Most people look outside themselves for happiness, when in all actuality, real true happiness always comes from within.  It’s a decision we make.  We decide whether to be happy or not.

We look to our spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, mother, father, son, daughter, friend, etc., to make us happy.  But it is YOU that makes you happy, not someone else.  You make the choice to be happy or not.

However, most people don’t think they have a choice in the matter.  This or that happens and our tendency is to react in a pre-programmed way.  We look at the situation and then our mind goes back over how we’ve reacted to similar situations in the past, then spits out the appropriate reaction.  And this all takes place in the matter of a few milliseconds.  That’s what makes it difficult when we first decide to make a conscious decision as to whether we are going to be happy or not.

But in order for us to take back control of ourselves we must work to catch these automated responses and change them to the desired response that we want to experience.

Our brains are like super computers and there are connections running all through it.  These are actual physical connections in our brains that are the result of all the input we’ve received since birth.  And they constitute habitual ways of thinking.

When we think negatively about ourselves, we are always following a preprogrammed mental pathway that leads to nothing more than more negative thinking.

We think we’re not good enough, or we think that we can’t do something or other, or we think that someone disapproves of us.  I could go on and on and list numerous negative thoughts, but I’m sure your own mind can easily come up with a long list itself.

So where do these negative thoughts that make us unhappy come from? Everywhere. They come from out parents, teachers, brothers, sisters, and anyone else we have interacted with up to this point in our lives.  We are constantly bombarded with negativity and limiting thoughts and beliefs, from the morning gossip at the local restaurant, to our own dinner tables.  Negativity is everywhere and it is so easy to get caught up in.  One great source of negativity is the mass media.  Just turn on the evening news and see how much negativity comes at you.

Fortunately for us there are many different outlets to experience the positive side of life.  Many people go to church, others choose the more esoteric path of spirituality, while others choose to surround themselves with positive people, such as close friends or even family members.

There are all kinds of ways for you to have positive experiences that will ultimately lead to your own deep inner happiness.  The kind of happiness that you see radiating from some people.  The kind that is infectious and breeds more and more happiness.  That true, soulful happiness that comes from deep within you.

Make the choice to be happy today no matter what happens and see how things work out for you.  You’ll be surprised at what transpires.

Well, the short answer is, right in front of you.

That’s right, your abundance stares you in the face, each and every day, but if you are like most people, they never even see it.

You see, if you live in pretty much ANY industrialized nation, you have so much abundance at your fingertips already that to some people it would seem outrageous for you to claim otherwise.

It’s all in your perspective though – and by the time you’ve finished reading this, I hope that perspective has at least started to change.

Let me tell you about people in Bangladesh.  I’m sure you wondering, “What has Bangladesh got to do with Abundance?”  Just read on and you will soon see.

First off, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, as of July 2008 the average income is $589.  That’s the average annual income.

How many of us in the developed world could even think about living on $589 a year?

One rickshaw driver was quoted about his income and he stated that he makes about 6,000 taka a month.  Just so you know, that’s about $86, which means his annual income would be just $1,032.

How many of you would be able to even think of living on $1,032 a year, much less actually do it?

Could you live on $1,032 a year?  I guess I could, although I would imagine that I would only be able to do so if I moved to the woods somewhere and set up camp, but really, even that could be considered a luxury to the people of Bangladesh.

The thing is, this rickshaw driver is living above the average for Bangladesh, so he would probably be seen as doing very well for himself. Good for him.

But seriously, think about it for a minute, what all do you have around you already?  How did you acquire all this stuff? I’m sure it didn’t just magically appear out of nowhere, you had to go out and get it.

Now, here’s where it gets good.  If you weren’t already abundant to begin with, you wouldn’t have been able to go out and get any of that stuff! Zip, nada, nothing is what you would have if you weren’t already abundant.

One of the best things to help you see your own abundance is to do something that we’ve heard people say many times before, and that is “count your blessings.”

That’s right, daily examine your life and take stock of all that you do have already.
•    Are you healthy?
•    Do you have a source of income?
•    Do you have a home?
•    Do you have a spouse or significant other?
•    Did you see the sun shining this morning?

I could go on and on asking you a bunch of questions, but really, you need to be asking yourself these things already.  And daily at that!

One thing I recommend to my clients is to keep a Gratitude Journal.  In this they write 5 things each day that they are grateful for, and they can’t be the same thing as yesterday’s list either.  As a matter of fact, I tell my clients not to repeat anything on their daily lists for two weeks.  Also, they can’t just make a list and that be the end of it.  Nope, there’s more that I ask them to do.  I ask them to write 2 or 3 short paragraphs on why they are grateful for that specific thing.

