Create Your Own Confidence Bank Account – Positive-Attitude
Create Your Own Confidence Bank Account
This is a technique that sounds a bit silly when you first hear about it (and doesn't seem at first to get much better as you read on) but WORKS, which is what counts, if you apply it to your life. The idea is to "open" a Confidence Bank Account for yourself. Bear with me on this!We all feel at times that our confidence could be at a higher level than it is, whether that is in the moment or over a period of time. By using a CBA, we can build our confidence back up to where we would like it to be.The principle behind the idea is this; every time you do something, big or small, that adds to your self confidence, you make a deposit into your CBA. As you start to do more and more actions that give you confidence, your CBA begins to grow.You don't need to write down your account but that may be helpful to you. Lay out our account as if it were a real bank account by using a spreadsheet or simply a sheet of paper. Start the account with an opening balance. Decide at what level
your confidence is, at present, on a scale of 1 to 10. For every level, give yourself 100 bank credits. In other words, if you rate yourself at 6 on the confidence scale, add 600 points to your CBA.Now that your account is open, start becoming aware of the things you do in your life that improve your self confidence. This is the key to the technique. It makes you look for the good things you do at times when your focus may be elsewhere.Every time you notice doing something that is positive, in any area, rate that deed on a scale, and award the points to the account. Not everything we do on a daily basis would have a major impact on us, so be careful not to miss the small things.A couple of examples of points scoring would be as follows. Let us say that today you have just delivered a presentation at work in front of a sizeable number of your colleagues and strangers from another company. This would be an action that deserves a high number of points, so you could award yourself 200 credits.On the other hand you also smiled at someone in the supermarket whom you are attracted to. This is not the biggest thing that has happened in your life, but it should be rewarded. Give yourself 25 points. The most important aspect of this system is in encouraging you to spot the small stuff.As time goes on and your account fills up you will begin to notice an improvement in your level of self confidence. If you find that there are specific areas that you would like to build on, then open a CBA solely aimed at that subject. You could have an account for relationships, work, friends, strangers, anything you decide upon.Your CBA has no overdraft limit, therefore you can't take out more than you put in. If you do something that you feel has reduced your confidence, don't be too harsh on yourself. Even if what has happened seems like an almighty disaster at the time, just remind yourself that you not only own the account but you own the bank as well.Try this technique for a few weeks and see if it works for you. Even if you keep the account in your head rather than on paper you should be able to feel a difference in your life.Allan Cowley is a Life Coach working on a one-to-one basis with clients throughout the world. He provides online life coaching via his website. You can contact him at:- http://www.uk-success-coach.com/
Beware: Your Mind is a Battle Field! – Positive-Attitude
Beware: Your Mind is a Battle Field!
WhenWhen we have feelings for someone or something, we have given birth to those feelings through thought. Proverbs Chapter 23 verse 7 reads: "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. 'Eat and drink!' he says to you, but his heart is not with you." This is an example of how bad relationships begin. What is in a person's heart is what they consider important. It is essential to understand what is in our heart and where our thoughts come from. When we discover that what is in our heart does not match what Gods word says, it is extremely important to realign our heart with Gods word. We must guard our mind, because 365 days out of the year, the devil constantly tempts us with thoughts and suggestions in our mind, lustful thoughts, which can ultimately cause the break-down of our relationship. James Chapter 1 Verse 14 says, "But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own lusts."HowOften we find ourselves in subtle situations which cause us to have thoughts which, on a good day, we would not follow through with. These thoughts fall into two categories: The spirit of our enemy, the devil and from the spirit of our advocate, Jesus Christ. The thoughts from