MAKING CHOICES

     Learn everything you can. Seek as much knowledge as you can about whatever it is you want to do. Leave no stone unturned. The more you know the more confident you will be. High confidence leads to greater self-worth which builds positive attitude. Your positive attitude has everything to do with your success.

     Know where the landmines are. Identify what could go wrong. Not in the way of being a constant devil's advocate. But knowing the pitfalls ahead of time helps you maneuver your way around them. Leaving these pitfalls unknown breeds fear. Expose them. Evaluate them. Solve them.

     Ask yourself these questions: "What is making me hesitate? What skills do I lack? Have I done my homework?" This is the step where you sell yourself on YOU.

     Choice #2- Realize that faith is stronger than fear.   Understand that God sees your problems. When things are going well, we feel we do not need constant assurance that God is with us. But during difficult times, we are in need of security. Place the changes you seek in attitude, thinking and behavior at the top of your prayer list. Ask God to help you do what is possible to bring about effective change. Then ask Him to do for you what you cannot do for yourself.

     Choice #3- Write a statement of purpose - Do you shoot the arrow and draw your target around it, or do you aim for the target? Sadly, many people approach their lives like Charlie Brown shoots arrows. They never draw a target so they never miss their goal. But they never really hit one either. Sometimes driving an hour to a bowling alley to shoot a 16 lb ball for 10 pins makes more sense than what you do at work because at least your goal is in front of you when you’re bowling.

     That’s why you need to begin with writing down a clear statement of purpose. It may take several drafts. Write specifically what you desire to accomplish each day. What are the giants you must slay to make your attitude what it needs to be? What resources will you need? Take actions on what you write and verbalize what you write each day.

     Choice #4- Have the desire to change - Often we change only when a huge boulder is headed our way. However, no choice will determine the success of your attitude change more than desiring to change. You have to exit your comfort zone.

     Reinforce Positivity in Yourself - Once I started thinking more positively and adapted to a more positive attitude, I realized I had to reinforce these thoughts and behaviors in myself so they would stick. As with any sort of training, practice makes perfect, and, yes, you can practice being positive.

     The best and easiest way to do this is to be positive when it comes to who you are. Tell yourself you’re awesome. Tell yourself you look good. Tell yourself that you love and accept yourself completely. Tell yourself you did an awesome job at work or raising your kids or whatever it is you do.

     Be honest with yourself, but do your best to look for the good. And, whatever you do, don’t focus on the negative. Nothing good can come of telling yourself that your butt’s too big or your latest career goal wasn’t met.

     It’s okay to not like everything about yourself (yet), but don’t spend energy dwelling on the negative. Remind yourself of the good in you. We all have positive attributes and it’s up to you to remind yourself of them every day.