| Do you find yourself thinking mainly about the bad | | | | statements on the bathroom mirror where they will |
| things in your life? Do you look at the future and | | | | see them while they brush their teeth in the morning. |
| assume that things will turn out badly for you? | | | | You might like to write them inside your daily planner |
| Watch out! It is likely that you will get what you | | | | as well. Another idea is to write encouraging notes to |
| focus on. Even the Biblical character Job, who | | | | yourself on each page of your planner or calendar. |
| suffered the loss of everything, made the | | | | Keep those positive ideas before your eyes if you |
| statement, "That which I have greatly feared has | | | | wish to improve the strength of your focus. |
| come to pass." Is it possible that his disasters | | | | Some people have enjoyed creating a collage or |
| happened partly because his focus was on the | | | | dream box to increase their positive focus. A collage |
| negative instead of on the positive? | | | | can be made of magazine pictures, words, and |
| You don't have anything to lose by thinking positively | | | | statements that point your heart to your desired |
| and focusing on the beneficial things you desire. If | | | | outcomes. A dream box is simply a place to keep |
| your focus is on defeat and despair, you will be | | | | success stories, motivating pictures and other inspiring |
| miserable even if it never happens. On the other | | | | odds and ends you collect as you go through life. |
| hand, a positive, upbeat focus will have you in a good | | | | Do you write New Year's resolutions? The beginning |
| state of mind even if a mishap occurs. Ask any | | | | of the year is a natural time to evaluate your life and |
| positive thinker, though, and they will tell you that | | | | set goals. Don't follow the popular idea that |
| you get good things if you expect good things. | | | | resolutions are all broken withing a few weeks. If a |
| Your focus can be increased in a variety of ways. | | | | goal is worth pursuing, don't give up on it. Believe you |
| Positive affirmations are a traditional approach. | | | | can achieve it. Believe you will achieve it. Write your |
| Whatever you hope to achieve or gain in life, turn it | | | | resolutions down and look at them from time to time |
| into a single simple statement. For instance, if you | | | | as the year progresses. They might be challenging, |
| want to lose weight, you can tell yourself something | | | | but by keeping them in your focus, you might reach |
| like, "I am enjoying lighter meals and am satisfied | | | | some of them. Congratulate yourself for every small |
| with smaller portions." Try telling yourself your | | | | victory on your road to success. |
| affirmations every morning several times when you | | | | Yes, you get what you focus on. Make sure you are |
| first rise, and again in the evening before going to | | | | setting your sights on success and achievement and |
| sleep. | | | | not on failure. Whatever you set your mind to, you |
| Many people like to post their positive focus | | | | can accomplish. |