our enemy usually have to do with anger, envy, strife, gossiping, committing sexual sins, vengeance, etc. For instance, if a married woman sees a handsome man and thinks to herself, "I wonder what it would be like to have a relationship with that handsome man?" This is a bad thought. Another example would be if a married man has an opportunity to have sex with "no strings" attached and he thinks to himself, "Why not? My wife will never find out." These bad thoughts are an illustration of the types of battles within the mind that people must contend with. An important note, one does not have to act on the bad thought and it is this point that is so critical to understand.In personal relationships we look for fulfillment. In our quest for personal fulfillment, we have to put aside the things that society says to look for in a mate and focus on what God says. In Philippians Chapter 4 Verses 6 through 8 it says:"6": Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."7": And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."8": Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.The Devil uses society to get us to buy into certain stereotypes that are against what God says is true. We should focus on thinking on truth, honesty, justice, purity, loveliness, good report, virtue and praise to God. This will keep our hearts in a state of being able to act out in a way that will attract what we seek for a great relationship with someone. Society wants us to believe that we must achieve a lot of material things in order to get the relationship we desire. Society says to look for wealth, money, power, position, looks and a determination to do well in the world. In truth, we need to make sure we search for those things that will keep our hearts pure, honest and with praise for God. It is God who blesses us and he has left clear instructions on what we need to do to complete our quest for a good, healthy relationship. After all, what we are really seeking in a relationship is someone who can complete who we are, a person who provides qualities that we need help with. The idea is to know the difference between our own good and bad thoughts in our quest for a relationship. The rest will be easy. If someone brings bad thoughts to you, then more than likely, this person is not right for you. If you can be an example for them, God may work in their life and they could change, but don't you try to change them. Only God can change hearts and minds. Just work on your own heart and be an example to others. This is what God wants all of us to do. This way, we will not allow the bad thoughts from the devil to make us take action and do bad things, just to be in a relationship with someone.WhyIt is important to know that there is a battle raging in our mind because it makes a difference in the choices we make for our own life. There is an old saying, "Knowing is half the battle." Humans are such unique beings. We have a built in desire to seek answers to our existence. In that quest for answers, we need to know Gods word to help us choose the right path to take. In comprehending the difference between good and bad thoughts, society has created a world based on laws. These laws are now becoming more and more in question because of terrorist threats, wars and rumors of wars, men marrying men and women marrying women. One law becomes a distraction for the other and in your mind, you struggle with the truth. The laws are now causing people to become more afraid and more dependent on what societies believes. With this fear, people have become less likely to depend on God and more likely to engage in depending on their own understanding. Proverbs Chapter 3 verse 5 ? 6 says 5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. 6: In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."Try this exercise for yourself. Write your answers down and keep them in a safe place to remind you to study Gods word. If you are honest, your answers will shock you.1) Ask yourself, "Has my life changed in a good way or a bad way?"2) Ask yourself, "Do I know the truth about Gods word?"3) Ask yourself, "Have my thoughts been good or bad lately?"Thoughts make a difference in our life. It is good to know that we do have control over what we choose to think and believe. I choose to believe in Gods word and I try to keep only good Christ like thoughts in my mind because as it says in the book of Proverbs Chapter 23 verse 7: "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he?" What are you thinking?Nevada York has based one of her characters: "Pastor Ethan", in her book Mahogany's Revelation on Ethan Berry, A.K.A. "Pastor Ethan." He resides in the Bay Area of California.
