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Thomas Francis University • Course G150 • Segment 4

THE ART OF POSITIVE CONSCIOUSNESS

—Douglas R. Kelley, PhD, CH, CSL

Updated: September 28, 2015

Upon Completion of this Segment, You Will Know:

 The nature of positive consciousness.

 How to be an optimist, not a pessimist.

 Positive thinking in life and relationships.

 The positive effects of positive thinking on your health.

 How to expect miracles in your life.

 Positive thinking in your work environment.

 How to set a positive example for your children.

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring

to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.

—John Homer Miller

etaphysics is the study of consciousness and existence. We have explored many concepts

related to thinking and practical life-skills that enhance both our consciousness and ex-

istence, and we will continue to do so in upcoming courses. In this segment, we will

explore the importance of thinking positively as we strive to grow in conscious awareness of the

Universal Mind, which is simply the interconnectedness of all individual consciousness’s that exist.

By practicing positive thinking in our everyday life, we evolve toward a higher state of enlighten-

ment I call positive consciousness. Having a positive consciousness actually transcends positive think-

ing because in our heart of hearts, our natural inclination is to be positive without effort. This means

that even in our private self-talk we have a naturally positive bent. It means that we don’t have to

filter out negativities because they simply are not there. It means that we harbor no ill-will toward

others. It means being at peace with ourselves because we’re generally and reasonably negativity-

free. In short, it means to be driven by positivity. It doesn’t mean, of course, that we are passive in

nature and therefore allow others to encroach upon our boundaries.

Is having a positive consciousness something that we as humans can attain? I believe we can, but

it takes time and deliberate effort—especially considering the world we live in. We must practice

Segment 4: The Art of Positive Consciousness

positive thinking and intentionally root out negative thinking by focusing on the positives. With this

in mind, let’s explore a number of tips, tools, and techniques to help with positive thinking.1

ARE YOU AN OPTIMIST OR A PESSIMIST?

Noticing the difference is easy. An optimist, when faced with a problem, tends to find the up side

to the situation and starts figuring out ways to solve that problem, or ways to turn it around. A

pessimist, however, immediately throws up his hands, and yells, “That’s it; it’s all over. I can’t handle

this anymore.” Or he will distance himself from the problem, pretending it doesn’t matter. This is

denial, and it never works. Pessimists see the glass as half-empty, rather than half-full. They see the

hole, instead of the donut; the cloud, rather than the silver lining.

An indication that you are dealing with a pessimist is in a simple phrase they will use in stressful

situations. “I can’t.” The pessimist feels helpless, powerless in that situation and it shows in his or

her response. The optimist responds with “I won’t.” This shows that they are making a conscious

choice, not just reacting.

A pessimist is afflicted with an unhealthy case of the “what if” disorder. He constantly thinks,

“what if something bad happens, what if I lose my job, what if co-workers don’t like me, what if,

what if, what if….”

Optimists prefer to think more positively with a healthy case of the “what if’s.” What if nothing

bad happens, what if everything comes out fine? They tend to focus on what they really want, not

what might happen to them.

What exactly are the benefits of being optimistic, rather than pessimistic? For starters, an optimist

is more likely to achieve their goals, because they never give up. They may even achieve goals faster

than their more pessimistic counterparts. Optimists are just naturally happier, sunnier, and more

energetic individuals; and they actually encounter fewer obstacles along the way. They also tend to

inspire others to a more optimistic behavior and greater achievement.

Optimists are easier to be around, and can even make others feel more energetic and positive.

Pessimists are very difficult to deal with and can make people around them feel very depressed and

hopeless too.

Now, true optimism is not sitting back thinking positive thoughts and hoping everything will turn

out all right. It’s how you see the world, positively rather than negatively. You face each situation,

each problem, and each occasion with a positive attitude; and you always look forward to the benefits

you will derive from it. The pessimist focuses on the problem, rather than the solution. They don’t

find a solution, because they’re not looking for one. They’re totally focused on failure. “That’s just

the way it is; there’s nothing we can do,” they’ll tell you.

An optimist really believes they can make a difference in the situation or the problem, that there

is a solution. They tend to bounce back quicker from losses and other life challenges than the pessi-

mist. The pessimist sees failure as inevitable and never moves forward to reverse it.

What’s most difficult to take from pessimists is their judgment of others. This is the only way they

can feel good about themselves. With so much self-hate, it’s no wonder that they have so little

1 The following techniques are based on the eBook, Revolutionary Positive Thinking edited by Doug Kelley and used with

permission.

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confidence in themselves or any self-esteem. This attitude brings everyone down to their level. This

is because there’s a payoff somewhere, secondary gains. So, what is it? They don’t have to take

responsibility for their own lives; they take no action to pull themselves from this pessimistic mindset.

Sidney J. Harris said, “A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, he is one

who is prematurely disappointed in the future.” And Peggy Noonan said, “Cynicism is not realistic

and tough. It’s unrealistic and kind of cowardly because it means you don’t have to try.”

What it comes down to is that your attitude is a conscious choice. If you choose to be pessimistic,

you’re choosing to see the down side of every situation, judge people unfairly, and live unhappily the

rest of your life. What an oppressive existence!

