Category Archives: Happiness

What Does The Piano Have To Do With Positive Thinking?

determined to help yourself

“Imagine learning to play the  piano. There is a lot to pay attention to. Perhaps, you begin playing with just the right hand. The melody. When you make a mistake and hit the wrong note you correct it and go on. It can seem arduous, nearly impossible at first to master it all.

Eventually, you add in the left hand. You add in chords and then peddles. As you continue to practice you develop rhythm and speed. After a while you are able to play the song. You learn other songs. Soon you have a a number of songs you can play. One day you play many different songs, you may even write your own.

When you play and perform you don’t recount all the effort you went through to learn to play. Now you can play anytime and anywhere and even learn difficult songs much more easily. You have built skills and made them a habit.

It is a reliable skill set you developed. You put in the initial effort and now you have a talent you can rely on and be proud of. It is easy now and pleasurable. What was once hard is now fun and easy. You made a big difference in your life adding in a new ability.

The same is true of learning to think positively. You learn the fine art of control. Think positive thoughts. When you find yourself thinking a negative thought, stop it and immediately  correct it. Just as you do on the piano when you hit a wrong note. Return to the positive.

If your mind goes astray simply do whatever it takes to get it back to the positive. While driving if you drive too far to the right side or the left side of the lane you simply adjust back to center. You do this constantly while you drive. You keep adjusting to stay centered. You learned to do this now you don’t even think about it. It is habit!

You correct as you move forward. In a similar fashion you steer your thoughts back to positive thoughts. Remove the energy from the negative. Withdraw it. Let it go! Put your energy into thinking positive. Don’t fight the negative just turn your back on them.

Practice will make perfect and in time it will get easier and easier. It may seem difficult at first but you will get the hang of it. When you do your entire life will change. Truly!  A positive mindset is essential for success and continued happiness.” Rex Sikes

Make all your moments miraculous!

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Stop! Have You Ever Considered This?

what you give power to has power over you

“It takes some courage to change. It takes courage to try new things. It takes courage to make our dreams come true? Really, courage, why do you suppose that is? Why does one need to be brave to do something in one’s own best interests? Have you ever thought about that?

I think the only reason it takes any courage at all is because we are used to doing things in a certain way. We are creatures of habit. We have routine. Many of us don’t want to be uncomfortable or inconvenienced.

Instead of diving in and enjoying the novelty, the newness, the adventure, we dip our toes, we make back up plans, we look for safety nets instead of just letting go. We will change but ONLY so long as we can be assured that it will work or at the very least that it will not get worse.

We want it cushy. We want to know we won’t lose everything if we invest our all. We want it both ways. We want our cake and to eat it too. Nope, there is no ‘burn the ships behind us and do battle’, for most modern people.

There are stories of warriors who cut off all escape routes so that running away was not an option. The soldiers had to fight or die. Okay, it takes courage to burn your escape route so you fight more fiercely! Too many people, it seems, don’t do or die, they do and maybe try something else if it doesn’t work out.

I’m pretty sure this comes as a handed down notion. My parents always told me it was important to have a backup plan incase acting didn’t pan out. I hated that notion but I too was indoctrinated with it.

‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ How can you passionately ‘all out’ pursue your dreams non-stop if you keep thinking, ‘if it doesn’t work out I can always go back home’. OR ‘I can fall back on my degree.’ Or ‘I’ll give it a couple of years and then if nothing I can at least…’ Back up plans. Hmmmm.

I am not saying don’t have them that is your decision. I just think it is difficult to run a race to the finish line while thinking about what you might do instead if you don’t make it there. You can’t really have one foot on the dock and another on the boat and get any place worthwhile, can you?

what you allow is what will continue

One should be totally aligned, congruent, committed, passionate in the pursuit a definite worthwhile positive goal. So yes, change may be a tad scary. It just seems a whole lot better to decide to definitely make the positive changes and then completely follow through on them than to remain the same and complain about it.

The world won’t fall apart if you make a positive change for yourself. You may be inconvenienced for a little while but you will survive it. BUT yes you will shake some things up. You can not change and remain entirely the same. You can NOT have it both ways.

Change may mean giving up some cherished notions. It may mean abandoning those habitual limiting beliefs and fears that have held you back. It may mean finally giving up those things you have always wanted to anyway! You will be better off when you do. It will mean turning your back on some old ways and continuing to walk away even while the old ways call out to you.

Someone said success takes ‘back bone not wish bone.’  It means you stick with it until you make the new ways a habit. Then the new powerful attitude, the new beliefs and feelings and behaviors that serve you so much better become as reliable as the old ways. It will be meaningful to finally resolve to be who you want to be. Change doesn’t have to be scary it can be fun.

