Brian Tracy : Be An Optimist at All Times

Everyone wants to be physically healthy. You want to be mentally healthy as
well. The true measure of "mental fitness" is how optimistic you are about
yourself and your life.
In this newsletter, you learn how to control your thinking in very specific
ways so that you feel terrific about yourself and your situation, no matter
what happens.

Control Your Reactions and Responses
There are three basic differences in the reactions of optimists and
pessimists. The first difference is that the optimist sees a setback as
temporary, while the pessimist sees it as permanent. The optimist sees an
unfortunate event, such as an order that falls through or a sales call that
fails, as a temporary event, something that is limited in time and that has
no real impact on the future. The pessimist, on the other hand, sees
negative events as permanent, as part of life and destiny.

Isolate the Incident
The second difference between the optimist and the pessimist is that the
optimist sees difficulties as specific, while the pessimist sees them as
pervasive. This means that when things go wrong for the optimist, he looks
at the event as an isolated incident largely disconnected from other things
that are going on in his life.

See Setbacks As Temporary Events
For example, if something you were counting on failed to materialize and
you interpreted it to yourself as being an unfortunate event, but something
that happens in the course of life and business, you would be reacting like
an optimist. The pessimist, on the other hand, sees disappointments as
being pervasive. That is, to him they are indications of a problem or
shortcoming that pervades every area of life.

Don't Take Failure Personally
The third difference between optimists and pessimists is that optimists see
events as external, while pessimists interpret events as personal. When
things go wrong, the optimist will tend to see the setback as resulting
from external factors over which one has little control.

If the optimist is cut off in traffic, for example, instead of getting
angry or upset, he will simply downgrade the importance of the event by
saying something like, "Oh, well, I guess that person is just having a bad
day."

The pessimist on the other hand, has a tendency to take everything
personally. If the pessimist is cut off in traffic, he will react as though
the other driver has deliberately acted to upset and frustrate him.

Remain Calm and Objective
The hallmark of the fully mature, fully functioning, self-actualizing
personality is the ability to be objective and unemotional when caught up
in the inevitable storms of daily life. The superior person has the ability
to continue talking to himself in a positive and optimistic way, keeping
his mind calm, clear and completely under control. The mature personality
is more relaxed and aware and capable of interpreting events more
realistically and less emotionally than is the immature personality. As a
result, the mature person exerts a far greater sense of control and
influence over his environment, and is far less likely to be angry, upset,
or distracted.

Take the Long View
Look upon the inevitable setbacks that you face as being temporary,
specific and external. View the negative situation as a single event that
is not connected to other potential events and that is caused largely by
external factors over which you can have little control. Simply refuse to
see the event as being in any way permanent, pervasive or indicative of
personal incompetence of inability.

Resolve to think like an optimist, no matter what happens. You may not be
able to control events but you can control the way you react to them.

Action Exercises
Now, here are three actions you can take immediately to put these ideas
into action.

First, remind yourself continually that setbacks are only temporary, they
will soon be past and nothing is as serious as you think it is.

Second, look upon each problem as a specific event, not connected to other
events and not indicative of a pattern of any kind. Deal with it and get on
with your life.

Third, recognize that when things go wrong, they are usually caused by a
variety of external events. Say to yourself, "What can't be cured must be
endured," and then get back to thinking about your goals.

By: Brian Tracy

Your Flight Plan -- Your Real Secret of Success

Being the Best In Every Area
What is character? Your character is the degree to which you live your life
consistent with high, life-enhancing values. A person who lacks character
is one who compromises on higher order values in favor of lower order
expedience, or who has no values at all. Your adherence to what you believe
to be right and true is the real measure of the person you have become to
this moment.

Define What "Excellence" Means to You
Let us say that one of your values is "excellence." Your definition of
excellence could be, "Excellence means that I set the highest standards for
myself in everything I do. I do my very best in every situation and under
all circumstances. I constantly strive to be better in my work, and as a
person in my relationships. I recognize that excellence is a life-long
journey and I work every day to become better and better in everything I do."

Organize Your Actions
With a definition like this, you have a clear organizing principle for your
actions. You have set a standard by which you can evaluate your behavior.
You have created a framework within which you can make decisions. You have
a measuring rod against which you can compare yourself in everything you
do. You can continually grade your activities in terms of "more" or "less."
You have a clear target to aim at and organize your work around

You probably already know that the most successful people have incredible
levels of self-confidence. They've accomplished great levels of success and
happiness in their lives and seem to be uns toppable in everything that
they do.

The fact is, that when you develop unshakable self-confidence your whole
world will change for the better.

You'll have the confidence to take whatever steps necessary to make more
money and enjoy a higher standard of living. You'll be more powerful and
persuasive with other people. And you'll be more popular and likable.

The Science of Self-Confidence Training Kit
I have combined all of the information you'll need to accomplish anything
you set your mind to. In my exclusive training kit, you'll lear n a number
of practical action steps you can take to build immediate feelings of
self-confidence.

Buy The Science of Self-Confidence Training Kit today!

Decide What You Want for Your Family
It's the same with each of your other values. If your value is your family,
you could define this as, "The needs of my family take precedence over all
other concerns. Whenever I have to choose between the happiness, health and
well being of a member of my family, and any other interest, my family will
always come first."

Keep Focused
From that moment onward, it becomes easier for you to choose. Your family
comes first. Until you have fully satisfied the needs of your family, no
other time requirement will side track you into a lower value activity.

Shape Your Own Character
The wonderful thing about values clarification is that it enables you to
take charge of developing and shaping your own character. When your values
and goals, your inner life and your outer life, are in complete alignment,
you feel terrific about yourself. You enjoy high self-esteem. Your
self-confidence soars.

When you achieve complete congruence between your values and your goals,
like a hand in a glove, you feel strong, happy, healthy and fully
integrated as a person. You develop a kind of courage that makes you
completely unafraid to make decisions and take action. Your whole life
improves when you begin living your life by the values that you most admire.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do to put this ideas into action immediately.

First, create a clear, written description of your values and what they
mean to you. From that point on, resolve to live consistent with your own
definition.

Second, discipline yourself to live in complete alignment with the values,
virtues and qualities that are most important to you. This is the key to
character.

You need a flight plan to succeed. I'm always amazed at how many people
fail because they just don't have a plan. And having a plan isn't enough.
Just like an airplane pilot you must make course corrections to arrive at
your destination - your goals.

When you learn to create your flight plan - Your life will become a success.

By: Brian Tracy