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These days, it seems there’s no lack of news to make even the cheeriest person feel a bit down, at times.  However, by consciously choosing to have a positive attitude, we have the power to be happy no matter what the circumstances are that face us.

You may ask, “Is it really that simple?”  My answer to you is, “Yes.”  I have experienced this myself, and practice feeling and thinking positive thoughts every day.

You can achieve a position of happiness by consciously choosing to shift your attention from the unwanted or negative aspects of a situation, to the wanted and positive aspects, and expected outcomes you desire.

It’s so easy when we are unhappy with a situation to want to focus on it so we can fix the problem.  However, by continually focusing on what you don’t want or don’t like about a situation, you move no closer in the direction of obtaining things you do want, or solving the problem with ease.  By focusing on the negative or less-than-happy aspects of a situation, person, or problem, you simply attract more of the ‘unwanted’ into your life.

By focusing on what you do want, you will put forth positive energy, which serves as a powerful attractant for what you desire.  In short, you get what you focus your attention upon.  By consciously choosing to have a positive attitude, you will quickly transform your state of being into happiness.

How to Get Happy

Following are three tips how to nurture a positive attitude and get happy!

Tip #1. Focus on the wanted, rather than the unwanted

By consciously choosing to focus on the wanted and positive aspects of a situation you desire, you approach a challenge from a position of abundance, rather than lack.

For example, if a person is unhappy with the degree of success they’ve achieved in their business, they might say—

“I am not successful; no one will ever buy my services.  I’m not as talented or experienced as other coaches.”

By saying these words, this person is focusing on what they don’t want, or lack.  Since we get what we give our attention to, this person will continue to be unsuccessful.

However, shifting their mindset from negative to positive, they might say—

“I want to be successful.  I know I have much to offer my clients, and I enjoy seeing them thrive with my help.  I will continue to expand my knowledge and skills so I will be always able to serve my clients to the best of my abilities.” 

Read both statements above, and note how you feel when you say them out loud.  Don’t you feel better, more positive, and happier when you read the positive-positioned sentence?

This subtle, yet powerful shift from negative to positive thought focuses attention on attracting more of what is desired, and activates energy in the universe to attract the positive, as well as contributes to feelings of happiness.

Tip #2. Be conscious if you are feeling ‘good’ or ‘bad’

To be able to apply Tip #1, it’s necessary to recognize if what you are thinking is positive or negative.  If you are feeling discomfort about a thought in your mind, or don’t feel happy, this is a sign that you are focusing on the unwanted, or negative.

Once you recognize a negative thought, stop the thought, and shift to thinking about what you do want, which is an approach from a positive mindset.  Train your mind to evaluate each and every thought you have throughout the day, and take its positive/negative temperature.

Tip #3.  Choose to be in a state of happiness

Yes, it’s true; you do have the power to choose if you want to be happy or unhappy.

Sometimes, we want to wallow in our unhappiness because it may be how we are accustomed to feeling about a particular situation.  However, realize now as you read this you do have the power to choose to be happy, and look at situations that challenge you in a more positive light.

Approaching life’s challenges with a positive stance will move you quickly to an increased state and being of happiness and abundance in your life.

How do you nurture a positive attitude?  Let our readers know your tips by posting a comment.

In meeting with many of my clients the past few weeks, when I asked them how their businesses are doing, many of them say, “Slow!”  Contacts who expressed interest don’t return phone calls, missed appointments aren’t rescheduled, and buying decisions are delayed. 

Any business can slip into a slow period.  But, the trick is to know WHAT to do to get your business back on track as quickly as possible…and better yet, HOW to avoid slipping into a slow slump in it in the first place.

Here are 4 tips I personally use to coach my clients out of slow business period:

Tip #1 Reach Out and Touch Someone

When a sales slump hits, your energy seems to drain away as well.  Before you know it, you hardly have the energy to open your email much less put out the effort to market your business.

The solution to this problem is actually very simple.  You MUST reach out and reconnect with past and current clients.  Send out an email to your clients, past clients and business associates, explaining the benefits of working with you, and ask for a referral.  Include a f-r-e-e article as a way of demonstrating value, and you may find you’re on the path to picking up new clients in a few weeks (I have seen this happen!).

