Does positive thinking really create better results?
When my late wife, Sheri, and I were first married, her father took me aside to give me advice I’ve never forgotten: “Think big, and you will be.”
My great friend, Dr. Tony Alessandra, related that when he was working on his Ph.D. at Georgia State University, his professor was Dr. David Schwartz — known for the popular book, “The Magic of Thinking Big.”
And the late, great Zig Ziglar wrote and constantly spoke on the importance of how we think, telling his audiences and readers that we all need a “checkup from the neck up.”
It begs two questions: First, does how we think actually impact our results?
And second, if our thinking does make a difference, how can we change it to improve our attitude and, subsequently, our actions?
Most motivational psychologists suggest the answer to the first question is a resounding “Yes!” Just as exercise strengthens our physical muscles, so do our thoughts shape and mold our minds. Our attitudes are a direct result of our predominant thoughts.
For example, the Mayo Clinic lists these personal results from a positive approach:
Increased life span
Lower rates of depression
Lower levels of distress and pain
Greater resistance to illnesses
Better psychological and physical well-being
Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease and stroke
Reduced risk of death from cancer
Reduced risk of death from respiratory conditions
Reduced risk of death from infections
Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
When it comes to business, Harvard says, “Research shows that when people work with a positive mindset, performance on nearly every level—productivity, creativity, engagement—improves.”
Those are powerful results! To achieve them for yourself, start by asking:
What attitude do you want to have?
What kind of person do you want to be?
And remember: the attitude we display toward others is just a reflection of the attitude we have toward ourselves.
It all starts with self-acceptance: liking yourself just the way you are — warts and all. From that foundation, everything else follows. It will be difficult to like others if you don’t like yourself. If you don’t think highly of yourself, it will be tough to think highly of others. It’s hard to have a positive attitude when you’re trying to cover up a negative self-image.
Three steps to improving your self-concept are:
Choose your attitude. We need to start teaching students (and it’s never too late to learn) that attitude is one of the few aspects of life over which we have total control. If you decide to have a bad attitude, you can make yourself and everyone around you miserable with your negativity. If your choice is on the other end of the spectrum, you can have a stellar approach to what life puts in your path.
I promise that you know someone who has more difficulties than you and that has a better attitude than the one you currently possess. Conversely, I’ll bet you also know someone who has it better than your current situation who is still miserable and unappreciative.
Decide what kind of person you want to be. For example, my wife, Tammy, decided she wanted to be more involved in our community and give more to others because of her gratitude for our blessings. After making those decisions, she has become highly involved with a program called Cup of Hope that helps feed and inspire homeless men and women here in Las Vegas. Many people experiencing difficulties have been helped through her volunteering — and Tammy has grown into more of the person she desires to be by first deciding precisely what she wants.
Determine the price you’re willing to pay to achieve it. It’s long been called the “Coke bottle philosophy of life: No deposit. No return.” I heard a speaker once say the only time you ever get handed millions for nothing is if you win the lottery. I had to disagree — even to win the lottery, you have to go to the store and spend the money to purchase a ticket.
The question you must ask yourself is, what price are you willing to pay to achieve what you want? I can say that I want to write a book — but if I fail to put the seat of my pants in the seat of a chair and write…instead of watching television or going to a ball game…then it’s all just empty talk!
“Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us,” wrote the legendary Earl Nightingale.
My friend Brian Tracy has said, “You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.”
The second question — how do we change our thinking? — is just as important as the first.
Several speaker pals of mine use a critical quote: “In software programming, it’s popular to say GIGO: garbage in, garbage out. However, when it comes to how we think and how our minds work, it’s GIGS: garbage in, garbage stays.”
Just as there are exercise programs to get our physical bodies in shape, so too are there mental exercises we can perform to “strengthen our minds.” Here are some suggestions:
Read books and articles that inspire you and reinforce positive thinking. (Some of my favorites are the previously mentioned “The Magic of Thinking Big” by David Schwartz, “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale, and “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.)
Find a mentor or coach who can help you stay focused on your goals and think positive thoughts.
Hang around people who are positive and upbeat. I’m always amazed at how my attitude improves when I’m around people like that!
