How to Think Positively to Achieve Success

 

A lot of cynical people believe that thinking positively is a crock. How is it possible that being obnoxiously optimistic is going to provide you with the tools that you need to become successful? No matter what you think it isn’t going to change the world around you, right?

While that may be true, thinking positively has been proven in studies to change your mind and body for the better and help you to recognize the opportunities around you. Whether you want to believe that blind optimism is the key to success or not, there is little dispute that being a positive thinker enhances your quality of life and makes you more likely to seize the opportunities that are around you and stay motivated to follow those opportunities down a path to success.

The first thing you need to do in order to begin to think positively is to really examine yourself and your negative thoughts. Be honest with yourself about where these negative thoughts creep up and begin to consume you. It is common for the human mind to overvalue negative input over positive input, so make sure that you know yourself very well and are willing to understand that your negative thoughts are not necessarily going to be productive. Interrupt negative thoughts with positive thoughts and rewire your brain so that you can think positively and achieve success.

This can be done in a number of ways. You can begin a dialogue with yourself that you alone are invested in. Remind yourself of all of the positive things that you have to gain and what you need to do in order to get there. This will increase your focus and provide you with a built-in fan base that will continue to move you forward no matter how challenging things may be.

It is also important for you to recognize your own belief system and the ways that it might be faulty. Each of us are raised with certain expectations of the world that sometimes just get in the way. Think about how you believe the world operates and consider the ways that these beliefs are actually holding you back. If you find yourself limited by your own perception, then it is not too late for you to change those beliefs and focus on something much more positive and productive.

Thinking positively can help you to view the world in a more objective light so that you are able to pick and choose the information that will help you along the way as you begin to plan for your successful venture. As long as you stay true to your own vision and don’t doubt yourself, you will find that your fears are unfounded and you actually are capable of success. Only you know what you are truly capable of, so do not trust any other authorities if they tried to make you doubt that. 

Remember, your vision is your own, and only you can make your dreams come true.

Accessing Greater Strength and Creativity Through Mental Control

Accessing Greater Strength and Creativity Through Mental Control

If you’re interested in the concept of heightening human performance and getting the very most out of your brain and body, then chances are you will have come across the subject of flow states. Flow states are a mental state synonymous with heightened awareness and reflexes, when we are completely focussed and all distracting thoughts melt away.

Flow states get a lot of positive attention and this is deserved for the most part; but they are often treated as a ‘cure all’ for our performance, along with increased mindfulness.

Right now, all the literature regarding our mental health seems to be around ‘being in the moment’ or focussing more.

But there is always a danger with something like this that we will become overly enamored with a single solution. Like a fad diet, we can end up getting carried away with one solution and end up trying to apply it to every aspect of our lives.

Flow states are not the answer to everything and they should not be relied upon in every situation. And while being in your own head can be a bad thing, it can also actually be a very good thing.

The Default Mode Network

Consider the default mode network for instance. This is a network of brain regions that activates in the brain when we are daydreaming, planning ahead or generally completely detached from reality. It often sees activation when we engage in repetitive, manual tasks and allow our mind to wander.

This is in many ways the opposite of a flow state, but that doesn’t mean it is a bad thing. After all, the ability to think ahead, to imagine and to create is what makes us human… and it’s also where many of our best ideas come from.

Einstein was almost certainly using the default mode network when he came up with his theory of Special Relativity. He was working in a patent office at the time and he even credits the menial work with helping him to flex his imaginative muscles.

So yes, be ‘mindful’ and aim for ‘flow’ but don’t forget that there are other useful mental states out there too.

Ultimate Strength

At the other end of the spectrum, what happens when you go passed a flow state? What happens when you become more aroused and alert than you ever have before?

This may be what causes a state known as ‘hysterical strength’. If you’ve heard stories of Mothers who have lifted cars off of their trapped children, then that’s what scientists now suspect hysterical strength to be.

Normally, you are only capable of recruiting 30% (average) to 60% (highly trained athlete) of your muscle fiber at once. This protects the body from harm and prevents us from becoming completely fatigued. But when you are in a life-or-death situation, adrenaline is released and this actually increases muscle fiber recruitment to a large extent – studies show that even shouting in the gym can trigger the release of enough adrenaline to cause marginal increases in strength.

So, when you see red and your body is awash with these hormones, it appears that you are actually capable of tapping into immense reserves of super-human strength. It’s not something that has been thoroughly researched or even proven, but it’s a fascinating concept and it demonstrates just how much untapped potential our minds and bodies are hiding.

