Key # 5 to Unlock your Potential and Achieve Success: Be Thankful; Be Positive

So far, we’ve talked about 4 of the keys to unlock your potential; the last one of these series is also directed to your inner self and it has to do with your attitude. Attitude is definitely one of those things that we have control over. When I speak attitude I refer to your views and perceptions about the world that surrounds you. I firmly believe that while you cannot control some of the things that happen around you, you can control how you react to them.

With that in mind, I’m big in promoting being positive. A positive attitude can permeate everything you do. I’m sure you have heard the phrase attitudes are contagious. So why not start your day with a little positivism. When you start your day with an optimist view towards life, you are more likely to see good things happen to you. You have probably heard about the movie and book The Secret. In that book, many experts such as Jack Canfield, Lisa Nichols, and Bob Proctor talk about we have the ability to transform our reality by virtue of changing the way we think. When we think good thoughts, we can start to move away from pain or misfortune and into strength, power, peace, health and abundance.

And it is worth mentioning that while reading a book about positive thinking will not change your life it is certainly possible that as you start to look around you and appreciate the good things, you will be less prong to focus on the negatives. Take a breath every morning and look around you, notice all the good things that surround you and express your appreciation. I believe that there is always worse off than we are, and thus I thank God for absolutely everything in my life. I’ve stopped to appreciate even the simplest things that I have as a reminder to myself that I have everything I need and more. With a positive and thankful attitude, we are inviting more good things to come our way.

Napoleon Hill (author of Think and Grow Rich) refers to affirmations as a great way to increase confidence, and when we are confident we know we are in a good place.

Examples of affirmations are:
 I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my definite purpose
 I have no fear
 I am happy
 I know where I am going in life
 I am loved
 I am respected
 I am appreciated
 and so on,

As we wrap up these series, I’d like to leave you with some strategies on how to implement the 5 keys to success:

1. Choose to be in the driver’s seat of your life; this is something that nobody can take away from you.
2. Accept that it is OK to be powerful; despite power having a bit of a negative connotation; being powerful allows you to be in charge of your life; thus putting you in a place where you can help others as you see your own dreams come true.
3. Use the positive affirmations: write them in index cards, on your screen saver and make bookmarks out of it. Do whatever it takes to send yourself an empowering message
4. Seek development; always. Today I’ve shared multiple resources with you; make a point to read, listen to audio tapes, attend workshops and seminars or enroll in school; there is always something new to learn and
5. Be thankful; the art of appreciative inquiry allows you to focus on the good things around you instead of the bad ones; focus on the sunset, or the opportunity to play with your child, or having coffee with your girlfriend, or the fact that you have a job. If you pay attention, each day is full of good things waiting to be noticed.

I hope that you have enjoyed the information I’ve shared with you. Here, I have summarized for you many of the lessons and techniques I’ve personally implemented in my life as well as those I recommend to my clients. Remember that you have what it takes to be Powerful. You have all the talent, charisma and motivation to conquer; it’s all there…within.
© 2010 Maria Martinez