Among the zillion things I love about being a citizen in the third largest country in the world after China & India; Facebook (FB) mind you :P (Note: As of Oct 2009, there’re about 300 million members in FB); is that I got to get Up-Close-And-Personal, well virtually anyway, with many great authors whose books I have been reading all the years. Being an FB fan to these great authors has allowed me to read through their minds long before the ideas are formally printed and sealed via best-selling books.
One of them is Jack Canfield of the Chicken Soup series. I am herewith republishing his latest food for thought as shared in his FB’s Notes.
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With the year coming to a close, it's time to acknowledge and appreciate yourself for everything you've accomplished today, throughout the year, and in life.
How many times have you succeeded in the past month? Are you able to recall your successes as well as your failures and missteps?
Many people under-appreciate the little things they accomplish every day. And yet they can recall in detail all the times they have failed or made mistakes. That's because the brain remembers events more easily when they're accompanied by strong emotions.
You might recall graduation, losing 10 pounds, winning an award, or landing a highly sought after position.
But do you include in your successes how you had a really great talk with your spouse, how you spent quality time with your teen, how you got all your list of things done for the day, how you learned to change your own oil, or got your fussy child to take a nap?
If you don't acknowledge your successes the same way you acknowledge your mistakes, you're sure to have a memory full of blunders.
Toot your own horn and don't wait for anyone else to praise you!
If you only remember the mistakes and failures, you won't be as ready to take risks that will lead to your successes. Build your self-esteem by recalling ALL the ways you have succeeded and your brain will be filled with images of you making your achievements happen again and again.
The more you acknowledge your past successes, the more confident you become in taking on and successfully accomplishing new ones.
Take time to write your achievements down.
To really convince yourself that you're a succcessful person who can continue to achieve great things, I'd like to challenge you to list 100 or more of your life successes.
Start when you were very young and think of all your achievements since then. Don't just pick the big things, write down all the things you take for granted. Thinks like, learning to ride a bike, singing solo at church, getting your first job, or leading a fund-raising campaign.
You should also begin to create a Victory Log of your daily successes and review it anytime you are faced with a new challenge. By writing it down everyday, you're securing it in your long-term memory, which enhances your self-esteem and builds your confidence.
Surround yourself with reminders of your success.
We know from research that what you see in your environment has a psychological impact on your moods, your attitudes, and your behavior. Your environment has a great deal of influence over you. And here's an even more important fact: You have almost total control over your immediate environment.
Put up pictures, articles, trophies, awards and other symbols of your past achievements that remind you about your past successes. Make a special place - a special shelf, wall or section of your home or office that you pass by every day and fill it with your success symbols.
This will have a powerful effect on your subconscious mind and will subtly remind you that you are someone who has consistent success in life!
This is also a great thing to do for your children. Proudly display their success symbols as well.
People like to be around those who have a healthy self-esteem and who are achieving their goals. Commit to acknowledging your achievements and your brain will begin to tell you the truth... that you can do ANYTHING!
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