You Are What You Think

A friend of mine has been going through some difficult challenges. And he is focused. Resolute. Positive.

I find that when things are difficult I can be incredibly focused and resolute. Positive? Depends on the level of stress.

I have been learning to gain better control over my internal thoughts and to focus on being positive even through the challenging times.

I came across this article some years back on how to improve inner thoughts (source unknown).

Commitment, Control and Challenge.

Commitment

Make a positive commitment to yourself, to learning, work, family, friends, nature, and other worthwhile causes. Praise yourself and others. Dream of success. Be enthusiastic.

Control

Keep your mind focused on important things. Set goals and priorities for what you think and do. Visualize to practice your actions. Develop a strategy for dealing with problems. Learn to relax. Enjoy successes. Be honest with yourself.

Challenge

Be courageous. Change and improve each day. Do your best and don’t look back. See learning and change as opportunities. Try new things. Consider several options. Meet new people. Ask lots of questions. Keep track of your mental and physical health. Be optimistic.

Studies show that people with these characteristics are winners in good times and survivors in hard times. Research shows that, “… people who begin consciously to modify their inner conversations and assumptions report an almost immediate improvement in their performance. Their energy increases and things seem to go better …”

Commitment, control and challenge help build self-esteem and promote positive thinking.