Positive Attitude - Three Ways To Get On The Plus Side

When was the last time you had a good day? Can you remember? Was it yesterday? Last week? Three months ago? And what made it good? Was it because things went well, or just because you felt good about yourself?

We can’t always guarantee that things will go well, because the world is not in our control. But with a little effort we can guarantee that we feel good. Here are three simple steps to get yourself on the positive side each and every day.

Step #1 – Smile. When we feel good we smile – that’s obvious, but did you know that if you smile it makes you feel good in return? The very act of pulling our facial muscles into the position for smiling, and I do mean a proper smile, not just a twitch of the mouth, releases hormones which actually make us feel better? The body to brain connection is a two way street and we can send messages in both directions.

I find that combining the smile with an improved posture; straightening up, pulling back the shoulders and standing taller is a potent combination that instantly lifts my spirits.

Step #2 – Think the best possible thought. When I’m feeling worried or anxious about something, I know perfectly well that worries achieve nothing, but they can be difficult to dispel, so I have a favourite thought which I keep for just such an occasion.

I go back to a time a few years ago when I had to give an impromptu presentation to a large audience, which I wasn’t expecting. I was unprepared and very nervous, but fortunately it was on a subject I knew well.

At first I stumbled and hesitated but after a few minutes I could sense that the audience was willing me to succeed and I began to feel more confident. At the end of twenty minutes of non-stop presenting, I received thunderous applause and a room full of smiles. It was one of the most fulfilling moments of my life and I can still remember it vividly.

So when things are pressing down on me I simply remember that moment of triumph and all my troubles are put back in perspective.

Step #3. Help someone. Fears, worries and insecurities are inward looking and self-centred modes of thinking. One sure fire way of moving away from them is to focus externally, by carrying out a simple act of kindness for someone else.

Carry someone’s shopping, spare a moment to talk to someone alone, help a loved one with a difficult task or give a hand to a stranger. Whatever you do, make sure to do it with an open heart and no expectation of reward. Your reward will come from the good feelings you create within yourself.

So, next time anxiety or depression threatens simply stand up straight, smile, think your favourite thought and go find someone to help. I guarantee you’ll be living on the plus side in no time.

Hi, my name is Andrew Grant. I hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like to read more great articles on self improvement and making money online, I'd like to invite you to subscribe to my free newsletter, which you'll find at : http://www.money-and-mind.com

Self Esteem: 8 Universal Laws

The Law of Stuart Smalley

Genuinely strong self-eteem has nothing to do with the Stuart Smalley character on "Saturday Night Live." Smalley was played by talk-show host A1 Franken who looked in the mirror to tell himself "You're good enough,you're smart enough, and doggone it, people like you." This is not the kind of namby-pamby-feel-good self-esteem we're talking about.

The Law of Definition

Self-esteem is one of those frequently used terms that we believe we know the meaning of until we are asked to define it. Most folks define it as the way you feel about yourself. The problem is feelings can, and often do, change. The definition I have found most useful of self-esteem is: the strength and power of your belief in your self.

The Law of Ends vs. Means

While working on increasing your self-esteem, remember it's just a means to an end, not the end in and of itself. I've known lots of unsuccessful people, and even people who continually do the wrong thing, and yet they feel good about themselves. Self-esteem is merely a means to the end if increasing the quality of life, for yourself and those around you.

The Law of Company

Self-esteem is strongly influenced by the company you keep. Hang around people with weak self-esteem and yours is likely to be weak as well. And guess what? Hang around people with strong self-esteem, and yours is likely to strengthen as well.

The Law of Blame and Accuse

I've heard so many people say "My self-esteem is low because I'm too this/that, I grew up without this/that and this/that has happened to me." Which usually leads me to wonder what does a person who is too this/that, grew up without this/that, and has had this/that happen to them, DO WITH THE REST OF HIS OR HER LIFE?

The Law of Action

You can learn about self-esteem, read about it, go to seminars, etc., and nothing will change if you don't do something with what you learn. In order to change something, you simply must TAKE ACTION!

The law of NWBG

While NWBG may sound like the name of a rock group, it's really a fast and easy way to measure and mprove your self-esteem. In vertical order, write the letters NWBG, vhich stand for Now-Worst-Best-Goal. Now, on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 is the worst and 10 is the best) rate your self-esteem the way it is Now, the Worst it has ever been, the Best it has ever been, and the Goal you would like it to be. This gives you a number next to each of the letters NWBG. If you are like most folks, Now is higher the Worst. This gives us some important information:

How did you get from the worst to where you are now? The answers can be key for further strengthening your selfesteem.

The Law of Higher Math

Now we will do a little higher math in order to strengthen your self-esteem. Take the number for your Goal (let's say 10) and subtract from it the number for now (let's say 4), so it's 6. So that's six levels of selfesteem to travel, which is too big a chunk all at once.

Let's make it manageable by taking one level at a time. What small, simple steps can you begin to take immediately to move you from a four to a five? And then a 5 to a 6, a 6 to a 7, and so on. In this way you can measure your progress as you go, and rather quickly strengthen your self-esteem.

How's that for progress?

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