 Tip #2 Remind Yourself You’re “Not Bugging” Someone by Contacting Them

If you have clients, who haven’t used a package they purchased from you or have missed appointments without rescheduling, then it is up to you to reach out to them.  I recommend making a friendly call, or sending a hand written note reminding them you want them to get the results of the service they purchased.  You’ll be surprised at how often your clients express appreciation and gratitude at your thoughtfulness for reminding them to use your services!

Tip #3 Refocus on Your Business

Sometimes sales slip because our attention and focus has been directed on anything BUT our business.  If that’s the case, then this is the time to give yourself a break, stop feeling guilty, and give yourself the breathing room to make a fresh start.  Set small daily goals that include reconnecting with past clients and colleagues, then build up your energy and actions from there.

Tip #4 Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Twice each year, spend a couple of days evaluating my goals and income, and then take a fresh look at where you’re headed with your business.  The start of a new year is a perfect time to do this activity, as well as the end of every quarter year.

This allows you to plan new events, programs, and product launches that will keep your income flowing smoothly, and growing year-round.

So, if your sales are slower than you’d like, or you want to 1ncrease your sales, then now is the perfect time to reconnect to WHY you do what you do, reach out to WHO you love working with the most, then follow up, follow up, follow up to keep your relationships strong and profitable!

How do you get your business out of a sales slump?  Share your expertise and write a comment for our readers.

The start of a New Year brings with it the dreams and hopes of better things ahead.  However, once the celebrations are over, the real work of making those dreams come true begins, and a sense of overwhelm can dampen the enthusiasm we felt when the clock struck midnight.

Overwhelm is a mindset that decides to inhabit our brain, just when we need it most to deal with the challenges all entrepreneurs face growing a successful business.  Overwhelm holds us back from taking action because of uncertainty about what to do, or feeling there is just too much to do.

When a person feels overwhelmed, anxiety levels increase, confusion often sets in, and the uncomfortable and emotional feelings of uncertainty, doubt, and even fear take over us.

It is important to quickly recognize when you are feeling overwhelmed, so that you can take decisive action, and banish it as quickly as possible, so you become productive and can make forward progress in your business.

To dispel feelings of overwhelm, it is useful to first understand what causes overwhelm in the first place.  A person may feel overwhelmed because they are:

• Doing something new, that they’ve never done before
• Unsure of where to start, what to do first, second, or third to address a situation
• Trying to do too much themselves

 Overwhelm is an unconscious acceptance of limitations.  The truth is each of us has an unlimited number of ways to solve complex situations.  There are some easy actions you can take that will help you dispel overwhelm, and quickly get you onto a path of forward movement.  Following is a three step strategy you can use to banish overwhelm.

1. Emotionally detach yourself from the problem or situation

 To temper the emotions you are feeling, distance yourself from them.  Ask yourself, “If someone other than me were doing this, or had this problem, what would they need to do first?”  Doing this places you in a position of “being on the outside looking in,” which is like you helping another person solve the situation.

Also, by removing yourself and taking a step back, you will be able to detach emotionally, which gives you perspective several yards away from the problem, making it easier to solve.

2. Decide

 Ask yourself what you need to make a decision about.  Many times, overwhelm is fueled by indecision, or the delay tactic ‘procrastination.’  By constantly pushing off a decision you need to make, you will increase anxiety, and potentially make the situation more difficult to deal with successfully.

When you feel you are delaying a decision that makes you feel overwhelmed, recognize you are doing this and ask yourself, “What do I need to decide upon?”  Once you take that step and make a decision you’ve been delaying, overwhelm quickly disappears.

 3. Take action

Once you have made a decision, write down all the steps you need to do to address the situation, and take action!  It is very important to get help with the tasks you don’t know how to do yourself.  Otherwise, you’ll go back to feeling overwhelmed, and get stuck.

Use these strategies to nip overwhelm in the bud when you feel tinges of it surfacing, and then celebrate success!

Do you have any strategies you use to get rid of feelings of overwhelm?  If so, please share them by making a comment on my new blog!