Thursday, February 5, 2015

Thoughts for the Day - Sometimes You Just Have to Jump




“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, 
you can't practice any other virtue consistently.” 
― Maya Angelou
“It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.” 
― Lou Holtz
“What you do makes a difference, 
and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” 
― Jane Goodall
“It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.” 
― Babe Ruth
“Risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.” 
― Leo Buscaglia

Monday, February 2, 2015

7 Steps to Finding Happiness at Work

7 Steps to Finding Happiness at Work


  • Be grateful for your job.  Remind yourself how nice it is to pay your bills and feed yourself.

  • Choose to be positive.  Look for the things you enjoy about your job - the people, your ability to use your skills and knowledge, and the chance to make a difference.  Remind yourself about the importance of your work.  If your job and company weren't important they'd be out of business and you'd be unemployed

  • Look for opportunities to grow and learn.  Even if you've been doing the same thing for years, you can focus on picking up some new skills that will make you more valuable to your current employer and future ones.

  • Realize change is part of life both personally and professionally.  Try to get on board quickly with new changes, and encourage others to do the same.

  • Stay aware of company news and possible changes.  Being informed reduces anxiety, and can help improve others perception of you.

  • Ask for regular feedback.  Don't get caught off guard at a review.  

  • Take regularly scheduled time off to reduce stress, and to maintain a positive outlook at work.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Thoughts for the Day - The Benefit of Thankfulness



“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough”
Oprah Winfrey

“One of the main reasons that we lose our enthusiasm in life is because we become ungrateful..we let what was once a miracle become common to us. We get so accustomed to his goodness it becomes a routine..”
Joel Osteen 

“Sometimes we focus so much on what we don't have that we fail to see, appreciate, and use what we do have!”
Jeff Dixon 

“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.”
Harry A. Ironside 

“Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road.”
John Henry Jowett

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Don't Be Afraid to Be Amazing


Good Morning,

I apologize for the delay in my posting today.  I've been a bit under the weather today, but I gave myself a gut check and I'm ready to go.  Today I wanted to talk about believing in you because it is the only way people can become finishers.  By finisher I mean winner, champion, achieve your goals, and make a life that you want for yourself.

Have you ever had a great idea, concept, or a plan that would fix a problem?  Have you been told that it won't work, ignored, or they chose to do something different?  I'm sure you may have answered yes because this is something all people experience that teaches to develop thick skin to survive in the world.  In addition to the thick skin you must believe in yourself and what you can positively offer others.

More than a year ago I personally left a corporate position because I wanted to make a change in people's lives. In my last position I was unable to get that accomplished for a number of reasons, but I still believed there was something more I was supposed to do.  The creation of the MINDWAYS QUIT Solution Stop Smoking program I cofounded was a way to carry this hope of helping people change their lives.

This past year has been fraught with personal illness, losses, financial challenges, depression, and frustration at times.  That's life isn't it for each and everyone one of us, but through it all I've held on to the belief that I wanted to make a difference.  I wanted to be the change, I wanted to see people take control of their lives, and I wanted to see people live longer lives with those they love by sharing some information that would help end their battle with smoking.

What is it for you today?  Do you have doubters or do you doubt yourself?  We all have moments of uncertainty, but you need to remember who you are, the talents you have, and how you want to make others' lives better by following your passion.  I'm going to leave you with some quotes below that will hopefully encourage you today.  Have an amazing week, and look in that mirror and tell yourself "I can do it"!!!  Take care.   Dave 
 
 


"To succeed we must first believe that we can."  

Michael Korda

 
"A person can be as great as they want to be.  If you believe in yourself, and have courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive, and if you are willing to sacrifice little things in life, and pay the price for the things that are more."  

Vince Lombardi

 
"Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe."  

Cynthia Kersey

 
"To be a champ you have to believe in yourself when no one else will."

Sugar Ray Robinson

 
"Don't be afraid to be amazing."

Andy Offutt Irwin

 

 

 

Monday, November 17, 2014

Thoughts for the Day - Be a Positive Change Today...



Good Morning,

What's going to happen today in your life?  How are you going to be the impact others by creating a positive difference?  I encourage you today to look for the opportunity to be the "Game Changer".  Have a great day being the change.  Take care.