Heck, if it is too difficult or too scary then do just enough to stretch bit by bit in the direction you want to move in. This isn’t actually a race. You are not in competition with anyone else. This is you and your goals and dreams. This is you living your purpose. You are allowed to take as much time as you deem necessary to get where you want to go. It is completely up to you.

Success is defined as ‘the steady progression toward a worthwhile goal’ so as long as you are moving in that positive direction you are succeeding! Keep that in mind. You are succeeding when you are devoting your time to becoming the person you hope and dream and plan to be.

No matter how much disappointment or failure you may have had in your past there are still many things you do that you are successful at. Keep that in mind. You are good at some things, many things. Whatever you are good at today, you weren’t always. It took time and practice to get good. AND you did it! You will succeed at making positive changes too when you decide to!

Change can mean that you are able to be and do and have anything and everything you have always wanted. It can mean the difference between having the fulfilling life or still longing for it. The down side of putting things off is waiting. You can wait and wait for the ‘right time’ or you can realize that now is the only time and the right time to decide to do something wonderful for yourself.” Rex Sikes

Make all your moments miraculous!

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Don’t Miss Right Now. Now Is All You Have

everyday you have a choice

“Many people regret the past and live tethered to times they cannot change. It is a huge mistake to let the past haunt you because the past is gone. The only person keeping it alive is you, or me, or whomever it is who has not let it go. Do not fret about the future. It hasn’t happened yet so it may or may not be as bad as you might expect it to.

Worry has been called ‘negative goal setting’. To worry is to be focused on what you don’t want instead of what you do want. You can’t change the past but you can accept it, forgive, and move on but you can’t change it.

You can shape the future but only if you know what it is you want. Keep in mind we get what we think about. So if you are focused on what you don’t want that is precisely what you end up with. You must focus on what it is you DO want.

Where you actually live is in the here and now. Unless of course in your mind you are always some place else. I understand this. For me, I spent lots of time living in the past. The future was never defined by me, but I knew what I loved from the past and missed and what regrets I had.

I romanticized the past, I valued it over my future and my present. I longed to return to the ‘good ole days’. I had to train myself to focus on my future to shape it and my present to live in it. Be here now are important words.

Learn to focus on the present! Let go of the past. If you are going to reflect on it use it to learn from it so you make sure you don’t repeat the same mistakes. You can shape the future but that is dependent on what you think and do today.

If you learn from the past to improve your present you can have a better future. A favorite quote of mine is “You are today where your thoughts have brought you. You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. You cannot escape the consequences of your thoughts.’

What you do right now is important! Your future is determined by what you are thinking about and focused on right now this instant. If you want an incredible future you will need to make your present incredible first. I learned how to do this for myself. I found that feeling truly grateful for EVERYTHING made all the difference in the world.

Yes, this meant I learned to appreciate the past for the lessons and let it go. I learned to focus on anything and everything I can appreciate right now. This made a huge difference for me. There is so much we can be grateful for. Living in gratitude will absolutely change your attitude for the better. When you are happy now you will be happy in your future.

Right this moment what can you find small and large to be thankful for. Focus on these. Accentuate these. What we appreciate we attract more of. What about yourself do you like, love and enjoy? What about your family, friends and associates? What about you job, your hobbies, your home?

Take the time to take an inventory of what you can appreciate so that you can feel more grateful. You will be surprised the doors that open when you live in gratitude. Smell the roses. Enjoy this moment. Savor it. Each now moment gives what to the next now moment. Live it fully!” Rex Sikes

Make all your moments miraculous!

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If You Are Not Doing This You Are Missing Out!

focus on & the universe will give

“What has no harmful side effects? It is good for your health. It puts you in a better mood. It relaxes you and releases endorphins increasing the body’s own natural pain killers. Plus, it is beneficial to your heart, your lungs, your stomach and other organs. In fact, is is wonderful for an overall sense of health and well being? Have you guessed it yet? I wrote about it the other day.

Smiling and laughing. I mentioned how it is a great way to begin each day. I mentioned that the more you can smile and laugh throughout the day the more pleasant your day becomes. Have you tried it yet? Have you got up in the morning and laughed for a full five minutes? If not what is your excuse? Okay, so that may be why you haven’t done it yet, now start doing it.

Another thing you can do to increase how much you enjoy your day is to appreciate the little things. Take time to do simple, easy things that put a smile on your face. Go for a walk alone or with a friend. Sit in nature and listen to the sounds or the silence. Enjoy a bath, relax, get a massage or give one. Go out for a delicious meal or make one.