On the other hand, if you choose optimism, you’re empowering yourself to see the positive side

of each challenge, seeing the good in people, helping them to see the good in life too, taking action

to further improve your own life, and living happily with friends and family who care about you.

Choosing to be more optimistic and positive does not mean you won’t encounter difficult times,

trauma, loss and many challenges. What it does mean is that you will have more power on your side

to help you through those tough times. You’ll bounce back faster and make better choices, rather

than letting life just wash over you. You’ll learn to be proactive, instead of reactive.

If you’re not naturally optimistic and positive, don’t worry. You can learn how to use your thoughts

to change your attitude and emotions. It won’t be easy; some days will be very challenging, but you

can do it. Each time your mind produces a negative thought, stop right there and turn it around to

find the positive aspect of the situation. Do this each time and soon, it will become a habit to be

positive and upbeat about your life.

It’s your choice. “Change your thoughts and change your world,” said Norman Vincent Peale.

POSITIVE THINKING IN LIFE AND RELATIONSHIPS

Positive thinking, in its most simplistic form, depends on your attitude. It makes you a winner or

a loser. It’s up to you. Whatever you think you can or cannot do, you’re right! (Henry Ford) And your

thoughts and attitude totally control your path, your destiny, and your future.

Charles Swindoll said, “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude,

to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money,

than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is

more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a

home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace

for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain

way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have,

and that is our attitude…. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to

it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our attitudes.”

Attitude is a choice. Remember Shakespeare’s Hamlet, who said, “To be or not to be, that is the

question.” Your very attitude will determine whether or not you will be. It’s all in your mind.

“A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to

run wild. But whether cultivated or neglected, it must and will bring forth. If no useful seeds are put

into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein and will continue to produce their

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kind,” according to James Allen, from As A Man Thinketh (this book is discussed in Course G160:

Metaphysical Laws of Attraction and Abundance).

It is essential that you develop strength of character. When you do, people around you will admire

your fortitude. You must accept life as it comes and avoid a constant pity-party. Be strong and cope

well, and the world will stand with you. But whine and you stand alone! So no more excuses, no more

whining. Stop telling yourself what you can’t do; and do what you know you must do. Then do it to

the best of your ability.

Positive thinking means also putting forth effort in order to fulfill your true potential. Life is about

you and how you feel about yourself, not about whether you’re born to riches or poverty. It’s not

about a list of relationships you’ve been in and it’s not about what you look like. It’s not about how

much stuff you’ve accumulated or your status in the world’s eyes.

A positive attitude can literally change your life and make you happier and successful, but only if

you choose to do so. Attitude is everything. And with this in mind, let’s talk about how you can start

changing your attitude. For some, it might be as simple as flipping a switch. But for many, it takes

practice, and lots of it. Each detail must be explored and added to your day. Do you wake up in the

morning, jump out of bed, and say, “Good morning, Lord!” or do you drag yourself from the bed,

muttering, “Good Lord, it’s morning!”

Facing the day is a good place to start. For many, that’s where it all starts to come apart. We

dread getting up in the morning and having to face our day. Many people especially dread Mondays.

They resist giving up that weekend and going back to work (many call it drudgery).

In order to turn that around, you need to find something good about getting up and starting your

day. If you’re married, or otherwise involved with someone, try spending some time with that signif-

icant other. Have breakfast together, talk a few minutes, and smile at each other. I guarantee it will

make a huge difference in the way your day starts. If children are a part of your life, spend some

time with them too. Children have a way of looking at the world that can change your attitude for-

ever, if you let it.

Spend a few extra minutes on your appearance. It’s true that “clothes make the man, or woman.”

What they don’t tell you is that clothes make you feel different about yourself. Taking care of your

appearance makes you feel more confident. If you know you look good, you’ll feel good too. It’s a

real spirit lifter! There’s an old Hasidic saying that goes, “The man who has confidence in himself

gains the confidence of others.”

Watch your words and thoughts. Instead of saying to yourself, “Oh great, another Monday morning

to get through!” try seeing the more positive side to things. Monday morning could mean another new

start, a new week to make a difference and be more productive. And of course, if you are engaged

in doing what you love, it won’t matter which day of the week it is.

Quit telling yourself what you’re doing wrong and start building yourself up with more positive

thoughts about what you’re doing right. Your significant other loves you, your children love you, and

your friends think you’re great. Find some fun things that you and your friends/family can do together

this week. As Zig Ziglar says, focus on the “good, the clean, the pure, the powerful, and the positive.”

The more often you say negative things to yourself, the stronger those thoughts become, and the

more you’ll believe them, and the opposite is also true. If you’ve ever experienced a loved one who

beat you down with negativity, you understand that it can become a part of your own self-talk over

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time. Whatever happened in your past, in your childhood or early adulthood, it’s time to start talking

nicer to yourself. You deserve it; be kind to yourself. Don’t pick up that loved one’s negativity and

carry it any further. “If you think a certain thought long enough and hard enough, it becomes a fixed

belief and you will find yourself behaving on the outside in a manner consistent with it,” said moti-

vational speaker, Brian Tracy.

