Daily Gratitude: As hard as this is to do, it’s imperative. Once you believe that you are where you are because of how you’ve been thinking all your life, it’s much easier to accept this.

Once you realize you’re responsible for where you are right now, the doors have opened and you can begin to change. You can change your life by changing your thoughts.

As soon as you begin to have a negative thought, you must switch (as soon as possible) to a positive one. It doesn’t have to be a positive thought about that same subject. It just has to be some positive thought such as mine “everything always works out for me”. I have several others I use that are shorter and I can just pull out of my head. Depending on your faith it could be as simple as “God is good”.

You can’t push a negative thought away. You can’t erase it. You can only substitute another thought for the negative one.

Don’t beat yourself up because that is more negative thoughts. Just move on by doing the substitution.

It’s simple but not easy. It requires vigilance and discipline but you can do it. You should practice when things are going fairly well so you can become aware without having to also worry about an emotional charge.

Take some time and come up with your go-to positive thought. Then begin practicing

Daily Gratitude: How great is this? I believe so many people feel like a failure because they can’t come up with something new and shiny. After all, that’s what always makes the sale….and makes you famous, right?

But that’s not necessary. Taking something already created and finding a different way to use it or just make it more efficient.

You don’t always have to think “outside the box” but just look at what’s in the box with a different perspective. You can do this with your job, your relationships, your house, anything.

How can you look at something differently? Is there some way you can put a different “spin” on your life, making yourself happier perhaps?

What is it you’re always seeking but not getting? What’s the problem? Why aren’t you “succeeding” (assuming you consider that a success)?

Now step outside yourself and your problem and turn it upside down and all around. How can you look at it differently? Can you choose to see it as beautiful instead of ugly?

Can you decide to be happy no matter what is all around you? Remember that happiness is a choice. Can you put on your “glasses” and see everything with those new eyes.

You have the ability and the power to do this. The question is “will you do it?”

Daily Gratitude: Go ahead and pat yourself on the back for all you’ve achieved- even if there’s no award for that particular thing.

I pat myself on the back every time I pick up the phone without taking hours, days or weeks, to decide to do so. I congratulate myself when I go somewhere and don’t have all the horrible anxiety I used to have.

These are tiny things to the world but they they are major accomplishments to me. And who cares about the rest of the world when you’re trying to feel good.

Most people don’t know what you struggle with and you probably don’t want to tell them what it is. That’s ok as long as you recognize it yourself and can stand up proud when you overcome it even if for just a short moment.

Make a success journal or jar and put down everything (and I mean everything) that you feel good about. Why? So you can refer back to these successes whenever you’re feeling down or as if you’ve failed at something. We all need reminders.

Stand up tall! Stick out your chest and yell (even if it’s only in your mind) “I DID IT”. Then smile as if it’s your biggest secret ever. And it will be. But at least you’re smiling!