Serve or be served. See a movie you have wanted to or watch a favorite TV show. Listen to some music, dance. Read a book. Chat with a close family member or friend. Spend time with your loved ones. Go for a drive take in some new sights. Do something fun, healthy and new.

Gift yourself in a special way. Take time to feel good. Stop and smell the roses. Meditate, take a nap. Make some art, music, poetry. Take some pictures or some video.Smile and laugh more. Just have fun, create some balance and time for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.” Rex Sikes

Savor the seconds by making them special!

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Two Suggestions To Skyrocket Your Success!

you must dive for the pearls

“Today, I want to share with you some great advice and useful suggestions to help you learn to grow and develop faster in your career and in life.  Fill your mind every day with the best thoughts.  Immerse yourself in a positive world.  You will more easily and readily make the changes you want to make when your thoughts and feelings are inspired.

Here is how you can do it. Read!  You should be reading everyday. Pick the best, the most inspiring, motivational books and articles you can. Every single day you should read at least a page so that you consistently fill your mind with powerful positive thoughts and ideas. Of course, you can read more but no less than a page a day! Start reading!

Listen to positive audios at home or while driving to continue this process. Listening is another great way to stimulate your mind. You can find lots of positive talks and clips to listen or watch online too. These are practical and powerful ways to utilize books and audio programs to achieve your goals. All around you are are wonderful transformational support materials to help you move forward.

Read and re-read the materials again and again. Keep exposing and re-exposing your mind to these positive sources and messages. Listen again and again to. Understanding, positive change and habits are formed by repeating successful behaviors successfully. Correct repetition builds the skill. You deepen your understanding of the concepts and materials.

Persist, keep at it and you will be amazed at the difference it makes in your life. Nourish yourself.  It is healthy daily food for your positive mental health. A little bit of the right stuff each day goes a long, long way.

When you read or listen to audio programs take notes. Write these out by hand. Do not use the computer. Actually write them out. When you write you use and develop new neural pathways important for your positive development. You don’t and can’t do this when you type. So take notes on paper not on the computer.

repetition is the mother of skill

The tiny finger movements you use when writing positively stimulate the neo-cortex and stimulate the brain to make new neural connections which help us evolve. It is a good practice is to re-read your notes from time to time.

It is a great practice is to re-write your notes every so often. You will gain new insights and deepen your understanding. Then as your understanding deepens again re-write your notes. Find new ways to express the ideas.You will again have new insights.

This really helps accelerate your growth because you make it your own. When you really know it and understand it you live more fully from it. You will find these practices increase your ability to visualize and helps you keep your self talk positive. This is because you are revisiting it again and again in your mind and continually clarifying it.

This helps you stay focused on what you want to be, do or have. You remain more inspired and motivated. You can see opportunities you previously missed. You more readily apply what you learn to accomplishing your dreams and goals.

Keep preparing and maintaining the soil of your mind. Make it fertile, plant seeds and nurture the growth day by day. Remember, we become what we think about most of the time. We get what we focus on. So make it a habit to read daily, listen to positive audios and take notes.

There you have it. Read, Listen and Take Notes. Then Re-read and re-write your notes from time to time.  These two practices will help skyrocket your ability to make positive and lasting changes that make your life more incredible! If you’d like more positive results begin these practices today!” Rex Sikes

Have a fabulous day!

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Change Your Thinking, Change Your Beliefs, Change Your Life!

happiness depends on quality of your thoughts

“What is positive thinking? How does thinking positive benefit us? Thinking positive simply means we choose our thoughts instead of letting our thoughts run wild. It means we take charge of our mind and determine what we want instead of being a victim. If we want to transform our lives for the better we need to think, feel and act the very best.

It means we decide where we want to go and align all of our efforts to get there.  In order to change our lives we have to be able to change our minds. For most of us we grew up never realizing this was something within our control. We grew up believing we had to accept whatever our minds offered us. This is absolutely not true!

Beliefs are nothing more that thoughts we think over and over again for a long enough period of time. A belief is a thought we habitually think. What we believe is just a collection of thoughts we continuously think and have bought into. As a result these convictions shape us. It is time for us to shape our convictions!

Some thoughts and beliefs serve us. Some limit us.  Positive thinking is wisely choosing new and different thoughts to replace the limiting ones. When you change what you are thinking you change your beliefs. Since you choose – choose the very best thoughts to think!

The bottom line is there are only positive thoughts or negative ones. There are thoughts about what you want and thoughts about what you don’t want. If you aren’t thinking positive then what are you thinking?  If you aren’t moving closer to your goals what exactly are you doing? You are either remaining where you are (stuck) or you are moving further away. It is very simple.