If you find it difficult to be nice to yourself and you often forget to say positive things, write

optimistic messages down on small cards and carry them in your pocket or purse. Then, when you

feel discouraged and need a pick-me-up, pull out a card and read what it says. Remind yourself of

accomplishments and how well you’re doing. Say a nice thing to yourself; and pretty soon, that’s

what your unconscious mind will believe.

Before you start whining about how you can’t think of any good things to say to yourself, stop and

remind yourself that your attitude change is not caused by some mysterious outside force. Change is

caused by you and your own thoughts. You’re the only one who has control over what you think and

say. Don’t blame your attitude on anyone else. You can choose to think and act differently. As con-

centration camp survivor, Viktor Frankl wrote in his seminal work, Man’s Search for Meaning, “Eve-

rything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's

attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.

Don’t let another’s attitude affect your own. Too many are led by another’s negativity. “Everyone

was sure in a bad mood today,” you tell your friend. “I guess it just rubbed off on me too.” You can

choose to be in a bad mood; or you can tell yourself that just because others are not happy today,

doesn’t mean you have to be too. Maybe if you choose to be in a good mood, a happy mood, you can

influence others as well. Choose to be a good influence.

You can make that positive attitude a habit each day too. It can make a difference in others’

attitudes too and influence them to choose positive thinking. Any way you look at it, you can’t lose

when you choose the positive side to thinking.

Keep in mind though that you can’t control what other people say, do, or think. You can influence

their attitude, but you cannot dictate it. They will be the ones to think what they want to think, and

so do you. You can only be a good example to others of what positive attitude is capable of bringing

about. Rest assured, as an example to others, that you will annoy some, but you will definitely

influence many others.

What do you do if someone says unkind or hurtful things to you? This may be surprising, especially

if you have adopted an attitude of positive thinking. If you’ve found the positive side of the situation

and have shown kindness (positive consciousness), this could very well mean that it’s not really about

you at all. Remember, you’re not responsible for their attitude, although you might be able to influ-

ence it. They have to find their own path towards a positive way of thinking. They may be facing

obstacles that are unknown to you and others, but which they have to deal with on their own. Be

persistent in your positive attitude for yourself and others.

All people are entitled to their own opinion, which may differ from yours. It doesn’t mean it should

upset you; it’s simply their opinion. There are as many opinions in the world as there are human

beings. Not everyone is going to agree with you on any particular issue. But your truth is your truth,

no matter what anyone else says. It works the other way around as well—your truth is not necessarily

theirs.

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You must follow your own inner guidance. Shakti Gawain said, “Every time you don’t follow your

inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness.”

Marcus Aurelius said, “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing

itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” No one can

hurt your feelings or make you feel less valuable as a person, unless you allow it. It’s your life; make

it what you need it to be.

To keep that positive attitude flowing, spend time with friends and family who are of like mind.

Be with non-judgmental people who accept you just the way you are. You don’t need a lot of friends,

just a few really true friends. They are the ones who will love you no matter what, and can be

depended upon through trials and jubilations.

As soon as you allow yourself to develop that positive attitude, your life will begin to change for

the better. Positive thoughts allow for personal growth and success in all aspects of your life. As you

practice being positive, you will anticipate happiness and favorable outcomes more and more. You

won’t automatically wonder what bad thing is going to happen next in your life (positive conscious-

ness).

At this stage, the most important thing to remember is to be persistent. This is not something you

can do every now and then. This is a lifestyle change. Instead of telling yourself what you can’t do,

begin to tell yourself what you can do. Say it every day; practice the positive attitude in every sce-

nario, in every situation, practice, practice, practice!

The best part is that as human beings, we think all the time. It’s just a matter of training your

brain to think the correct way, to think in a positive manner. Want to change the way you feel about

things? Then change your thoughts. Change your thoughts and you change your emotions. Which

means you can be happy if you truly want to be, you just have to think it first. Now, this is not Peter

Pan’s thinking happy thoughts; this is more important than that. This is the secret to change the way

you feel about everything in your life. Your thoughts and emotions are tied together. They influence

how you will live your life every single day. So why not make the most of it?

So what is your priority in life? Do you want to be happy and successful, to love and be loved? Do

you want to grow and develop as a person? Then you must be persistent in your positive attitude, no

matter what happens. Practice, practice, practice.

Keep in mind too, that since we’re only human beings, we will have some downtimes; times when

we don’t feel very positive. This is normal, so don’t feel downhearted when it happens. It doesn’t

mean it’s all been for nothing and that you have to start from square one. Give yourself the leeway

to have a bad day, once in a while. It’s not the end of the world. Tomorrow will be a better day and

you can start again. Just pick up where you left off. This self-improvement thing is a day-to-day

project; all good things take time. You can’t just wake up one day and be completely changed.

Remember that it’s the journey, not the destination, that matters.

Each day, there are choices to make. Bad days will happen; it’s a given. So, get up the next day

and make the choice that it’s going to be a good day. Make it happen.

Be dedicated to a life of positive thinking and decision-making, then take action on those deci-

sions. Beware of homeostasis or just plain laziness.

