21 Days to A Positive-Attitude Habit
(c) Copyright 2004 by Patricia Wagner
This may come as a surprise... but your attitude is more
important than your aptitude in determining your success
in life!
Just how critical is attitude to achievement? Well, take a
look at one of the greatest inventors of the last two
hundred years - Thomas Edison. Every time you turn on a
light switch, you experience the result of his persistence
in the face of continuous failure.
Edison tried 10,000 times to get his light bulb invention to
work, but failed each time. However, he had this to say
about his lack of success. "I have not failed. I've just
found 10,000 ways that won't work."
You can learn to have this kind of outlook on life, but it
needs to be purposefully installed into your daily living.
You probably know it takes about 21 days to break a habit
by replacing it with a new one. If you are plagued with
persistent negative thoughts toward life, you can replace
this mindset with a new positive-attitude habit!
Here is a 21-day five-step program to change a negative
attitude to a positive one.
1. Take charge of what you're thinking.
This is a moment-by-moment decision that doesn't happen
overnight. It's a habit that will take some time to build.
How can you do this? Choose to think uplifting thoughts
instead of discouraging ones.
You get to decide what you think, which in turn determines
how you feel. Become aware of this and dwell on positive
ideas throughout the day.
At first you may have to force yourself to find something
positive. Consider keeping a journal and write down at least
one good thing in your life each day for three weeks. Then
think about these blessings instead of discouraging
thoughts.
2. Read inspirational material.
During this 21-day training period, fill your mind with good
thoughts. The best book of all to read is that priceless
diamond of world literature - the Bible. You'll never know
what wonderful results from reading it are around the corner
until you open its covers!
3. Focus on others.
For the next 21 days make an extra effort to help other
people. Concentrating on assisting others will help you more
than you realize. If you succeed in becoming wealthy
but are poor in respect to your relationships, you will not
be truly prosperous at all!
So make a special effort of focusing on others during your
21 days of building your new positive-attitude habit. This
will free you up to allow the butterfly of happiness to land
on your shoulder when you least expect it.
4. Take care of your health needs.
It's hard to maintain a positive mindset if you've neglected
your physical needs. So during the 21 days of your attitude
retraining make an extra effort to eat nutritious balanced
meals.
Not getting enough sleep will also be a tremendous
hindrance, so make sure you're getting adequate rest. And
don't forget to get enough exercise. When you feel down, try
to take a brisk 30-minute walk. You'll feel revived!
5. Learn contentment
For the next 21 days focus on what you have and not on what
you don't have. Live in the present and enjoy your
blessings.
Try to forget acquiring stuff for the purpose of keeping up
with others. That only leads to more anxiety. Be thankful
for what you do have instead.
When going through difficult experiences - remember that
adversity can be a blessing in disguise. You might learn
some important lessons during those tough times - like
Thomas Edison did. (I know I have.)
These lessons can turn into credentials that will enable you to help
others when they're going through tough times.
So don't let negativity ruin your present and future.
Instead, build a new habit of having a positive attitude. It
will take about 21 days to start seeing consistent changes
in the way you think, but it will be worth it!
Now choose the starting date for your attitude-renewal
adventure and go for it!
How about today?
Patricia Wagner offers informative tips on living a more
energetic lifestyle at http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com and
through her free "A to Z Health Tips" newsletter.
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