See, I ask them to actually sit and think about being grateful for everything on their “list.”

As you count your blessings every day in your Gratitude Journal, always express true, heartfelt gratitude for each and every thing, person, pet, whatever, you have in your life and soon you will begin to see that you have true abundance… right now.

Gary L. Glasscock is a Master Certified Life Coach and a Master Spirit Life Coach and has helped people from around the world see their true abundance and live happier, more fulfilled lives. To find out about his “Dare To Dream” Group Coaching Program go to www.ManifestingYourLife.com/dtd.html

But still, what can we do to get out of that funk and get back to being motivated and regain the confidence we once had?

To boost your confidence, here’s a list of the top 10 power words and tips to keep you motivated and passionate, no matter what life throws your way:

1. Purpose. Whenever you’re feeling discouraged or disappointed, always remember your original purpose. Reminding yourself of the original reason for venturing down your path in the first place will help refresh your mind when things go awry.
   
   
2. Planning. Though you may think that you’ve done enough planning towards the fulfillment of your goal, thinking it through again will help eliminate aspects of your plan of action that may be causing you setbacks. Put all your thoughts down on paper, from the smallest details to the larger movements.
   
   

· Being able to see the timeline of your mission will help you focus on taking one step at a time to reach your goals.

1. Acceptance. Accepting that you’re a human being who’s bound to have ups and downs is absolutely crucial to your success. Without this self-acceptance, you’ll be subject to a foggy mind that’s unable to think positively, clearly, and innovatively.
   
   

· Acceptance of what hasn’t worked in the past helps you gain a better knowledge of what will work in the future.

1. Reward. When your motivation starts to wean, it’s crucial to give yourself rewards along the way. This is one of the best ways to stay motivated on your path to success.
   
   

By giving yourself a taste of what you’re working for – whether it’s financial freedom, career responsibility, or your dream lifestyle – you won’t feel like you’re working so hard for nothing. This refreshes your mind and helps you work more productively.

1. Health. You know what this entails: moderate exercise, a healthy diet, and 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Feeling worn-down will make it almost impossible to pursue your goals and vision with the same clarity and vigor you had when you first set out.
   
   

· Take care of your basic needs first, and you’ll be strong enough to pursue your dreams.

1. Motivation. Research motivational books, CDs, and seminars. Sometimes hearing motivational tips from a different perspective can greatly motivate you to act and succeed.
   
   

· Find a source or two that touches you in some way and keep them close for those moments when you feel discouraged. After all, we all get discouraged at one time or another.

1. Organization. Ever feel depressed and worn out, and then you clean your surroundings and instantly feel more focused and motivated? The same applies to your goal. Organize and clean house when it comes to the operation of your goal.
   
   

· Organizing yourself gives you a fresh start and a feeling of clarity. In doing so, you’ll be able to attack your short and long-term goals more vigorously and effectively.

1. Refresh. Refresh your plan with something new. It could be a different tactic, setting, or career. Whatever it is, break out of the pattern you’re in and try something new. Even if this new tactic doesn’t yield positive results immediately, at the very least it will make you aware of the availability of your options.
   
   
2. Networking. Reach out to people in your industry or those who share your life goal. You can do this a number of ways: check out local clubs, find a plethora people online, or talk to existing contacts that may have already succeeded in your goal.
   
   

· Having someone to voice your struggles, questions, and experience to will invigorate you to keep moving forward.

1. Action. Taking action, despite doubts and setbacks, will further your progress. By moving on, despite any pessimistic thoughts, you will motivate yourself by the sheer momentum of doing something proactive to change your circumstances.
   
   

Whenever you feel like your progress has stalled, or you simply want some quick inspiration, look to these 10 powerful words and strategies to spur you on. You’re sure to find something to get you back on track toward success!

To Your Continued Success!

Gary

If you answered yes to one or all of these questions then you are off to the start of improving your personal life. If you are willing to accept, you have the ability to laugh, even when something is not funny. For instance, if someone pushed you, you could stand back and laugh. The push is only a threat to your emotion, which you will see, accept and find a way to gain control of the situation.

When you can accept things in life, including you and others you find a way to take control. When you are in control, it helps you to see how you can improve your personal life. When you learn to accept you will learn to discover you.

