Good Monday Morning!
This morning, I have several “Guest Writers” 🙂
Would you like to win the LOTTERY and become an INSTANT MILLIONAIRE?
Will the power of positive thinking make this happen for you?
I don’t think anyone really knows – Maybe yes – Maybe no . . .
But we ALL know that you’ll NEVER win the lottery unless you take that first step of “Appropriate Action” . . . BUY A TICKET!
Folks say: “What you THINK . . . EXPANDS!” . . . and they’re right (as long as you support your thought with Focused and INTENTIONAL ACTION).
It’s thought that focuses action and keeps us going when the slogging gets tough . . . THAT’S the  Power of Positive Thinking.
Since the economy went into a slide, many many many people have endured great hardship. Of course, some have fared better than others . . . and my suspicion is that the 80/20 Pareto Principle applies – 20% of the folks refocused and took ACTIONÂ – have perhaps had to toil more than before but kept moving and are still “alive” . . . while 80% went through all of stages of denial . . . then finger pointing (It’s someone ELSE’S fault – Look what’s HAPPENED to me) . . . then defeatism . . . and maybe reaching the point of simply “Turning it all over to God” and the thinking that Optimistic Positive Thinking would be “enough.”
Meanwhile, many “Positive Spin Artists” honed their skills at manipulating dismal data into “GOOD NEWS!” It’s certainly emotionally uplifting to hear “Good News” (even when it’s contrived fantasy :-))
We know that “Positive Thinking” in and of itself isn’t enough (Thus the 80/20 disparity of results) . . . Wherein lies the difference?
When Positive Thinking is accompanied by “Appropriate ACTION” good things happen.
It’s when folks take personal responsibility for what’s happening and decide to OWN their own life experience – Instead of turning it over to (or blaming) others, when good – even GREAT – things start happening.
None of this is new wisdom. See the litany of quotes below 🙂
I could write a BOOK about this, but I don’t think my blog readers have time this morning to read a book, so I’ve assembled a group of quotes (Many I grabbed from this site Chakravibe – You Make Lemonade) and make reference to a book that has been written BRIGHT-SIDED – How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America Barbara Ehrenreich.
Now! Barbara tackles this topic in an almost offensive way. She talks TOUGH . . . to the point that I was somewhat angry at HER for some of the things she says . . . until I realized that in large part, her message is no different than what I have written above. Optimism and Positive Thinking will only getcha so far. It’s not until you take responsibility and appropriate ACTION that things happen.
Here’s the part where I stop babbling and turn it over to the guest writers – ENJOY!
“Remember, you will always have friends, guides, and love, but no one is coming to “save you.”
That’s the adventure package you signed up for.
The one that comes with all the superpowers, guaranteed rebounding abilities, and the all-powerful scrunched-nose-when-you-smile.
Your 5 Star Time-Space Adventure Tour Agency Manager,”
The Universe http://TUT.com
“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”
~ St. Augustine
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade!
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ~ Winston Churchill
Never mistake motion for action. ~ Ernest Hemingway
“All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs.” {Anthony Robbins)
Here was a guy drowing in the ocean. He prayed to God to save him.
A few minutes later a boat came and offered to pick him up and take him to shore. The drowning man refuesed and the boat left.
Another boat came and offered to save the man and he said no, and the boat left.
Finally a third boat came and said I can help you. Once again the drowing man said no.When he died he said to God: I trusted you. Why didn’t you save me??
God said: I sent you 3 boats!!!!!!!!!
Afterthought: Few industries have been harder hit than the Real Estate Sales Profession in the past few years. I recognized the pattern of which I speak in this post and chose to take responsibility (And action) in a variety of ways:
- Launched Pareto Realty, LLC – The home of “The Vital Few” with a business model that supports “High Performance Living” – LIVING the 80/20 Principle and Taking responsibility
- Developed “The Life Rhythm Way” – A Coaching and Training model designed to “bring it REAL” for professionals and Organizations and have made myself available for 1:1 coaching and Speaking/Training
- Facilitated (mostly Weekly) Mastermind sessions in my Local Community to explore issues and opportunities we are all facing NOW . . . and explore ways we can TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION
- Turned up the Volume with respect to my work with my Home Buying and Home Selling clients with intentional focus on more HUMAN contact and attention comunication