Segment 4: The Art of Positive Consciousness

American social writer and philosopher, Eric Hoffer, said, “The remarkable thing is that we really

love our neighbor as ourselves; we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we

hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when

we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves.”

THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF POSITIVE THINKING ON YOUR HEALTH

While everyone seems to know that negative feelings can eventually damage your health, there’s

a new theory that a positive attitude can help you sustain good health and maybe even make you feel

a whole lot better. Can it chase away illness? It sure can.

If a person has the ability to control good health, even a little bit, it’s worth looking into, wouldn’t

you say? If you don’t have anything to lose by maintaining a positive attitude, and all the good health

to gain, then why not maintain that optimistic spirit? At the very least, you’ll be happy, contented,

and able to handle anything life throws at you.

A good start is with some regular exercise, which brings with it great benefits already. It will clear

your mind, take care of stress, give you energy, and build up your stamina. That alone will improve

your health and make you feel good about yourself. As your body improves in strength and tone, you’ll

begin to feel proud of your ability and feel good about how much better you’re looking.

Want to minimize the risk of cardiovascular problems? Think positive! According to a 15-year study

by Dutch doctors, involving 545 men between the ages of 64 and 84, optimism and just an overall

great positive attitude reduced the health risk by half! That even beats the “laughter is the best

medicine” cliché.

So, why is it that people with a negative attitude or a feeling of hopelessness seem to sicken,

while people with a more positive attitude can recover more easily? Doctors have done studies on the

human immune system trying to figure out exactly that. Unfortunately, the immune system cells of

people who are hopeless and sad are unable to fight off diseases.

When these people are given hope and are able to think in a more positive manner, they develop

stronger immune systems. A healthy immune system stands a better chance of fighting off diseases

and allowing the person to regain good health. Part of the reason for this is that positive thinking and

emotions give a person more energy and stamina; and that helps the immune system.

Doctors have discovered a biochemical connection between the brain and the body. According to

the National Institute of Health at Georgetown University, emotions play a huge part in helping us

maintain healthy bodies. Believe it or not, the psychological and chemical processes that control the

neural, hormonal, and immune systems all use the very same neuropeptides in order to communicate.

Since the brain and the body use the same chemicals, it makes sense that these elements would

affect the mind as well as the body. It’s all tied together. Scientists used to refer to it as psychoso-

matic illness, but didn’t understand how the mind could make the body ill.

It makes perfect sense that if you can improve the mind, making it more hopeful and positive, it

would then affect the entire bodily system, helping to cure what ails you.

Unfortunately for us all, hope isn’t something your doctor can prescribe for you; you have to find

it on your own. So, before you give in to that constant pity party, consider your health. And never

trivialize the power of positive thinking.

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Prevention would seem to be the ideal way to go. Work on that attitude adjustment now, before

you become ill. A change of attitude will help your immune system work at peak efficiency, effec-

tively preventing most illnesses. Let that positive thinking and emotion energize you and make you

happier right now. Then learn to maintain that positive flow. The life you save could be your own.

Not only will positive attitude help you stay healthier, but it can even delay the aging process. A

study done at the University of Texas uncovered the fact that people who viewed life more positively

showed fewer signs of frailty than those who have a pessimistic outlook in life.

This is good news to the Baby Boomer generation. Thanks to modern medical breakthroughs, more

and more folks are living past their 60s, 70s, 80s, and some well into their 90s. Modern medicine may

be responsible for part of the longevity, but could it be possible that a positive attitude and more

recreational activities are the reasons so many are experiencing long life?

Retirement age used to be 65, at which point a person stops working and starts sitting around,

trying to find something useful to keep themselves busy. Boredom and loss of purpose may have ended

many lives. Without a useful reason for being on the planet, many just withered away.

In the new generation, senior citizens are proving that they still have contributions to give to this

world. Several decades of experience shouldn’t be wasted. We can learn a lot from our Boomers.

Many are enjoying life, keeping up with what’s going on in the world, traveling, and yes, still working

at what they love to do.

And this is where the positive attitude comes in. After several decades of dealing with change,

problems, and whatever life throws at them, they are still here showing us how it’s done, and learning

more. Muhammed Ali said, “The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted

30 years of his life.” Moreover, according to Patricia Neal, “A strong positive mental attitude will

create more miracles than any wonder drug.”

YOU ARE WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE

What determines who you are and what you believe? Your upbringing, your parents’ values and

standards, and your experiences so far in life all blend together to make you the person you are right

now. That’s not to say that we’re all experiencing family life the way it’s being seen on television.

Most of us didn’t grow up with the Cleavers.

If you didn’t experience great parenting, your upbringing brought with it different standards and

beliefs. This directly affects the way you deal with challenges. A person with more positive attitudes

and beliefs will deal with adversity differently than a more pessimistic personality. What one person

considers a failure or a loss will be viewed as just more of life’s many changes to another. It’s a fact,

however, that you will learn more from adversity than triumph.