Practice gratitude. Every day, make it a point to think of five things you’re grateful for in your life. You’ll be surprised at how this simple exercise can change your attitude for the better.
Make it a habit to think and speak words of encouragement to yourself throughout the day. Stop beating yourself up over every minor issue that doesn’t turn out perfectly.
Give yourself regular “attitude checkups.” At the end of each day, ask yourself how you did in terms of staying positive and keeping a good attitude. If you slip up, don’t beat yourself up — just resolve to do better tomorrow.
Just as it’s essential to take care of our physical health, it is just as vital to regularly monitor our mental and emotional well-being. When we pay attention to our thoughts and attitude, we can ensure we’re thinking positive thoughts that will lead to positive actions and results.
Resolve to give yourself a daily “checkup from the neck up” — and watch your life become more distinctive!
Easter is obviously when Christians celebrate a miracle that is central to our faith. Although my work here is never intended to be about any particular set of spiritual beliefs, it struck me when thinking about his holiday that having faith — believing in something — is critical to your success in creating distinction.
Having faith in yourself is one of the most important things you can do on the path to success. No matter your goals, if you don’t believe that you can achieve them, it will be challenging to make them a reality.
When you believe in yourself and have faith you will succeed, you will likely have both the motivation and determination to keep going even when things get tough. It allows you to see the light at the end of the tunnel and keep moving forward.
If you want to create anything significant in your life, whether it’s a successful career, a happy family, or anything else, belief is essential. If you’re lacking in this area, you need to take time to develop it. It can make all the difference in the world.
Here are three ways you can enhance your faith in your future:
Get clear about what you want. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s essential to have a firm grasp on precisely what you’re striving for. Always remember, the first of the Four Cornerstones of Distinction is Clarity. When you know what your goal is, it’s much easier to believe that you can achieve it.
Surround yourself with positive people. Just this past week, I blocked time on my calendar and spent three days with three of the most positive people I know. I left our time together with renewed vigor and purpose. You can do the same with your most upbeat, positive friends. We all know the saying that we are the average of the five people with whom we spend the most time. If you want to believe in yourself more, surround yourself with people who will support and encourage you.
Take action towards your goals. No matter how small, every step forward is a sign that you’re moving in the right direction. Just because you believe doesn’t mean things will automatically fall into place — you still must put in the work! But when you take action towards your goals, it helps to increase your belief that you’ll achieve them.
If you want to create anything distinctive, first be certain that you believe in yourself. It will make an extraordinary difference in your results
In today’s world, it isn’t enough to simply be different. If you’re not innovative in a manner that has importance for your customers, you won’t stand out from the crowd.
Innovative strategies will help you gain advantages over your competition by leveraging uniqueness and creativity.
The first step is to identify your goals and objectives. It’s important that you know what you want to achieve, as innovation will amplify those results.
The second action is identifying opportunities for differentiation from competitors. In today’s market, where everyone has their own take on how to deliver for customers, developing an approach that is unique from your competition provides you with an advantage in the marketplace.
Once you’ve identified your goals and the opportunities for differentiation, it’s time to develop your plan.
One way is to tap into creative approaches from other industries. As yourself, “Why and how do they do it that way?” There are examples from all around the world – easily discovered with some basic research on the Internet — that share a common interest in being a distinctive force in the marketplace. By tapping into these different perspectives, leaders can broaden their thinking about how they can provide solutions, while also leveraging diverse viewpoints. This means more creativity and innovation on how best to serve customers — without compromising what you already stand for in your industry.
Lastly, once you’ve created something distinctive that makes sense for your company and meets your objectives, make sure everyone knows about it!
Creative marketing strategies will help build awareness, as well as raise credibility among this increasingly discerning customer base. Tell customers and prospects a story about why they should choose you over the myriad of alternatives available in today’s marketplace.
(And don’t forget – every employee needs to know the story as well!)
Remember:
To create distinction, use innovative strategies for a competitive edge.
Leaders need to broaden their thinking about how they can provide solutions, while also leveraging diverse viewpoints to be distinctive and creative.
