Wendy Betterini's blog article is reprinted here.
I've been tagged by Ophelia and Shauna from Breathing Prosperity to share my daily success habits with you.This is a neat idea conceived by Aaron at Today is that Day.
I'll also be tagging some other bloggers to participate, so read the end of this post to see if you're next! :-)
Aaron wants me to "list the top 5 to 10 things you do almost every day that help you to be successful. They can be anything at all, but they have to be things you do at least 4 or 5 times every week."
Okay, here you go Aaron, Ophelia and Shauna:
1)Look for the positive side of all situations.
When I'm faced with challenges in my work (or my life, for that matter), I try hard to keep focused on the positive. Rather than seeing my challenges as a blockage to what I want, I look for a potential lesson I can learn, or a way to use the challenge to my advantage. Sometimes it takes me awhile to get there mentally, but this habit continues to serve me daily in many ways.
2)Plan, plan, plan.
I am a natural born planner! Whether I'm composing an article, blog post, e-book, newsletter or grocery list, I'm always thinking ahead to the next step. This is an excellent habit because it helps me to see the big picture, beyond the little things I'm doing today. I ask myself where my current plans will take me in the long-run, and I brainstorm ideas to make my actions more focused. I'm also a big fan of making alternate plans. If Plan A doesn't work out, what will I do then? And if Plan B doesn't work out, what other actions can I take? Always think ahead, and you'll always know where you're going - and what you'll be doing when you get there.
3)Get up early.
I love to get out of bed early and get a jump start on my day. Of course, this only works if I've gone to bed early enough the night before - otherwise I'm cranky. ;-) But I definitely notice a huge boost in productivity when I get an early start, and I feel like I have more time to relax and recharge because I can quit earlier than I would if I started working later in the morning.
4)Believe in what you do.
I always joke that if I didn't passionately believe in my work I would have ditched it long ago. Being a freelancer, entrepreneur, internet business owner - or whatever self-employment model you can think of - is fraught with tension, anxiety, frustration, fatigue and long hours. But if you're doing something that truly makes your heart sing, you get to a point where you can't NOT do it! It's too much a part of who you are, so you push on because you know that nothing else will truly make you happy.
5)Believe in your ability to do it.
This is one I struggled with for years and years, and I held myself back out of a fear of failure. Now I've created a daily habit of affirming that I can do anything I set my mind to. When I hear an inner excuse pop up, I address it immediately, and I also have a set of affirmations I recite aloud morning and evening that help keep me in a more confident "I can do it" mind-set.
6)Stay mindful of the process.
I'm one of those people who has a slight *cough cough* issue with being patient. haha! I remind myself daily that I don't have to accomplish EVERYTHING right now. Success is a process of steadily growing and achieving more and more! It's about pushing past your comfort zones one step at a time, rather than going from zero to sixty in 3 seconds. It's an inner process of BECOMING, and therefore takes time.
7)Quiet time is crucial.
As an introspective person, I MUST have some quiet time to myself each day. Without it, I end up feeling very disconnected and stressed. Even 30 minutes to myself before bed to quiet my mind does wonders for me, but I also frequently slip away during the day to just breathe and "be" if I feel scattered.
8)Keep learning and growing.
I consider myself lucky to be a voracious reader because it keeps my mind open and thirsty for new information. I am always reading a book or two (or more) in print, and I regularly purchase e-books pertaining to business or personal development. Here are the last 5 books I read (or am still reading):
-Hypnotic Writing by Joe Vitale
- Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn
- The Midas Method by Stuart Goldsmith
- The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot
- Wealth Beyond Reason by Bob Doyle
9)Baby steps, baby steps.
I love the "baby steps" scene from the movie, "What About Bob?" Bill Murray plays the character of Bob, a neurotic and terrified patient with phobias galore. Richard Dreyfuss plays Bob's psychiatrist, and he instructs Bob to "baby step" whenever he's facing something scary. Bob leaves the doctor's office reciting to himself over and over, "Baby stepping down the hallway, baby stepping to the elevator, baby stepping...baby stepping..." It's a cute scene and a cute movie, but it's also a strong reminder that we can take it slow and baby-step our way to success! If you feel intimidated by something, try taking one SMALL action and see what happens. Usually, you'll realize that there is nothing to be afraid of, and you're able to take another step, and another.
10)Remember what you're working so hard for.
It's too easy to dive into your goals and forget what you were trying to accomplish in the first place! When I first decided to strike out on my own and create a career I love, my reasons for doing so were to have more control over my time, to do work that was fulfilling and satisfying, to have more control over my income, and to be able to enjoy my life more. But none of that is possible if I'm working 24/7! It took me awhile to fully get that, but now I make a habit of taking time to enjoy life. Stop and smell the roses once in a while and your life will be much sweeter. :-)
I could go on, but I'd say those are my top 10 daily success habits. Thanks to Aaron at Today is that Day for posing this challenge, and thanks to Ophelia and Shauna from Breathing Prosperity for tagging me to participate!
Here are the bloggers I'm tagging:
Stephen from Adversity University
Carson at Content Done Better
Alice Seba at Internet Marketing Sweetie
Lynn Terry at Clicknewz
Can't wait to hear from you guys! :-)
Wendy
About the AuthorWendy Betterini is a freelance writer specializing in self-improvement and
personal development concepts. Visit her website,
http://www.WingsForTheHeart.com for free articles on positive thinking, goal-setting, self-esteem, personal growth, and more.
*SINewswatch would like to thank Wendy Betterini for granting permission to reprint this blog article.
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