you...again, raising your confidence level.

6. Remember Kanter's Law: Everything can look like a failure in the middle

Adopt the attitude "that if you do something it will make a difference, that's confidence." Just understand that persistence is a key to success. An old worn saying is that eventually there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Things will improve and so will your confidence.

There are many ways to work on and improve your confidence. Adopting a positive attitude will do great things in boosting your confidence and vice-versa.

“Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.” - Peter T. Mcintyre