What makes one person turn that adversity into positive energy, while another wants to turn up

their toes and be done with it? This is where your belief system comes into play. Those who believe

that nothing good will ever happen to them have doomed themselves from the start. Virgil said, “They

can conquer who believe they can.”

This is where you need to change your self-talk, as well as your focus. Stop telling yourself what

you can’t do and start convincing yourself that you can do whatever you put your mind into. What

you say about yourself will affect your whole life and everything you try or attempt to do. If you’ve

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already made up your mind that you can’t do something, it’s all over; the handwriting is on the wall

and the fat lady has sung.

Things not working out exactly as you hoped or planned? Maybe it’s time to try something new. A

positive attitude makes the transition easier and less painful, not to mention less scary. Taking risks

is pretty scary; but if you don’t try, you’ll never know if you have the right stuff. Give yourself the

wakeup call before it’s too late. Taking a risk can make you feel alive and eager to move on. Let’s

face it. Just getting up in the morning is a leap of faith some days. Have confidence in yourself and

your ability to handle change and risks.

Handling things well when everything is going along smoothly is one thing. Maintaining a positive

attitude when everything is falling apart is the real challenge. And when things are not going well,

it’s easy to wish you were anywhere else, doing anything else, than where you are. We’ve all heard

the old homily about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence. But the truth is, the

grass is greener wherever it’s been watered. Handle things where you are; make them better, rather

than wishing you’re elsewhere.

Accept the situation as it is, then find the positive side. That’s how we grow and learn from our

experiences. Acceptance makes it easier for us to see how we can improve that situation. Then

change your attitude and watch as your life begins to change as well. Katherine Mansfield said, “Could

we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be

different.”

Martha Beck said, “Any transition serious enough to alter your definition of self will require not

just small adjustments in your way of living and thinking but a full-on metamorphosis.”

You must never say never. Believe you can have whatever you want in life; and understand that

doesn’t mean wishing and hoping. It means working, learning, and striving for what you want in this

life.

At the same time, don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t think that if everything hasn’t come out

right, that it’s just because you didn’t think hard enough. Developing a positive attitude doesn’t

happen overnight. It’s a lifelong process, but it will happen.

Start by removing negativity from your life as much as possible. Watching television news and

reading the newspaper will unfortunately fill your life with bad news on a daily basis. Try taking a

newsbreak; turn off the set and put away the paper for a while.

It’s sad to say, but another source of negativity comes in the form of friends and relatives. There

are those that constantly put out negative vibrations. Every thought and emotion from them is nega-

tive and becomes more than we can bear. They never find a positive side to anything. For them, the

glass is always half empty and they never see the silver lining to that cloud. They don’t mean to do

it, but they make it very difficult to develop that positive side of ourselves that’s so important to our

well-being.

And it’s human nature for them to pour out more and more negativity. Due to their influence, we

also tend to put out negative vibrations. You may have to spend much less time with these toxic folks,

at least until you find your footing in the positive side of the world.

Segment 4: The Art of Positive Consciousness

HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED IN THINKING POSITIVELY

Okay, you’ve decided that the positive living approach is definitely the way to go. You’ve started

greeting the new day as positively as you can. You’re meeting and greeting the world with a whole

new attitude and your life is starting to show the signs already. People are actually being influenced

by your new attitude and responding in kind. It really works!

Then something happens to trip you up just a little. You receive some bad news and wham! You’re

right back where you started. How could this happen? What happened to your resolve? You need

something you can do on a regular basis to keep yourself motivated, but what?

Take a time out, just for yourself. Take a few deep breathes in through your nose, out slowly

through your mouth. Remind yourself of your objective to remain positive despite life. Breathe….

Don’t take yourself or the situation too seriously.

Above all, stay away from negativity in any form. Avoid the cynics and pessimists, and any who

only want to complain. They will eventually drag you down to their level, and your motivation will

disappear like dew on a hot morning.

Most importantly, don’t ever give up. Keep dreaming about what you want; keep that image in

your mind, night and day. Work hard at what you want to achieve and never let negative thoughts

cloud your mind. If you have faith in nothing else, at least have faith in yourself. And when the going

gets tough, find ways to keep your spirits up and keep going. Keep moving forward.

Avoid boredom and stay active. When you’re motivated, you can’t be bored. Hang around with

excited, motivated people and it will rub off on you too. Dream about your future. Charles Kettering

said, “I am not interested in the past. I am interested only in the future, for that is where I expect

to spend the rest of my life.”

There are going to be some days that will take every bit of will power to feel motivated and move

forward. What can you do? Try thinking of past successes; things you’ve accomplished that make you

feel good about yourself, things you’re proud of yourself for doing. You may need to sit down and

write them down on paper to make them more real for you right now. You may need some proof that

your life hasn’t been a waste of time and energy.

Now list all the plans you’ve got going for you right now or dreams that are in the works, so to

speak. Let yourself get excited over the prospect of realizing those dreams in the near future. See if

you can find new ways to bring about those dreams even sooner. That’s sure to motivate you when

all else fails.

