Your Daily Dose of Positive Thinking

I have a burning desire. I want to earn a living from writing. I like writing for all kinds of purposes: fiction, opinion, information, you name it. And I’m a reasonably good writer.

But I’m scared. It’s natural I think to be scared of achieving your dreams - not rational, but maybe natural. I don’t understand why, but a lot of other people seem to have this problem as well.

Then I came across Steve Pavlina’s Cultivating Burning Desire. This article cuts through the fog to the basic steps of fomenting motivation.

If you don’t burn those ships, you are sending the message to your subconscious mind that it’s ok to quit. And when the going gets tough, as it inevitably does for any worthwhile goal, you will quit. If you really want to achieve your goals, then you’ve got to burn those ships to the ground, and scatter the ashes. If you’re thinking that the average person won’t do this, you’re right — that’s why they’re average.

Here are Steve’s eight steps to creating a burning desire.

1. Burn the ships.
2. Fill your environment with desire boosters.
3. Surround yourself with positive people.
4. Feed your mind with empowering information on a daily basis.
5. Replace sources of negative energy with positive energy.
6. Dress for success.
7. Use mental programming.
8. Take immediate action.

Check out the full article: Cultivating Burning Desire.

Photo by dbking. Some rights reserved.

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain

What do you do with a history degree?

This reminds me of the people in college who demanded I tell them what in the world I would do with a degree in History. These were all pre-law poli-sci or pre-med bio-sci majors. Their lack of perspective precluded them from recognizing the value of history, literature, and other “soft” majors. The ability to think and create is infinitely more valuable than the ability to regurgitate and memorize.

What if you fail?

Having a positive intention and taking action on it is always productive. Even if you fail, you have learned something and can make a better attempt next time.

How did you handle it?

How have you dealt with people that didn’t comprehend your ambitions?

Photo by Cherice. Some rights reserved.

The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the island of perpetual indecision. - William Arthur Ward

Well, why not?

For a person that chooses to think positively, all roads are open. You think, “Well, why not?” Or, “At least I will give it my best shot.” Most of us, however, brood on what we think we can not do. We see the glass half empty.

Negativity Creeps in

When the day is bright and I’ve just had my tea, great ideas come to me and I think, “Let’s give it a try!”. Later, when the day is winding down and my energy levels are low, I find negativity creeping in. “Why did I start that project?” “What makes me think I am able or worthy?” “Is it really worth the effort?”

How do you Stave off the Negativity?

How often do you find the negativity creeping in? What do you do to stave it off?

Photo by Sérgio Savaman Savarese. Some rights reserved.

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about. - Charles Kingsley

Enthusiasm Follows Purpose

Enthusiasm gives us purpose, something to be passionate about. Without it we have no motivation. Why should we take action unless there is a good reason for it?

That is Enthusiasm

This reminds me of my toddler son. I take him to the pool and he just feels cold. He isn’t very motivated to kick, swim or do much of anything - until he sees some friends. Then he kicks like mad to get to the edge of the pool and say “Hi!”. He forgets all about feeling cold. That is enthusiasm.

Lack of Aim Leads to Materialism?

When I find myself aimless and lacking in enthusiasm for anything I find myself drifting into materialism. I want this new toy, I want those new clothes. I want to eat something really delicious. This is a sure sign that I need to renew my interest in something productive.

Maybe it’s because Nothing Inspires You

You may have a good job, a nice place to live and no material deficiencies but, if you still aren’t happy, it may be because have nothing that inspires you, nothing that you feel passionately about. I find myself there more often than I like, unfortunately.