Distinctive marketing strategies through stories help build awareness as well as raise credibility among this increasingly discerning customer base.
You must enhance your perspective to distinguish yourself from others who think similarly. Break away from conventional wisdom — it isn’t enough to merely be “different” in today’s world.
It’s not enough to be great at what you do — virtuosos are plentiful in every field. It takes something beyond that. What’s critical for your success is creating distinction. If these insights resonated with you, please share it on your social media! And learn more about our Iconic Inner Circle membership program. (https://IconicInnerCircle.com) We’re ready to help you create a plan for success that will help drive you to meet your goals and create a competitive edge for you and your business!
If you’re like me, you often find yourself asking, “Where does the time go?” It was all the way back in 1994 that my awesome friend, Antonia Barnes Boyle, and I co-wrote my first book: Just Say — YES! A Step Up to Success.
Now a quarter of a century later (gulp!) with all the negativity spreading with the combined challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, social upheaval, and poisonous political rhetoric that are going on in our country, it’s not just easier to be negative — it seems to have become an instinctive reaction as fear and anger take over our public discourse.
The subtle differences
Fear’s first cousin is anger. Both are nephews of negativity.
Negativity — saying “no” to almost everything — is actually the denial of reality based on a wish for some altered circumstances.
For example, although I appreciated the intent of Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” to drugs, her slogan would have been better if it had been “Just Say Yes” to being drug free. The difference is subtle, but telling.
The subtlety lies in how saying “yes” implies a course of positive action—even in the face of negativity—or the “oh, no!” whine. The predictable expletive, “No!” can fill up our time and energy — simply because saying “no” is frequently a commitment to an unproductive struggle that reinforces helplessness and inertia.
Misfortune can have a positive side
And, you know, you can even say “yes” to misfortune. Think about that! Considering how we will positively respond to problems is the prerequisite to overcoming bad things that occur so we can break down our challenges and move forward.
Here’s a hypothetical example that can be applied to a team — or anyone wanting to differentiate themselves from the herd: Let’s say that your marketing budget has been slashed, but your senior management still expects a ten percent growth in net new customers during the next year.
The “No” approach: You say, “How do they expect us to achieve a ten percent growth, when they have slashed our budget? It’s not fair!”
Approach number 1 can lead to an unproductive – yes, whiny – group discussion. Hand-wringing gripe sessions abound where everyone agrees that you’ve received a raw deal — and, no, we shouldn’t have to deal with this!
Would you agree that this approach is a total waste of time?
The “Yes” approach: You say, “OK, team, here’s the situation. Considering the new budget constraints, what efficiencies in operation and innovative approaches could we take as a team to meet the growth goals — even though they’ll be challenging?”
Approach number 2 recognizes that there is a big challenge here. The team needs to harness their creativity and be problem solvers instead of negative whiners.
Let’s consider the outcomes:
With the “no” approach, your team leader might be persuaded to go complain to senior management. The results could be that you are either (1) fired — or targeted for layoffs; or, (2) told to do it anyway.
In the latter case, what was accomplished by giving in to the negativity?
The “yes” approach, on the other hand, provides the team a jump-start in solving the problem. It tends to harness a crowd-sourced approach where the results typically exceed the sum of the constituent parts.
People thrive on challenges, and teams who say “yes” are usually the winners who never whine.
Difficult times can bring out the worst in people. Today, we’re going to talk about the importance of simply being reasonable.
Reasonable is such a bland word, yet such an important word during these times. Reasonable doesn’t mean I have to agree with everything that you say. Reasonable does not have to mean that I surrender everything that’s important to me or my positions or my rights.
Reasonable does mean that I’m willing to listen; that I’m not going to act irrationally; and that I am I’m going to proceed in a manner that is safe.
Watch Daily Distinction LIVE every day at 3:00 PM ET/noon PT on:
You’ve seen him in major roles on television shows like “24,” “The Resident” — and in major movies like the “Transformers” series and “Black Hawk Down.” See him TODAY on Daily Distinction…our special guest, Glenn Morshower! Glenn will talk about life, personal growth, his success in show business…and MUCH more.