Is it possible to be positive all the time? Can optimism be maintained on a continuous basis? The

answer is no, of course not; but if you work at it, trying to keep yourself on track, you will have many

more up days than down. Positive thinking and action can actually start to multiply around you, one

thing leading to another, like a wave building up before it hits the beach. According to Colin Powell,

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”

Another great motivator and one which most busy people seem to completely forget about is to

take a vacation now and then. You need to recharge those batteries, refresh your attitude, and renew

your commitment to yourself. Without sufficient rest and relaxation, you will burn out fast. Taking

time off from work is essential to your mental, physical, and emotional health. A change of scene is

Segment 4: The Art of Positive Consciousness

refreshing especially to your mental state, and is essential to maintain your positive attitude towards

life.

EXPECT MIRACLES

The dictionary says a miracle is “a wonderful or surpassing example of some quality” (Diction-

ary.com, “miracle”). We should expect great things, and stop expecting the worst in every situation.

Expect something miraculous, and you might just be happily surprised. Thomas A. Edison said, “If

we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

You can actually create happiness. You can be happy, but you must first choose to be happy.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Happiness is where you see it.

The best way to show your happiness, and indeed to increase that happiness, is to show gratitude.

Show gratitude to the people in your life who have touched you, lifted you up, and taught you the

important life lessons. This will increase the positive flow and will influence others to be grateful

too.

When the days seem dark and you’re wondering what happened to the positive sunshine in your

life, think of those who taught you how to enjoy life. Expect miracles. Learn to count your blessings;

find some every day and write them down. Listing your blessings will magnify your positive attitude

and emotions. Each day, see if you can find ten things to be grateful for in your life. It may be large

blessings some days and tiny ones the next, but they all count.

Apply what you’ve learned about a positive attitude and avoid negativity by all means. Be your

own positive, creative self and enjoy having fun. Your attitude will draw other people to you like a

moth to a flame. Someone with a happy, joyful nature automatically attracts others. They just nat-

urally want to be around someone who exudes joy and happiness. Who knows, you might just find

your soul mate!

Another way to show gratitude is to exhibit appreciation to those who make a difference in your

life, even in little ways. Notice even the little things they do for you. Compliment them on their

appearance or their great ideas. Make note of their efforts, even if those efforts don’t produce posi-

tive results. Say thank you, remember their birthdays, send them flowers. Most importantly, tell your

friends and family how important they are to you.

On the subject of gratitude, Marianne Williamson had these words for us, “Gratitude has a cleans-

ing effect on the soul, healing us from the inside out. When something good happens and we give

thanks for it, then its positive effect expands within us.” She also encourages us to keep gratitude

journals, stating that “gratitude is an opener of locked-up blessings.” She said, “Gratitude journals

are not just lovely, they work. When we say ‘thank you’ we are reminded of our place in the great

and grand design of things.”

If you’re on the path to success and positive thinking, gratitude is not only a good idea, it’s essen-

tial in your personal and professional growth. Gratitude will dispel the negative feelings and keep you

on the right path.

By spending your days expecting miraculous things to happen, thinking in your mind that miracles

will start to occur, you actually attract them into your life. You’re focusing on the positive rather

Segment 4: The Art of Positive Consciousness

than the negative. It’s similar to abundance; you begin to draw it towards you, instead of chasing it

away. You have more emotional strength available to you than you ever dreamed possible.

Remember to give yourself time and space to grow and learn; to believe in your own special power,

and to be happy. Don’t discount your personal value and don’t let anyone else devalue you either.

Know in your heart what you’re capable of; know your strengths and weaknesses. Enjoy life and all

it has to offer. There will be bad times, but there will always be good times too. Keep in mind that

you can’t have one without the other.

Life may slap you in the face now and then, but learn from your mistakes. Pick yourself up, dust

yourself off, and start again. Don’t make the same mistakes. Make different ones this time. You’ll be

stronger each time something happens and you’ll be better able to handle things the next time. Learn

constantly. Stretch your mind! As Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “A mind stretched to a new idea never

goes back to its original dimensions.”

POSITIVE THINKING AT WORK

You only have a minute,

Only 60 seconds in it,

Forced upon you, can’t refuse it,

Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it.

You must suffer if you lose it.

Give account if you abuse it.

It’s just a tiny little minute,

But your whole future is in it.

Dr. Benjamin E. Mayo wrote that poem and it says it all. Don’t waste any minute, your whole

future is in it. In order to utilize your life well down to the last minute, you must apply positive

thinking any way you can to your life.

Positive thinking is one of the keys to success in the business world. And it starts with how you

think about yourself, in relation to your work. If you’re not as successful as you want to be, who’s

stopping you? Who’s holding you back? Most likely, the only one stopping you from attaining success

is you.

Are you thinking that you’re just average in everything? Being average isn’t a bad thing, just lim-

iting. If that’s all you think you can accomplish, then that’s all you will accomplish. Why stop at

average? Why stop growing at all? There’s always room for improvement. It could be that your

thoughts are keeping you from being where you want to be, where you deserve to be. Maybe you’re

dissatisfied with your job, or the level you’re working at. You know you’re capable of more. Maybe

your job is stressful, or maybe you’re not making enough money. What do you do?

