The Power of a Positive Mindset

It is said that “Your attitude determines your altitude.”  Nothing determines attitude like a great, positive mindset.  In a world that is busy and stressed as ever, people often get trapped of not thinking as positively as they want.  Whether it be fear that ultimately stifles growth, lack of confidence in your skills, or a negative attitude about the hard-work and challenges that may lie in front of you and your greatest aspirations, the following key points are extremely valuable to  keep your attitude strong, your mindset positive, and your vision clear.  The following “tips” will surely keep you having a positive mental attitude (P.M.A.) at all times:

• Read positive affirmations everyday.  I love to have those “Successories” quote books at my office and home as I read them everyday.  Put them on your desk, in the bathroom, next to the TV room, or wherever you spend time during a day. Get on quote lists (Rick Ivone has a great one, and Alan Cohen and Brian Tracy are two others with great daily quotes) and print out your favorite ones and post them on your bathroom mirror, in your home office, in your car, etc.
• Listen to motivational talks while exercising or driving.  I often will do my cardio listening to motivational/empowerment talks by guys like Zig Ziglar, Anthony Robbins, Marc Victor Hansen, and Brian Tracy.  Find someone that works for you and pick up a few of their audio programs.  (You can pick up any of my previous motivational audio programs by clicking here ).
• Pray everyday.  The power of prayer is truly powerful and it will help keep you connected to God and your walk in faith.  Don’t wait for something bad to happen in your life to wait and pray.  Pray everyday, every morning.  Get 10 minutes per day in the AM and design some special time to read scripture or spiritually nourishing content EVERYDAY!
• Don’t be a “perfectionist”.  A perfectionist attitude often stifles our growth because we don’t take ACTION on things until the PERFECT time.  That time rarely comes so don’t wait.  A life coach of mine once said that sometimes, “Good is good enough”.  I love this attitude because it allows us to take ACTION without having to be perfect.
• Shorten your “To-Do” List.  Plan your “To-Do” list on Sunday night for the upcoming week.  Be sure there are no more than about 10 things on that list.  Out of that list, categorize them into A, B, or C.  The A’s are the most critical things that you HAVE TO address, the B’s are next in importance, and the C’s could wait.  Start with the A’s and don’t go to the B’s until the A’s are complete.  Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize!
• Create a positive environment.  Whether at work or home, your environment helps dictate your mindset, your energy, and your attitude.  Colors, smell, pictures, light, and music all help dictate your mood.  Some suggestions may include putting green plants in your environment, a waterfall with soothing sounds in your office, soft music on in your work environment, the smell of vanilla or lavender in your bedroom as it will help relax the mind.  If you want to get real serious, hire a feng-shui expert or read a book on feng-shui and they can give you even more helpful hints on things you can do to creative a more positive living and working space.
• Eliminate “negativity” from your life.  If there are people, places, or things in your life that create negative energy in your life, REMOVE them.  Now I am not telling you to quit your job because your boss is negative.  That may be an option but don’t rush into drastic moves like that until you have dealt with the issues.  Talk to people that cause you conflict, re-arrange your environment, and CHOOSE to surround yourself with positive people.  Other strategies when dealing with negative people include imagining a white light or a bubble around you when talking to them so they don’t zap your energy.  Just as positive people WILL add energy to your life and attitude, surrounding yourself with negative people or a negative environment will contaminate your spirit.
• Read inspirational books.  I always have one good “self-help” book going that I’m working on that inspires and motivates me.  Right now I am reading “Release…A Wilderness Adventure of the Soul.”  Some of my all time favorites include “The Secret”, “I Feel Great and You Will Too” (Pat Croce), “Train to Win” (Martin Rooney), “Wealth Matters” (Chris Snook).  (To see my updated Recommended Reading List, I have made it easy to find them on the Fitness Quest 10 website.
• Exercise & Eat Right.  This sounds so easy but we can never forget that it is our conditioning (exercise, nutrition, and sleep) in life that provides us the ENERGY in our life to be successful in all that we do.  Exercise 4-5 times per week, focus on making good choices when eating and being discipline about your food, and get ample rest to maximize your performance.  Conditioning drives greatness in all areas of your life.  When you are at your ideal weight, exercising near everyday, eating well, and getting quality sleep, your energy will be just flowing and your perspective on everything will be different.  Commit to your routine and watch the results that happen!
• Create your Dream/Vision Board.  I have encouraged many of you to do this previously and will encourage you again.  We had about 50 people participate in this activity at my inaugural Retreat and they absolutely loved it.  Get a poster-board, grab some life-style magazines, cut out pictures and sayings that motivate you, paste them on your board, and than post your Dream Board in a spot you see it everyday.  The pictures could be of family, vacations, cars, boats, jets, houses, children, or whatever motivates your soul to live.  It gives you increased clarity of your vision and will remind you of your vision and why you do what you do.
• Surround yourself with a Mastermind Group.  A master-mind group is a group of forward-thinking, positive people that share the same passion, zest, and zeal for life as you.  We all need support and we all need encouragement.  One of the many benefits of a Mastermind group includes putting you in the mindset of success.  And it is the mindset of success that actually allows you to be successful.  Surround yourself with a solid Mastermind and watch what happens in your life.  (For more information on how you can join one of my Mastermind Groups, check out the Fitness Quest 10 website).
• Take ACTION!!!!  If you truly want to improve your mindset, you must be willing to work at it.  Take ACTION on these items.  Which ones resonate with you?  Which ones speak to you?  All of them are good.  The more you do, the more you will find yourselves “naturally” being more positive and optimistic about everything in your life. 

Mindset and attitude is everything.  It drives your entire life and you must do everything you can to set a great attitude in life.  It is said in the Secret as well as the Bible:

Your thoughts become your words
Your words become your flesh
Your flesh become your actions
Your action becomes your character

Therefore, “Thoughts become Reality”.  Carefully guard against your thoughts and set yourself up for success.  Think positively.  Surround yourself with great people.  Read great books.  Listen to great messages.  Spend time praying.  Set up your environment for success.  You have the conscious choice to think and be more positive.  Set yourself up for success and continually reinforce all of the ways that you can create the positive mindset you need to excel in life.

Todd Durkin is a 2 Time Personal Trainer of the Year and Founder of Fitness Quest 10 & Todd Durkin Enterprises in San Diego, CA. He trains people from all walks of life, but is best known for the work he does with over 25 NFL Superstars. He trains the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees, Carson Palmer, Reggie Bush, Alex Smith, and Donnie Edwards amongst others. His expert staff of 30 trainers, coaches, and massage therapist/bodyworkers perform over 400 weekly sessions and help educate, motivate, and inspire the world to greater levels of health & fitness. Todd has 17 DVD’s on fitness & sports performance and has been featured in many national magazines and media outlets. His ezine newsletter “TD Times” is his way of connecting clients, trainers, coaches, colleagues, and friends from all over the world. He can best be reached via his websites ToddDurkin.com, FitnessQuest10.com, or by using the contact form below: [easy-contact]