http://nevadayork.com
Heres Your Calm During The Storm Of Discouragement – Positive-Attitude
Heres Your Calm During The Storm Of Discouragement
Have you ever known someone like this? "A person who knows how to start well, but finds it difficult to keep going"? A person whose successes are dependent on the quality of someone else's encouragement and motivation? Someone who consistently let's discouragement get the better of him? Ever found yourself like that? There's hope, read on.Don't Worry, Be Happy! &^%$%^Yeah right! How many times have you wished you could bit**-slap somebody for saying that at the moment you least needed it? I know I have a bunch. The problem is, most of the time you're in a moment of discouragement when that is said. So, those words come across as being insensitive and cold blooded.Our first reaction is to lash out at the person who said it, to give them a piece of our mind. And, sometimes we even tell them to stay out of our life and mind their own business. Of course, we really don't mean it; we're just reacting to the discouragement that has pounced upon us.But, have you ever considered this? The other person doesn't really feel your discouragement. Oh! Really, you say: Yeah, big revelation. Be nice to me now. Seriously, if they did, and especially if it was a loved one, they would never say words that would rattle your cage. But, the discouragement at hand makes us want to take out our saber and cut off their right ear.Then what happens is, the other person, who at the moment was probably feeling pretty chipper and happy, suddenly feels the fury of your wrath so they take out their boxing gloves and then we got a full scale war on our hands. It all started because one person felt discouraged and now we got two people pi**ed off worse than a couple of fire breathing dragons.Makes Your Hair Stand On End!At a moment when you are really in your groove those words just roll off like water off a duck's back. But, discouragement can change the whole face of the situation. It can cause us to even sabotage our own best efforts. It can take the best laid plans of mice and men and turn them into mush.Do not underestimate the potential effects of discouragement. It is like a virus; it spreads and can become so contagious that it acts like a permanent personality trait. Make no bones about it; it can make your dream not worth the powder to blow it up. When the roots get that deep, it takes military strength anecdotes to rid it.A Thief In The Night!Discouragement has probably caused as many business failures as lack of capital, because it is first to show up. The discouragement shows up long before the money runs out. Then the day by day emotional warfare begins and the potential to self-sabotage everything we are trying to accomplish. At that point; the money runs out!At the end, we blame it on the lack of money, our spouse, our next door neighbor, our cat, or anything that makes us look not at fault and out of our control. After all, if we could have stopped it, we would have. But, what we really did was try to stop the effects of the failure before trying to stop the discouragement that was fueling it.Consider this: take a forest fire out of control; it is much easier to cut off the fuel than to drown it. Just clear areas outside the fire and it'll burn itself out. If the fuel line to the engine is not cut off, then it's pretty safe to bet our efforts to stop the failure will not succeed. Succeeding at any task in life is hard enough without allowing discouragement to hamper our efforts. A mind filled with discouragement will never have the motivation to keep going.A Force To Be Reckoned With!It will cause the person affected by it to become jealous and resentful of others success. It can cause a woe-is-me attitude that will hang around like stink on a skunk. Discouragement will paralyze the strongest of dreams, which is the reason many people affected by it start well but can't keep going.Many people try to cover it up. Some are able to do it pretty effectively. But, underneath there is an undeniable and unmistaken pain and hurt that saps the person's motivation and causes depression to set in many cases.With such a wide spread problem is there anything that we can easily do to combat discouragement? Remember, discouragement needs fuel to spread and grow. The fuel is our thoughts but, just telling ourselves to, "don't worry, be happy," does no more good than it did when our friend said it to us.Do This Bright And Early!Just as soon as you tell yourself not to worry the pressure will become a storm. It's almost like waving a red flag in front of a bull. He is going charge it and discouragement is going pound your thoughts till you "forcibly" take action to run them out. Once discouragement has set in the situation calls for serious action. It's time to sit down with a good book.At this point in time you need some help so don't try to be the honcho moncho and go it by yourself. You need for your eyes to feed on words that will help. I'm a firm believer in self-suggestion and auto-suggestion; these techniques have helped me immensely through the years. But discouragement is dangerous and you don't want to play footsy with it.Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover!Whatever book you read, do it quickly. I keep a handy Bible around me for moments like these. I get into the Psalms and Proverbs. My favorite is the ninety first Psalm. And, it is amazing how quickly discouragement takes a hike. I'm just as human as any one else and discouragement tests me like everyone. But, one thing I do is run for the Book when it comes. The Book anecdote never fails.If you don't read the Bible then I would suggest you find some good motivational book to feed your eyes on. There are a lot of them. And, don't leave that book till you feel the pressure subsiding. It will, sometimes ten minutes, sometimes thirty minutes. But, that is a small price to pay for peace and calmness of mind.This is the only method I have ever tried that works one hundred percent of the time combating discouragement. As many of you know I'm a big believer in, "you possess what you confess". The art of affirmation has brought me through in more cases than I can count. It's not "hocus pocus", it's not "blab it and grab it;" but it is a universal and spiritual truth that all can take advantage of and will greatly help anyone.Don't Cut Off Your Nose To Spite Your Face!So, don't try to re-invent the wheel and spend possibly years trying to discover some hot dog brand new strategy that no one has ever heard of and test it against your most dangerous enemy. Go to the Book, it'll never fail you.Richard Vegas