Take a deep breathe, relax. Review what behaviors lead to your present situation. Then, do the opposite of what put you in the hole.

Credit card bills killing you – only use cash for purchases

Sending too much time watching sports and not participating in them. Turn off the TV and use the time to play.

It’s a simple technique, although not necessarily an easy one.

Try it the next time you find yourself in a hole.

Technorati Tags: career success, mindset, personal success

Simpler is better!

With all the daily rushing around and stress in our lives, we can often find ourselves yearning for a slower, simpler way of living. If your life has come to resemble an endless sprint, take a look at the suggestions below to bring a greater sense of calm and simplicity into your life.

1) Less is more.

It’s amazing how much “stuff” we can accumulate in our homes because we think they’ll contribute to our lives. Although it’s true that we gain enjoyment from material possessions, the more we accumulate the greater burdened we often feel. Eventually we find ourselves living under a constant cloud of confusion, scattered thoughts and stress.

Begin immediately to clear out the possessions you no longer need, want, or use. Donate them to a local charitable organization. This accomplishes two things: first, you’ll feel lighter and less cramped in your home; and you’ll also feel good about giving these items to people who can actually use them.

2) Cut down your activities.

An active life is good, but not if it leaves you feeling drained and exhausted! Many of us take on more obligations and even recreational activities than necessary.

Take a few minutes to think about the things you do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Do you really need to do all of them? Have you taken on responsibilities that really aren’t yours? Are you spending time on activities you no longer enjoy? Make a list of at least a few activities or obligations that you can eliminate, and then go ahead and do so – even if you have to cut them down gradually.

3) Spend time in silence.

An easy, straight forward way to live a life of simplicity and ease is to shut out the mental and physical “noise” of your life on a regular basis. Sitting in silence for just a few minutes can drastically reduce your stress levels and leave you feeling centered, calm and happy.

You can boost the effectiveness of this activity by spending this time in a park or other natural setting. While not completely silent, natural settings have soothing sounds like running water, singing birds and wind sighing through trees – which automatically trigger feelings of peace and well-being.

Living a simpler life is about learning how to slow down and connect more deeply with your true self. Whether you do that by simplifying your environment, getting control of your schedule or enjoying a quiet break each day, the result is the same – a happier and more peaceful you!

Wishing you a larger life,
BB

Technorati Tags: mindset, simplicity, success, tips for personal success

What are do we mean when we say “mind-set”, anyway? Generally, mind-set refers to your predominant state of mind, or way of thinking day to day. It’s what you think about, focus on, and expect from your daily experiences. Think negatively, expect the worst, feel pessimistic about your options and that’s exactly what you’ll seem to draw into your life. Likewise, think positively, expect the best and focus on a successful outcome and you get it most of the time.

Makes sense, right? But how exactly does this work? Why is a success mind-set so important? There are three big reasons:

1) A success mind-set boosts your self-belief and makes you confident.

A lack of belief in yourself usually comes along with a sense of powerlessness and futility, which is the exact opposite of a success mind-set. This can result in a “victim” mentality. Lack of confidence means you see no point in trying to be successful because it won’t happen anyway. This type of mind-set is a clear recipe for failure.

Having a true success mind-set, means you believe in yourself and your abilities. You believe you can succeed at nearly anything you try, and you’re willing to give it your best shot. Even better, the more you do try, the more confidence and self-belief you build until you’re virtually unstoppable!

2) A success mind-set makes you persistent.

Without a success mind-set, one failure is enough to convince you that pursuing your goals is a waste of time. Persistence and determination don’t exist in your world. If you don’t become a raging success the first time you try, you decide that it simply wasn’t meant to be. Unfortunately, few things worth having are obtained so easily!For those with a success mind-set, failure is not the end of the story – it’s just one more way that didn’t work out the way you planned. Those with a true success mind-set know that the only true failure occurs when you quit trying.

3) A success mind-set results in more fruitful actions.

Ever been confused because you didn’t know the best way to approach a specific goal? Maybe you knew the best course of action but you felt intimidated by some of the action steps required. As a result, you may have kept sabotaging your efforts as you searched in vain for an easier or less frightening way to your goal. With a true success mind-set, you’ll always take the most effective action steps that will lead directly to your goal. You’ll also have the inner confidence and determination to pursue them. Which after all, is a sure recipe for . . . you guessed it; success!

If I had to sum up how to develop a success mind-set into as few words as possible, I’d say this:

- Go for your dreams.
- Think positively.
- Believe in yourself.
- Believe you can do better.
- Learn, grow and develop yourself.
- Be willing to take chances.
- Give it your all.
- Expect the best in every situation.
- Be willing to fail.
- When you fall down, get back up and try again.

Keep doing that and you can’t help but become successful, from the inside out.

Technorati Tags: mindset, persistence, success, tips for personal success