What we imagine and believe in our minds is what we create in the world for ourselves. If we want a more wonderful life we have to repeatedly think more wonderful thoughts.  If you have a lot in your life you don’t want you must determine what you DO want and focus on creating that. Positive thinking means you choose the very best thoughts for yourself.  You make new habits and positive beliefs!

Choose thoughts that make you feel wonderful, happy, confident, relaxed, peaceful, co-operative, helpful, whenever you need to. You choose the thoughts that move you closer to creating what you want for yourself and your loved ones. Whatever we hold in our head we can someday hold in our hands. We become what we think about!” Rex Sikes

Have a great day!

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Something Einstein Said Can Change Your Life!

when you forgive you change the future

“Albert Einstein is reported to have said, “I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. It’s because of them I’m doing it myself.” This is such an important concept. He says he is thankful not resentful. He is not carrying a grudge or behaving like a victim.

He appreciates because through their NO he was provided an opportunity to do it himself. He is the one who has taken the action. He is responsible. Because they said NO he is doing it himself. He is not whining he is doing. He is acting in his own best interests. If he wins it is because he did it. Truly, this is another reason to be appreciative. If it is to be it is because YOU accomplish it!

It is far better and far more wonderful to live our lives filled with gratitude in every way and towards everyone than to live otherwise. Gratitude opens up the doorway to everything else. It frees us from negativity and less than glorious feelings. It allows us to move forward positively. Take inventory for all the people, circumstances and things you feel grateful for. Then, be grateful!

Look at the NOs in your life, the opposition. Look at the challenges, the difficulties, the situations that didn’t work out and extract from these the lessons and learnings you can. Look again because you can always find more. We can discover In every disappointment or failure the seeds of opportunity IF we will only really look.

It makes a big difference in how well our life goes day to day by the attitude we maintain. If we can celebrate everything all of our life can be joyous. Happy people are ones who allow and accept, they are able to let go of disappointment, hurt and grievances.The  freely give and freely receive. They learn and grow instead of whither and die.

An attitude of gratitude truly makes a difference. It will lighten the load and relieve you of the burdens you  carry. It will illuminate your path in the darkness so that you can find the silver linings. It will free you up to notice more and delight in all ways. It will allow you to discover the good things in all things. You will become free!

So be thankful not just for the easy times but for the tough ones. Be thankful not just for the people who support and love you but for those who closed doors on you or did not accept you. It is because of these you can grow stronger and live better. Do it. Be grateful, learn, find the opportunities, celebrate and enjoy! Life is incredible when you do! Take time to appreciate and celebrate! ” Rex Sikes

Celebrate your day!

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Feeling Great Is Simple! Do This It’s Powerful!

rise up the world is waiting for you

“My recent posts have been about smiling and laughing. I have discussed using your neurology, your physiology purposefully to easily change your emotional states and your thoughts for the better. The reason I have is because it is so much simpler to make changes than many people think it is. We don’t have to overhaul our entire life to begin with, instead we make small, simple, significant changes that lead us along the path of living more happily and successfully. It is easy to change and to feel more wonderful!

Because it is so powerful and simple I shared it so you can start using it right away! When we feel better we think better. When we think better we feel better. We really aren’t able to separate the mind body connection. Thinking and feeling go hand in hand. When we think poorly we feel poorly. When we feel poorly we think poorly. SO become wonderful, become amazing, become happy, become positive, become the person you want to become by doing powerful little things each day.

Life will be more delightful as you add in more smiles and laughter. It truly will. Remember, when you feel delighted and enthused and happy how much more you smile and laugh. Well, if you will smile and laugh more now then you get more delight, enthusiasm and happiness. So add smiles and laughter throughout each day. Begin and end each day on a positive note. As you do this daily you will be forming good positive habits. You will discover yourself smiling and laughing more frequently and feeling better overall.

Learn to laugh at the little things and everything becomes easier. When we are able to laugh at ourselves and our mistakes, now and in the past, and those times we labelled failures we are free of them. Laughter changes everything. It frees us up! When you are able to remember difficulty and laugh at it you are over it. You have reframed it and released it! You are able to move ahead more easily.

Be grateful you were or are presently challenged. Look at the challenges and learn from them. Note the lessons and utilize them to move forward. Seek the opportunities present in the difficulties. Don’t take life or yourself so seriously. Your life and your business or career aren’t meant to be serious but to be enjoyed. So enjoy them! Now time for a short anecdote.

A friend of mine was working construction high on a roof. He slipped off but managed to catch hold of the edge. High above the ground he dangled. He realized he was not going to be able to hang on and was going to fall. Thinking this might be his final moments he decided if he had to go out he would go out well. It struck him that this was a funny moment dangling.

