Your self talk can work for you or against you. Let me do a bit of a survey:
Q. Who believes that in the next 3 weeks there are things you can specifically do that could make your personal life, business and financial affairs worse?
Q. Who believes that in the next 3 weeks there are things you can specifically do that could make your personal life, business and financial affairs better?
Q. How many believe that every choice has an end result?
By the way, if you said “No” to any or all of these questions, well, in all likelihood you are in for a rocky 2008.
If you said “Yes” to these three questions let me tell you what you’ve just agreed to.
“I don’t really care how tough my life has been to date. I’m not even concerned about what my situation is right now because there’s something I can do right now that will make my future either better or worse and the choice is mine.”
THE CHALLENGE:
What follows is a great little exercise that does take some discipline to stick with but the results will be worth it I promise.
Each morning and evening for the next 6 weeks (at least) take your list of positive personal qualities and, looking at yourself intently in the mirror, say to yourself, out loud:
“I am honest, I am intelligent, I am a person of integrity, I am always punctual, I have a good self worth …”
and work your way one by one through the whole list.
List of Personal Qualities/Attributes
You can create your own list but here are some to get you started:
Honest
Intelligent
Goals
Organised
Responsible
Commitment
Caring
Dependable
Integrity
Work Smarter
Optimistic | Punctual
Self Starter
Enthusiastic
Motivated
Decisive
Focused
Disciplined
Quick Learner
Positive Mental Attitude
Knowledge
Experience | Coachable
Loyal
Competent
Confidence
Extra-Miler
Team Player
Encourager
Energetic
Self Worth
Hope
Wisdom |
Remember:
It is important to look at yourself intently in the mirror as you say this because the “eyes truly are the windows of the soul”.
As a result you may feel a little uncomfortable when you come across words that are not congruent with your current actions. For example, saying “I am dependable” may make you feel uneasy particularly when you know that you are currently most unreliable.
The uncomfortable feeling is good, it means you are making a connection with yourself and perhaps for the first time in a long time having to face up to who you really are and decide if you want to make the changes. If you do, don’t give up. Keep going, day in day out. Now, it’s true, the principles I have shared will help you increase your income from either your business or your job. And we’d all agree that money, while not everything, is pretty important; I mean when you need it …you really do need it.
Yet, let’s remember that:
Money can by a house but not a home
Money can buy a bed but not a good night’s sleep
Money can buy a good time but not peace of mind
“If standard of living is your No.1 priority – quality of life almost never improves.” Zig Ziglar
Whereas:
“If quality of life is your No.1 priority – your standard of life almost always improves.” Zig Ziglar
AND
“You can have almost anything you want in life if you help enough people get what they want.” Zig Ziglar The quality of your relationships are the key:
Let me tell you a story:
A man walks into a bookshop and asks “Can you tell me where I can find the book entitled ‘Man the Superior Sex’?”
“Yes sir, I can. It’s upstairs in the science fiction department!”
You see there is no such thing as a superior sex, superior race etc.
Now stay with me for one more story of a man arriving home on a Friday afternoon after a busy week. It communicates a great message.
Scenario #1:
Picture this –
Man arrives home from busy week. Walks up to house loaded up with briefcase, suitcase and other packages. Not having a free hand and not wanting to put anything down he bangs on the door with his foot – bang bang – in fact he almost kicks the door in – bang bang bang.
His wife, running, opens the door. Still he doesn’t put anything down and the first words out of his mouth are “I’m late because I’ve been at a meeting which I sure am glad I attended.
“I’ve been thinking that there are some things around here that need to change. I mean, I’ve got rights and needs and on reflection you have not been meeting them –so things have got to change.”
His wife, after listening responds, “Well come in. I don’t need to go to no meeting to come up with a list of things that need changing – they are engraved on my mind. In fact, you’re right about one thing – there’s gonna be changes around here and you ain’t gonna like most of them.”
How many of you know that they had the perfect, romantic weekend together! (NOT) Scenario #2:
Picture this –
Man arrives home from busy week. Walks up to house loaded up with briefcase, suitcase and other packages. Not having a free hand and not wanting to put anything down he bangs on the door with his foot – bang bang.
His wife comes to the door and opens it. He puts down the packages and says “Hey darling, it’s great to see you. Sorry I’m late but I’ve been at a meeting and, well, you know, even before I unpack I’d love for us to sit and talk a while because I’ve been thinking that I probably haven’t been the man that you thought you were marrying all those years ago, and, well, I’d like you to tell me how I can be more like that man.”
His wife after listening, and helping him in the door says, “Well you know honey I think you’re the best. Sure there are things that from time to time I wish you didn’t do, and I’ve been thinking that perhaps I’ve not been meeting all of your needs ….”
The outcome really needs no explanation does it?
Of course, improving relationships is not about a one off pretty speech on the veranda after a long hard week. You will need to apply and practise the principles I have shared so that 2008 can truly be your best year yet.
The choice is up to YOU.
Have fun, and I love to hear good news stories - so if you have one drop me a line.
Paul
How to get more of the things money will buy AND all of the things money won’t buy | 
