Let's talk about brainwashing yourself. Okay, I'll admit that sounds a little strange; but when you get right down to it, brainwashing is a kind of pounded-in, acquired training you find very difficult to break. That's not always bad. I'm not talking about Manchurian Candidate-level conditioning, just self-teaching that helps you succeed. This involves simple, practical ways of rewiring your subconscious mind from negativity to positivity, so instead of being what a colleague of mine calls a "PITA negatron," you automatically look for the best side of any situation. Every affirmation you tell yourself each morning, every photo you look at to motivate yourself, every mantra you consider, every firm belief in this Secret or that - it's all a way of reprograming your subconscious mind to "direct your feet to the sunny side of the street," as the old song says. And that's great! There's a reason we have so many sayings about maintaining positivity: "Every cloud has a silver lining." "It's an ill wind that blows no good." "Reframe challenges as opportunities." "Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." We throw these sayings around to fight off the demons of negative self-talk, worry and depression. They help you "Just Keep Swimming" as Dory said from the movie Finding Nemo, pushing toward maximum productivity with a song in your heart and a spring in your step. I'm sure a few of the curmudgeonly among you will greet that statement with rolled eyes and a "Hrmph," but give it a try. As one of my mentors used to say, "Everything's difficult until it's easy." It may sound simplistic, but it's deeper than you think. It's no newsflash that you get better at something the more you work at it, but this doesn't just apply to tasks. It also works for ways of thinking. The more you try to think positively, the more positively you'll think. Here are just a few ways to help rewire your brain toward positivity: The Good, the Bad, and... the Silly Don't let yourself fall into the negativity trap. Bad things do happen, but don't dwell on them constantly -- because then you'll expect more bad things to happen, and may program your subconscious self into creating self-fulfilling prophesies. Look for the good, even if you have to force yourself, so you'll eventually default to expecting the best. Laura Stack is a high-energy International Keynote Speaker. Bestselling author of six books. Leading Expert in performance and productivity. Audience favorite for thousands year-after-year. Go-to resource to increase sales. Build teams. Grow customer bases. Nurture leadership. And help people achieve more in less time with more balance (and less stress) than ever before. Fun, dynamic, and driven - and perfect for your next event. Contact her at www.TheProductivityPro.com.
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