He decided if he was going to die he was going to die laughing. He laughed and laughed and laughed until he fell. He laughed all the way down He struck the ground laughing. Surprisingly, he was not badly injured. He was hurt some but he was fine. He was able to get up on his own and carry on. He did not require medical care but he did get checked out.

Granted this may not be the outcome for everyone. BUT as we discussed it we came to the conclusion that while we didn’t know the actual reasons he survived we postulated that by laughing he completely relaxed. His body was at ease when he landed. He was not tense, stiff or scared.

Certainly, we don’t know but it is both plausible and possible that this is what helped save him. Regardless, his choice to laugh made those moments wonderful instead of terrifying. If he could laugh in the face of potential death many of us can laugh more with life’s lessor challenges. So laugh more! Enjoy more! Delight!” Rex Sikes

It’s your day. Make it marvelous!

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How To Start Your Day Off Right

that i do today imporves ur tomorrows

“My previous post suggests you learn to smile more each day. When you smile you release chemicals and hormones that produce feelings of well being and happiness. Your feeling  change in response to how you use your body and your breath.

Whenever you want to feel better you can shift your body posture and movements and re-create feelings and emotional states of resourcefulness. Your thinking and feeling changes.  When you change the depth and rate of your breathing you can feel inspired, confident, happy or relaxed. It works!

Our neurology is marvelous! Our brains and body work together so we are able to deliberately affect how we think and feel. We can feel wonderful by  using our body, breath and face in a positive way. Here is something else we can do to begin the day in a great way and enjoy it more thoroughly as the hours pass by.

Laugh! Begin your day smiling and laughing. Before you leave the bedroom laugh deliberately for at least 5 minutes. Of course, if you have not tried this before you will have to push it. Sit somewhere, close your eyes and just begin to laugh. FAKE IT until you make it.

It won’t seem natural at first because laughter is an involuntary response. However, once you push through the start of the laughter you will find that it does become involuntary. Frankly, whether or not the laughter becomes ‘real’ doesn’t matter. By using your body in the same way you do when you actually laugh you get the benefits.

A great belly laugh really stirs up the body and releases positive chemicals and hormones. Instantly, you begin to feel the affects. You can laugh for longer if you like. I was part of a group who did this decades ago, every morning at 6am for one hour! It was incredible.

I have taught this in my live training and seminars ever since. We also did it in the evening. Each night before we said so long until the next day we would relax, think positive thoughts and laugh out loud together.  Laughter massages your brain and body. It relaxes you and it heals you. Laughter transforms you!

DO IT for however long you can. 5 minutes would be a great start. Norman Cousins utilized laughter to heal himself by spending time each day watching funny TV programs. So too have countless others. You can use the power of laughter to transform your life and being. Make it a habit to laugh much more and you will be glad you did. ” Rex Sikes

Smile, laugh make today incredible!

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Do This More Often And Feel Better!

stop waiting and go out and make them happen

“Our body and mind is one.  What we do in our mind affects our body and what we do in our body affects our mind. We can not escape this and that is very good news. If we want to feel better we can use the mind and we can use the body in particular ways to increase our well being.

It is hard wired. It is automatic. If we are feeling wonderful we think better thoughts. If we think better thoughts we feel wonderful. It is a two way street. Thought affects feeling and feeling affects thought. Mind affects the body and body affects the mind. That is the way it is!

It is simple. When we want to  feel better we move our body in particular ways. We shift our physiology. For example, when we want to feel more confident we can stand, move and breath as we do when we are feeling confident.  We put our chin up, chest out and shoulders back. As we this we begin to feel more confidence because that is how we use our body when we feel that way. Try it and you will feel it.

Mind influences body and body influences the mind. It makes perfect sense that it would be this way. Our body and brains work together producing chemicals and hormones for each of the emotional states we experience. We can deliberately use our body to trigger whatever feelings we desire; happiness, relaxation, confidence, enthusiasm and more.  Whatever we want to feel we can.

A simple thing we can do to feel better is smile more frequently. Whenever we smile our brains release the hormone serotonin which makes us feel happy. When you are happy you smile so smile and you will be happy. Smiling can be a powerful tool to use more often.

Smile first thing in the morning when you get up. Put on a broad smile and hold it. Hold it for four or five minutes while getting ready. It will help you put yourself in a great mood for the day. Do it! Make it a habit. Others will respond more positively to you too when they see you smiling. It works wonders! Smile and be happy!” Rex Sikes

Put a smile on your face through out the day!

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