Make Positivity A Habit
1 Tom Ziglar keeps it pretty basic when he says “the secret to winning at life is one good choice at a time.”
He’s the author of “Choose To Win: Transform Your Life One Simple Choice At A Time.” He’s also the CEO of Ziglar Inc., a personal development and training company.
Ziglar cites recent studies that say only around one-third of Americans say they are happy. And only around 8% say they achieve their goals.
Tips on the process of making winning choices that change everything:
Fuel success. Most people can perform at a high level for a short period of time, Ziglar says. “And then life happens and setbacks occur,” he said. “What drives you through the rough spots?”
He says it’s having identified your passion and purpose in work and life that will see you through challenges.
Change your input. Ziglar asks: Who do you need to become in order to accomplish your goals, dreams and aspirations?
He advises replacing the “bad habit of unguarded negative input. This can come from television, radio, mindless reading, social media and people who drag you down.
Replace those impediments with positive input, knowledge and wisdom “that grows you into the person who is better than the day before,” Ziglar says.
Target negative behaviors. What bad habits are holding you back? Start with replacing one bad habit with one good one, Ziglar advises.
One example he offers: “If you drink one 12-ounce sugary soft drink a day and replace that with a bottle of water, and everything else stays the same, you can lose almost 15 pounds in one year!”
Perform regular litmus tests. Are the individual choices you are making taking you closer to your goals or further from them?
Apply that question consistently to each applicable decision and choice you make, Ziglar advises.
Consider your legacy. You don’t have to be famous to have a legacy. You are going to leave one with the people in your life regardless, Ziglar says.
Choose your words, actions and habits with this in mind.
Think young. What we long erroneously considered frivolous is now serious business, says Dr. Ronda Beaman, author of “You’re Only Young Twice: 10 Do-Overs to Reawaken Your Spirit.”
Beaman is a principal of Peak Learning Inc., a research and consulting firm that assesses and strengthens human resilience in organizations.
“When we are born, we are unrealized potential with 1,000 possibilities open to us,” Beaman wrote. “We can choose to be born again at any time, and accept the challenges . . . we’ve yet to meet.”
She says “ ‘childlike qualities’ are the very first gifts we are given at birth.” For adults they can be the drivers and determinants of innovation, possibility and longevity of ideas and individuals.
She adds that youth matters, regardless of age. “Leaders with youthful mindsets and behaviors draw the best people (and) achieve the most superlative results. Youthenize your business.”
Consider new possibilities. “Pose what-if questions,” Beaman said. “Do this to explore new levels, opportunities and upsides.”
Embrace discomfort. In fact, seek and induce it regularly, Beaman says. Force yourself to stretch and challenge yourself. Tap the broadest range of capacities possible. These will help you to stay fully alive, she adds.
Evolve. Beaman says to ask yourself the following questions and record your answers:
What makes you want to jump out of bed and greet the day?
What is important to you, and why?
What would you like to be remembered for? Why?
What do you look forward to? Can you see a purpose for your life?
“Personal evolution calls upon us to regenerate, uncover and develop our own unique selves — birthday after birthday,” Beaman said. “To evolve as we age is to make each day a birth day.”