PowerPAGE!...Dynamic Components of Personal Power Ezine

I'll ask a pivot question: What is the power of negative thinking?

Before this starts to sound like the trite, non-committal safe motivational speaker response to this enormous question, let's look at the darker side of negativity.

Here are some serious questions to consider:

When the shit is really hitting the fan and you're getting it right in the face, how motivated are you to take any action other than getting out of the way?

Have you ever used the following words or anything close to these: "I just can't take it anymore!"?

Have you ever had a genuine hollow feeling in your deepest guts in a moment of adversity when you genuinely saw no way out of it? Have you ever been so worried or depressed that you were physically sick?

Have you ever wondered if you really have what it takes to accomplish your goals?

Have you ever questioned whether or not you're worthy of success?

If it makes you feel any better, I've experienced all of these feelings, multiple times. When I'm speaking I usually say, "I'm not preaching from the mountain." Most of what I've learned about life is a result of my continuing enrollment in the proverbial School of Hard Knocks. I'm now a post-graduate student working toward my doctoral degree!

Now let's not turn this into a pity party. Many of us have experienced genuine suffering. Some of us have also experienced great emotional, spiritual and material losses in life. Some have experienced genuine poverty in one or all of these areas.

One solution when the chips are down is to buy a self-help book or video, go to a seminar and somehow undergo a miraculous transformation! After learning the great "secret" to life and success you put the book down, finish the video or walk out of your motivational event and suddenly your mailbox is full of checks and there's a BMW in your driveway!

I suppose it can happen that way; that's not my experience.

I found out early and often that the operative word in "self-help" is self. I learned that self is the most important designation when it comes to motivation, discipline and improvement as well.

My experience is that in the darkest moments of despair and self-loathing there is one and only one way to overcome inertia and self-pity and move forward. It involves three steps:

1. Accept full personal responsibility for your present situation; even if it's not your fault! Don't worry, most of the time it is. My present condition and circumstances are most often the result of my past actions and inactions, decisions and indecisions. There are some conditions and circumstances beyond my control. I don't set the price of heating oil; but I am the one responsible for dealing with it! As soon as I accept full responsibility I can start drying my tears and move on to the next step.

2. Practice Gratitude; and I mean Gratitude, not platitude. It's simple enough to just say you're thankful things aren't any worse; and if you're reading this it can always be worse! I mean taking a full and practical inventory of what resources you have at your disposal here and now. In tough financial times your only resources may be emotional and spiritual; your talents, abilities and faith!

Have you seen the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness"? If not, rent it today. Chris Gardner's story is proof that even the moments of deepest despair you can prevail with talent, ability and faith.

3. Generate POWER! Power is your ability or capacity to perform or act effectively. Generating Power is an action step; take it! One of my Top 5 Lies About Power is that "Power is just for the Powerful." If that were true, how did they get there?

There are too many stories of people rising from less than nothing to great success. How does that happen? You become more effective. Make yourself more effective and you become more valuable. Then you've got to toot your horn a little so others will recognize your value and so on. But for now let's just stick to the simple steps: Make yourself more effective. How?

Train!

Learn, acquire experience and constantly train yourself in the Art of Self-Perfection. You don't need a dime to start this process; all you need is...

A positive attitude!

Let me qualify again so you don't think I misled you into a Wonderland of Secrets, Wealth without Work and an endless stream of Millions of Dollars While You Sleep. The fact is that a negative attitude binds you to whatever circumstances and conditions you're currently experiencing. If you want to get out from under a pile of shit, you've got to pick up your shovel and start digging. If you don't have some seed of belief that you can make it beyond where you are now, you won't have the energy to get started.

It's been said that with faith the size of a mustard seed you can move the greatest mountain. That is, in fact, true! It doesn't take much to get started. It takes just enough faith that whatever you do in this present moment will make the next moment a little better. Taking even the smallest step in the right direction changes your feelings and your physiology. Even a small success actually produces chemicals in your body that make you feel good and reward you for taking positive action. The trouble is these feelings don't last long!

When I'm asked what is the most important Dynamic Component I always say "Discipline." Like any other action needed to generate power and success, positive thinking must become a Discipline, something you practice every day; every moment.

The Chinese Masters said that you should be grateful for your enemy. It is your enemy who gives you the opportunity to test your skills. Your enemy provides motivation to develop your skills so you'll be victorious. Maybe your enemy is self-doubt, despair or authentic material, emotional or spiritual poverty. Be thankful that you have the opportunity to rise above these conditions and in so doing you'll emerge as an improved, more perfect self.

Your deepest moments of self-doubt and despair are not the best times to hang on to negative thoughts. These are the best times to face your enemy in full frontal assault armed with positive thinking and energy. Practicing positive thinking in hard times is an important part of the process of becoming a consistently powerful person.

Negativity steals your effectiveness. Positivity is steel to build Power.

Jim Bouchard

What is the Power of Positive Thinking...Really?

What is the Power of Positive Thinking
...Really?