Individuality is personal, which philosophers over generalize this subject. Many people in the world believe that when we act the same way at all times, we have established our identity. Politically incorrect! We have emotions, thoughts, behaviors, actions, and have been plagued by a world of influences both good and bad. Each day we will feel something new, which causes our personality to reflect on these changes. Therefore, when you see someone laughing one minute and crying the next, you are seeing a shift in emotions, which is a normal pattern of identity for this person. Unless the person’s eyes change, behaviors change dramatically, friends change regularly, etc, and you are seeing common behaviors.

We live in a world that desensitizes us. We are surrounded by billions of influences on television, in the media, on radio, in households, government, schools and so forth. Each to their own, but everyone is judging someone at some time, which is something we have to accept. We cannot change these people’s behaviors and way of thinking, but we can change ours. This is a part of learning and accepting. The best way around the world is become your own influence and allow other influences to make someone else’s life miserable. Only rely on sources that prove truthful with their actions, behaviors and words. Positive reflections are the key to living happier.

Once you learn to accept you will be eager to laugh. For instance, if someone makes you mad you will see the humor in his or her actions. You may see the humor in your actions if you make a mistake and feed into their stupidity.

Once you start to see the humor in life, you will feel better inside. We are involved in an unruly world filled with greedy people, envious souls, lusty tigers, and so on. We have to learn how to work around these people, accept us and move on. Once you learn to change to better you, other people may follow. Good conduct has proven far more effective than words to encourage others to change.

As you grow you will feel a new hunger, and that hunger will guide you to discover new ways to better you. In time as you start to feel better, you will see a need to exercise, eat right, and hang out with positive influences and so on. Once you feel this hunger, you will feel inspired to labor to achieve your goals.

If you’d like to get working on removing the blocks that have been holding you back from attaining your desires (possibly for a LOOOOOONG time), go to <a href=”http://www.ManifestingYourLife.com/free50.html”>Manifesting Your Life</a> and complete the form you find there.

When you are ready to improve your personal life, you must turn your wants into needs. I need to be successful. I need to be a great parent. I need that promotion. I need to save my relationship, etc.

How to be your own life coach
Many of us spend time convincing ourselves that our dreams will never come true. We may feel that our dreams do not amount to anything. Poor self-esteem hinders the quality of life. In addition, you miss being your own coach. You can turn the negative thoughts into positive reflections, which will guide you to improve overall personal life. The next time you feel like turning yourself into a destructive thinker, breath deep and say, I love myself, just the way I am. Learn to walk tall and habitually think about what you want to achieve. Set plans, write down your goals, and take action to reach those goals. You may want to learn something simple. Learn how to be a better cook. Stop yelling at the children.

How to take steps in becoming a better you:
Thinking positive is a great start to improving overall personal life. Surrounding yourself around good influences will encourage you to acquire better behaviors. You will learn to practice these new habits daily. Once you conquer your obstacles, you can mark off the list of poor behaviors you have written down.

Tips for personal development and growth:
Learn to say no. For some of us, our natural instincts lead us in the right direction to helping others. Are you sacrificing your needs however, to consistently take care of other peoples needs? Are you taking time out of each day to pamper yourself for fifteen minutes or so? Are you taking actions to stop persistence that spreads yourself too thin?

If you spread yourself too thin, it will lead to sleepless nights, since you will feel anxious and depressed. Do you constantly keep yourself in the center of drama? If so, do not allow others to drag you down. Try to stay away from situations that drag you down and take you beyond your control. If you are focusing on the wrong items in life, you are not improving overall personal life.

Do you tell you that you are not good enough? Do you say you are not strong? Do you feel like you are not enough? Do you feel like you deserve what you get, when what you get causes you sadness?

For some people it is easy to focus on negativity, which causes them ongoing depression. If you are one of those people at interviews, when asked about your qualities, skills, etc, speaks out rambling off your bad qualities, you need to stop now. What you are doing is taking away your opportunities to achieve. Some of us are lost at words when it comes to speaking highly of ourselves. For some people this seems selfish, or boisterous, yet it is not. Learn to become your own best friend and give yourself frequent compliments. Stop focusing on your self and criticizing your every move, and forget about the past mistakes and focus on your future. Sure, we can say it is easier said than done; yet if you put forth effort it is easier than you believe. So many times, we do not take full responsibility of our own actions. We rather live a life blaming others for our mistakes or misfortunes. Do not obsess over past mistakes, live in denial, and stop blaming others to see how your life will improve. We all make bad choices in life. This is a part of living. Learn from your mistakes and move ahead. Treat each new experience as a point of learning. Next, we can learn how to wake up to improving overall personal life.