The person you are today is a result of your past decisions. You cannot change the decisions you made in the past. However, you have complete control over the choices you make going forward. The choices you make today will create your future. The following are the top three choices you can make to positively impact your future.
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Choose Thankfulness
Choosing to be thankful has been proven in scientific studies to create better health, a more positive attitude and better relationships. What we focus on expands. I’m not talking about some cosmic hocus pocus. What I mean is that when we focus on something, our subconscious mind begins to make us more aware of the things we focus on. An example would be me telling you to be on the lookout for a Toyota Camry the next time you travel. You will begin to see them everywhere because now your subconscious mind is looking for them. Toyota Camrys were there all along. But until you focus on them, you may or may not notice them.
During my greatest struggle in life, I was focusing on all the things I didn’t like around me. When I shifted my focus to the things I was thankful for, everything began to change. The first thing I did as soon as I woke up (and still do to this day) was make sure when my first foot hit the floor, I said “thank” and when my second foot hit the floor I said “you”. This simple step set the tone and my focus for the day. The second thing I did was to make a list of forty to fifty people, things, relationships, health, etc. that I was thankful to have in my life. Each morning I would spend the first ten to fifteen minutes of my day verbally saying thank you for each of the items on my list. This shift in my focus created an environment where my worries began to shift to hope. Instead of focusing on my fears, I shifted my focus to opportunities and my whole outlook on life changed.
Choose To Give
Scientific studies have also shown that giving is one of the biggest keys to finding personal happiness. Choosing to give can be something as simple as giving $20 to your favorite charity, giving your clients something extra, or volunteering for an organization that you know helps others. Whatever it is for you, choose to give.
Give more to your customers than they expect and watch what happens to your business. Give more than you ever have before in all areas of your life and I promise that you will get more than you expect in return.
Choose To Help Others
Yet another scientific study shows that helping others has health and lifestyle benefits. Who doesn’t love Zig Ziglar’s quote
“Help enough other people get what they want and you will get everything that you want”?
I have found this to be true in all areas of my life. When I changed my focus from what I got out of doing business to finding out what others wanted and giving it to them, my world changed. I saw my annual salary become my average monthly income within one year!
Shift your focus to helping others and watch how quickly things can change. Think about your ideal client, and then fill in the blank to this sentence. If I were to provide my ideal client _____ they would become a raving fan for life. Whatever the blank is, go out and provide it for as many people as possible.
The World Has It All Backward
Everything I told you is contrary to what the media, advertisers and the majority of the rest of the world says will bring you happiness. I have lived in times of personal lack and in times of great abundance. I have experienced great losses and huge victories. I have been self-absorbed and then humbled to selflessness. In all of these situations, I have found the answer to happiness in focusing on others instead of myself. I have chosen to make my life a service to others and it has been the most rewarding decision I have ever made.
Question: What choices are you making today that are shaping your future? Please share a choice you’re making in the comment section below.
This is a guest post by Jimmy Burgess. He was a millionaire by 35, lost it all and ended up in bankruptcy. He bounced back quickly financially, but it was the bounce back that happened physically, relationally and spiritually that led him to write the book What Just Happened? How To Bounce Back In Life So You Can Do More, Have More, and Be More. He now inspires and equips family men to create lifestyle businesses they love. You can connect with Jimmy on Twitter.
By the way, I’m always looking for guest posters. If you would like to guest post, you can find the guidelines at An Invitation To Guest Post.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.