Dave

 



Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.
Martin Luther King Jr


“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi


“The future depends on what you do today.”
Mahatma Gandhi


“You are what you do, not what you say you'll do.”
C.G. Jung


“You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.”
Henry Ford

Sunday, November 16, 2014

4 Mind Tools to Alleviate Your Stress



 Accept Challenges
 Use a process of self-discovery to identify change opportunities
      

  • Identify Your Emotions
  • Understand What Triggers Your Negative Thoughts
  • Monitor How You Respond


Allow a New Focus with Meditation
Focus your mind to achieve a new perception 
 
      Walking meditation - talk a slow/moderate paced walk and focus your attention on the part of your foot contacting the ground.  Remain focused on that process as the foot hit the ground.  When you feel your mind wander return back to the foot contact focus.  This teaches you to control your thoughts, and can be easily used in times of stress with walking or another activity (breathing).

·         Gratitude meditation - as you wake up first thing in the morning take some time to focus for the day, and give your thoughts some positive influence.  With your eyes closed focus on a person in your life that you are grateful for knowing.  Focus on their face, specifically a part that you associate when they come to mind (eyes, smile, and hair).  After finding this focus send them a thought of gratitude.  Repeat this process for 2-3 others.  This meditation helps us to focus on gratitude, and changes our focus outside of ourselves to others.

·         Centering meditation - Start with a simple stretch to relax the body, then find a comfortable position where you sit still, focus on your breathing patterns as you relax all your muscles, and finally choose a word or concept and let your mind absorb it for 15 minutes while you remain completely relaxed.  This is building a bridge between conscious and subconscious thought that promotes positive change.

Affirm Your Personal Power
Unleash the power of your mind to control stress
 
·         Using positive daily affirmations - counteracts stress in your life is extremely effective.  Prior to creating an affirmation use these tips to ensure the outcome is achieved: make it personal, positive, present tense, believable, simple, say it 3x times as you stand in front of your mirror, and complete this process for a minimum of 30 days.

·         Samples of Effective Affirmations You Can Use to Manage Stress: "I am at peace even when life gets crazy", "I am in control of my stress level", and "I am relaxed and free from stress".

Actualize Transformation with Self Hypnosis
Use Self Hypnosis to engage your sub-conscious mind in overcoming stress

 ·         The Mental Vacation Method - Imagine your favorite vacation spot or somewhere you've dreamed of going to use for this session.

·         The Safe Place Method - Choose a place where you always feel safe, comfortable, and at peace for this session.

·         The Marble Method - Sit yourself down in a comfortable place, and place a marble or a smooth stone in your hand while you allow your fingers to feel all the contours of the object.

Going through the process:
  • Seat yourself in a comfortable place
  • Start by breathing in focusing on a smooth inhalation
  • As you exhale you say the number 3 to yourself three times, then 2 three times, and 1 three times
  • Your feel your body relaxing every single muscle starting at the top of your head to your toes
  • Then you picture a staircase in your mind, and as you go down the staircase you start with 10 and then say "deeper and deeper", then 9 and "deeper and deeper" until you get to the bottom of the staircase and number 1 followed by "deeper and deeper"
  • Now in that safe relaxed place choose a powerful phrase, "I am confident and competent, and I can deal with stress in a confident manner" - repeat this phrase 5 to 10 times
  • You can now take a rest or come out of hypnosis by counting from 1 to five
1.   Beginning to awaken
2.   I am completely and totally relaxed
3.   I am physically refreshed and mentally alert
4.   I am exceptionally clear headed
5.   Eyes open, wide awake and feeling wonderful
 
We know you'll experience success in managing life stresses when you take the time to use these tools. 
Thank you for allowing us to help.




Thoughts for the Day by Mother Teresa




 
On a Sunday I thought is was fitting to honor a woman who's Mindset truly impacted this world in amazing ways.  Have a wonderful day.  Dave


“We must know that we have been created for greater things, not just to be a number in the world, not just to go for diplomas and degrees, this work and that work. We have been created in order to love and to be loved.”
Mother Teresa
 

​“If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives: Be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies: Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank people will try to cheat you: Be honest anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight: Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous of you: Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten by tomorrow: Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough: Give your best anyway.”

Mother Teresa
 

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”

Mother Teresa
 

“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.”
Mother Teresa
 

“At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done.
We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.”