Accelerated Learning Techniques

Accelerated Learning Techniques

From a neurological perspective, there are few things that are better for the development of true intelligence than to learn multiple subjects. This encourages the use of multiple brain areas and by learning lots of different subjects you can use them together – thereby enhancing the interconnectivity of your brain. Learning itself triggers the release of dopamine, BDNF and other neurotransmitters that enhance plasticity – meaning that the more we learn, the easier learning becomes.

And having multiple skills means we can thrive in multiple different situations. This is one benefit of being a freelance writer – I’ve learned countless skills from how to pick a lock to how to fix the toilet!

And if you want to learn more, faster, then you only need apply a range of ‘accelerated learning’ techniques. Here are some of the best…

The Feynman Technique

The Feynman Technique is a mental model named for Richard Feynman. The aim is to learn and to increase your depth of knowledge by making sure you can teach someone else the subject. The idea is that if you can’t explain a subject simply, you don’t fully understand it.

To this end, Feynman suggests a flow chart of steps.

Start with the concept and then ‘explain like I’m five’ (ELI5). If you don’t understand, pinpoint the gap in your knowledge. Then try using an analogy to explain that (which actually taps into the way we understand the world – using embodied cognition) and then simplify that concept.

Then repeat the cycle.

Writing an explanation of the topic you’re trying to learn can often help to this end.

DiSSS

Tim Ferriss, author of The 4 Hour Workweek has a different method for learning subjects more quickly. He calls this the DiSSS method.

The phrase is of course an acronym, which stands for:

·        Deconstructing (what are the minimal learnable units?)

o   iNterviewing (asking people who have already mastered the skill)

o   Reversal (looking at the end goal – for instance, Tim recommends learning finishing moves first in chess and then working backwards to learn how to get to that point)

·        Selection (which 20% of the minimal blocks should I focus attention on?)

·        Sequencing (what is the best order to learn said blocks in?)

·        Stakes (how can you set up stakes to motivate yourself to keep learning)

The First 20 Hours

The First 20 Hours is a book by Josh Kaufman, that explains an alternative accelerated learning method. The central conceit is to aim for a ‘target performance level’ or more specifically, to know what you want to achieve through learning. In particular, if you want to learn to code, then don’t set out to ‘learn to code’ which is much too vague, but instead set out to create a specific goal. Not only is this much more intrinsically motivating with more of an emotional drive, but it also gives you much more structure and it shows you precisely which skills you need to develop.

Conclusion

Combine these methods with adequate interest and with strategies to increase brain plasticity and you can rapidly accelerate your learning and become a far more formidable mind.

5 Useful Tips for Managing Your Anxiety

It's estimated that almost 18 percent or 40 million adults in the United States suffer from anxiety, which makes it the most common mental illness in the country. Anxiety can impact anyone, regardless of the kind of life they lead. Unfortunately, many people suffer in silence because they are ashamed to admit their struggles with anxiety. If you are one of the millions who suffer from anxiety, here are five useful tips to help you better manage your condition.

Tip #1 – Watch for Your Triggers

If you know what triggers your anxiety, you can then effectively plan your day around them. If there are times throughout the day that you know your anxiety is likely to be triggered, plan time-outs, or periods of exercise during these times. Having an understanding of your danger spots can help to lessen your anxiety.

Tip #2 – Start Exercising

Regular daily exercise has many benefits, including helping to alleviate the debilitating symptoms of anxiety. If you haven't made regular exercise a habit in your life, its time you start. You don't have to spend hours in the gym, even a short walk around the block every day can significantly impact your life and decrease your anxiety.

Tip #3 – Take Some Time to Breathe

When your symptoms of anxiety start to rear their ugly head, taking some time alone to breathe can be highly effective in managing your anxiety. Deep breathing exercises can help to calm your heart and help you instantly feel at peace. It can also aid in our ability to make rational decisions.

Tip #4 – Talk to Someone You Trust

You don’t have to suffer in silence. Reach out to someone who will treat you with understanding and kindness. If you don’t have any support at home, or with friends, then you can look up local support groups near your home or place of business. There are always resources available, all you have to do is reach out.

Tip #5 – Understand That You’re in Control

While it may not feel this way when you're in the midst of a panic attack, it is essential to understand that you have the power of your life. Even if you feel trapped, or out of control, you have to realize that you have control over every decision that you make in your life.

You don’t have to let your anxiety rule your life. Incorporate these tips into your life daily and take control of your anxiety and take back your life.