Have you ever heard the old adage, “You are what you eat?” This refers to the fact that if you eat junk, you will eventually feel like, well, junk. The same theory applies to other areas of our lives. We will undoubtedly produce what we put in front of ourselves. If you take in the positive, the results will be productive and valuable. You can’t expect to create something that you didn’t first conceive and envision. This means putting what you want to achieve in front of you. Hang on to your vision and revisit it often to inspire and motivate you through the good and bad times.
To be an effective personal leader and demonstrate positive leadership qualities, you must have an optimistic approach towards the world around you. By keeping your expectations high, you will notice good things start to happen. We must believe the best on the inside before it can be achieved on the outside.
Time for a Recalibration
The first mistake many people make when working towards their goals is limiting their vision or painting a negative picture of themselves in their hearts. If you allow doubts, fears or closed-mindedness to creep in, you will never rise any higher than the negative or limited mental attitude you have created allows.
If you have been bogged down by a negative image of yourself or others, it is time to reprogram your attitude and way of thinking. You don’t always get what you deserve, but you will usually get what you expect out of life. If you doom yourself to mediocrity, that is exactly what you will get.
Tell yourself, “I am what I am today because of what I believed about myself yesterday. I will become tomorrow what I believe about myself right now.”
Be Aware of Self-Talk
Self-talk is the constant communication you have with yourself when you are conscious. Take inventory of your self-talk and personal thoughts during the course of a day. How healthy and positive do you find this dialogue to be? Is it basically optimistic or overwhelmingly critical? Negative thoughts can become self-fulfilling prophecies, robbing us of the ability to develop good leadership skills. If you notice that your approach is negative, start immersing yourself in positive communication that sparks productive ideas. Associate with individuals whose lifestyles demonstrate a healthy PMA (positive mental attitude).
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself occasionally slipping back into old, negative or critical habits and attitudes. Remember, it took years to develop those chronic attitudes, and it will take time to overcome them.
Each new day holds the promise of a fresh start. It is your opportunity to try something new, break a bad habit, establish a good habit, or make progress towards that life goal. Each new day gives you the power to step out of a self-imposed comfort zone in order to achieve bigger things and change negative attitudes to positive ones. “Someday” will likely never come. Today is a gift, and tomorrow is never a guarantee, so make the most out of today.
Are you looking to improve your personal leadership skills in order to achieve personal or professional goals, improve personal productivity, or learn new time management skills? We’ve got you covered. Contact us today to find out how our personalized business coaching and consulting services can help you reach your full potential.