You start with your thoughts on the matter. Are you constantly telling yourself that you can’t do

any better, or make any more? Are you telling yourself that stress just comes with the territory? Do

you feel you don’t deserve something better? Has your self-esteem taken a beating? Why would you

settle for that?

Segment 4: The Art of Positive Consciousness

Once again, you need to change your thoughts. It’s not up to somebody else to change things for

you; it’s up to you. The stress, the dissatisfaction, the low self-esteem, and the negative self-talk

are all things you can change, because they are all things you’ve brought to the party, so to speak.

In your mind, you’ve told yourself all the lies, or you’ve blamed other outside influences on your lack

of success.

How do you turn things around? Start by setting yourself some goals; figure out what you want.

Don’t tell yourself you can’t do it or you don’t deserve it. Don’t convince yourself that the boss simply

doesn’t like you, and that’s the reason you haven’t advanced in your job.

If you don’t like your job, but don’t feel that changing is a possibility right now, you have to find

something about your job that you do like. Maybe there’s an individual that you enjoy working with,

or there’s some facet of the job that you don’t mind so much. Focus on that and find a reason to do

your best. The more you convince yourself that your job is dreadful, the harder it will be to go to

work each day.

A positive attitude can make the job seem less stressful or less overwhelming. A change of attitude

at work will change the emotions you feel as well. Finding the upside to the work place will make all

the difference in how you feel, in your productivity, and in your interaction with others.

Find out what you need to know to improve the entire situation. If what you need is to learn new

skills, approach that with a positive attitude and learn all you can. The irony is that the more you

think you know, the less you actually do know. Go in with an open mind and a good attitude, and

improve your skills. This will make a huge difference in your work life.

The brain is a wondrous machine, but requires sustained effort to maintain it. You must train your

brain to consider all possibilities before making decisions. Let your mind explore new places and

probabilities. Learn to take what you see and hear, roll it around in your mind, and see what you can

make of it. Learn from others; wisdom shared is wisdom expanded. When faced with something dif-

ferent and difficult, don’t give up and say you can’t do it. Consider it a challenge.

To develop your intellect, you must use your mind constantly. If you don’t think for yourself, but

allow others to make your decisions and choices, you lose your place in the destiny reserved for you.

Consider your gifts; and yes, you do have them. Ask yourself what you can accomplish with those

gifts. What can you offer? In order to develop positive thinking skills, you must list your talents and

abilities. If you’re honestly not sure what they are, ask some friends and co-workers. They’ll have no

trouble enumerating them for you.

Attitude is what will help you find your wings and fly, or keep you grounded for life. Learn the

discipline you will need, not only to survive, but to thrive as well. Set your determination level to

high and never allow yourself to be thwarted in your goals.

Another way to positive action is to watch the words you speak to others in your work life. Honor

those words; if you make a promise, stand by your word.

As an employee, how do you respond to a request? Is your response, “No problem,” or “Consider

it done!” If your first response is to look aggrieved and mutter, “I can’t do it,” or “that’s not my

job,” you need to stop and consider an attitude adjustment. It’s important to always show up for

others and for yourself. Brian Tracy said, “Your attitude is an expression of your values, beliefs and

Segment 4: The Art of Positive Consciousness

expectations.” Expect more of yourself. Maybe that’s what’s been missing. According to a Harvard

Study, “Success in life is 85% attitude, 15% aptitude.”

In order to achieve the success you crave, you need opportunities. These opportunities begin to

show themselves as soon as your attitude changes. You will become just easier to be around, to work

with, and to talk to. Everyone loves being around a positive person. They’re happier, they smile more,

they’re more confident, and they tend to make the people around them feel more confident too.

You’ll find more people will come to you for advice and help, because they can see you’re a can-do

kind of person. If you feel good about yourself, so do those with whom you come into contact each

day.

So how do you do this attitude shift at work? Start by looking your co-workers in the eye and

smiling at them. Give praise lavishly. If some co-workers did a good job, tell them and show them.

When they did some tasks or favors for you, say thank you. This shows respect and appreciation; and

who doesn’t enjoy that?

Instead of the usual negative discussion at the water cooler, why not keep it more upbeat. Discuss

positive subjects. Be encouraging with co-workers. You’d be amazed at the difference you can make

in your workplace when you display a more positive attitude.

Another way to success is to make plans and write them down. Is there a special job you desire?

Write it down; but don’t stop there! Figure out the steps necessary to attaining that particular posi-

tion. What do you need to do to get from Point A to Point B? Do you need to upgrade your skills, take

classes, get certified? Write all the details down; but still, don’t stop there either. Take inspired

action. Robert Ringer said, “Nothing happens until something moves.” So get moving!

Maybe your dream job is actually working for yourself. You can make this dream come true; use

that new positive attitude. Figure out what you want in life, your purpose. What do you want to be

when you grow up? Write it down, make a plan, and find out what you need to get started. Then get

moving. Act with enthusiasm and faith. And don’t forget to take advantage of any and all opportuni-

ties; you never know which one will be the key to your success. “Small opportunities are often the

beginnings of great enterprises,” said Demosthenes.

Here too is a place where you may run into critics and naysayers. They will try their best to

dissuade you in your efforts to attain your dream. They mean well, but do not listen to them. Many

times, they attempt to change your mind about your dream venture, because deep down in their

hearts, they are jealous that you’re brave enough to try it and they are not. Unconsciously, they

know if you try it and succeed, it means they’re wrong; and they don’t want to admit that.

It’s not wrong to dream big, to want more, and to strive towards success. As for the naysayers and

the critics, don’t tell them what you’re going to do, show them; just do it! They can’t criticize you

for succeeding; no one argues with success that’s an accomplished fact.

As Patty Hansen said, “You create your opportunities by asking for them.”

POSITIVE THINKING AND HAPPY CHILDREN: HOW TO BUILD THEIR SELF-ESTEEM

It’s a well-known fact that children learn what they live. Ask any number of child psychiatrists to

corroborate this. Too many parents and guardians think children, especially young children, don’t

know what’s going on around them at home. Anger and negativity are not beyond their understanding.

Segment 4: The Art of Positive Consciousness

The younger children may not understand all the words, but they do understand the underlying emo-

tions. They can feel those emotions.

Negativity thrown from one adult to another is bad enough, but when that negativity is directed

at children, it can be devastating. Young children want so much to please their parents; they want

and need acceptance, love, and understanding.

Charles Thompson, in his book “What a Great Idea!” quotes a study showing that at home, parents

used eighteen negative statements for every positive one. These are usually directed at their children

and can add up to a shocking 432 negative statements in one day!

According to James L. Hymes, Jr., “Young children scare easily—a tough tone, a sharp reprimand,

an exasperated glance, a peeved scowl will do it. Little signs of rejection—you don’t have to hit young

children to hurt them—cut very deeply.”

The moment you begin to change your attitude from negative to positive, you will undoubtedly

notice an immediate change in the children’s attitude as well. When children are around calm, happy,

positive adults, they absolutely blossom. We’ve discussed the fact that you can influence others with

your attitudes and be influenced as well. Well, that goes double for your child.

The Law of Attraction is seen here more than just about anywhere else. If you are feeling happy

and positive about life, and you interact with your child, they pick up on that very quickly and will

respond in kind. Like attracts like. And just as easily, that child can pick up on your bad mood, your

unhappiness, and your negativity, and respond just as quickly.

A word of warning on this point. Children cannot be fooled with false attitudes. You can’t pretend

to be positive and upbeat. Believe me they know the difference. If it’s not genuine, they’ll know;

children hate to be lied to just as much as the rest of us do.

So, if you want your children to be positive in their outlook towards life, they have to see it from

you; they have to live it every day. It has to be a part of their daily life. They need to breathe it in

from all around them constantly. It must become a habit with you, to become a habit with them.

Author Carol B. Hillman said, “One of the most important things we adults can do for young children

is to model the kind of person we would like them to be.”

Equally as important is their sense of values. They must learn to value themselves and others for

who they are, not for what they possess. It doesn’t matter how many video games you give your

children to enjoy, but their behavior towards others and their feelings are the ones that count. They

must learn to judge other people for what’s inside them - not on how they look, where they live, or

what they own. This is something that requires a lifetime of training for them to learn the lessons.

In our world of status symbols, it’s not easy to teach these values. There’s a lot of competition

out there in the media and in the schools. It’s up to you, as a parent, to instill good values in your

children; and that starts with you as a role model. Do you constantly talk about money and buying

things? Is possession of riches more about things than relationships? Teach them about being there

for friends and relatives, rather than buying things for them. Encourage your children to find out

what’s unique and special about their friends, rather than the size of the television that friend owns.

It’s essential at an early age that they learn through your attitudes, words, and behavior that the

important things in life can’t be bought.

Segment 4: The Art of Positive Consciousness

This is where you begin to instill your beliefs in your children as a standard in their life. As they

grow, they will develop their own belief system, based on what they’ve been taught and the world

around them. Make sure what they learn from you is positive and rich in value. Teach them about

giving and doing for others less fortunate than themselves. Learning gratitude from an early age is

always a good lesson. Children can contribute in their own little ways.

Unfortunately, these lessons aren’t always taught in school. They must be taught in the home. As

your children get older, you can even discuss positive thinking with them, showing them how to apply

it in their own lives. You can even point out the difference between positive thinking and negative

thinking, using television programs as examples.

Many parents think that a child’s life is all happiness and joy; that negativity and worries couldn’t

possibly be a part of it when they’re so young. They couldn’t be more wrong. Children can become

very anxious, even at an early age. Self-criticism comes next. While some children never seem to

worry about things at all, others are filled with self-doubts.

They worry about school and doing well. They worry about having friends. Sometimes, they worry

about being different than the other children. You must show them how to focus on good things—

happy things—rather than focusing on what might happen if things go wrong.

Teach them about the Law of Attraction. Show them the importance of saying good things about

themselves and others. Remember, you are their role model. Sometimes, you’re even their hero.

Don’t let them down. And don’t tell them how they should behave, show them. That’s how children

learn. If you’re constantly worried or putting yourself down, they will pick up the same habits. Chil-

dren learn what they live.