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WARNING: LIVING SUCCESSFULLY MAY PRODUCE MOTIVATION, HIGHER SELF-ESTEEM,
PERSONAL GROWTH, SELF-IMPROVEMENT, POSITIVE ATTITUDE, LOVE, LAUGHTER,
HAPPINESS, AND SMILES!
The key to achieving your goals and living successfully starts
with your attitude.
Attitudes are emotional responses to situations, people, and
ideas. Your attitude is the way you approach life.
To achieve your goals, you must cultivate a positive and winning
attitude. You must have an attitude that you can and will
achieve your goals. Your attitude must be so positive that
you understand and realize that obstacles and challenges are
opportunities for you to grow and become stronger and better.
Several years ago, I decided to seek a new challenge so I
joined a pharmaceutical company. My job as a sales representative
entailed educating and discussing pharmaceutical products
with physicians.
Once I was hired, I was sent to a two week training class.
Without a science degree and having never sold pharmaceutical
products, I found the training very difficult and quite challenging.
Every other day we were given a quiz to test our product knowledge.
Several of the sales rep's in the class would always score
100 on the quizzes while I struggled to make a respectable
score.
I'm sure my trainer wondered if I had bitten off more than
I could chew by becoming a sales representative. But I knew
I had what was necessary to become a successful sales representative.
In addition to enthusiasm and passion, I had a positive mental
attitude. My attitude was one of unwavering belief that I
could achieve my goal of becoming the number one sales representative
in the company.
As soon as training was over, I started working hard day and
night to realize my goal. After my first year, I was named
Rookie of The Year. I beat out 175 sales rep's for this honor,
including the sales rep's in my training class who always
made 100 on the quizzes.
In my second year, my ultimate goal became fruition as I was
recognized as the number one sales representative in the company.
It was quite an accomplishment to be ranked number one out
of 500 sales representatives.
Much of this success was due to hard work and my positive
mental attitude. In Motivational Speaker Zig Ziglar's book,
''Over The Top,'' he states, ''It's your attitude, not your
aptitude that determines your altitude.'' I am definitely
a witness to the truth of that statement.
When former NBA player Larry Bird came into the league, the
scouting report revealed that he was not very fast, couldn't
jump very high, and didn't have great athletic ability. But
what Larry Bird did have was a tremendous work ethic and a
strong desire to become one of the greatest basketball players
in the NBA. In other words, he had a great attitude. And because
of his hard work, determination and positive attitude, Larry
Bird won three MVP Awards, three NBA Championships with the
Boston Celtics, and was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame
as one of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA.
Ability is important, but attitude makes the difference. Many
people blame their circumstances for their inability to achieve
success. These are negative people.
And while negative people blame circumstances, positive people
overcome them. You see, life plays no favorites. Regardless
of who you are, some of the challenges we all have to face
include sickness, job loss, taxes, divorce, loss of a loved
one, traffic,etcetera.
It's not what happens to you, it's how you handle it. The
greatest power that we posses is the power to choose our attitude.
We can choose to make today a great day, or we can choose
to make it a terrible day. The choice is ours.
With so much negativity in the world today, it's sometimes
difficult to keep a positive attitude. One idea is to associate
only with positive people. Avoid negative people at all cost.
If you have any negative people in your life, get rid of them.
Now!
Another idea to help you keep a positive attitude is to practice.
Practice thinking positive thoughts. Practice having a positive
outlook at all times. Practice choosing a positive attitude
regardless of the adversity. The more you practice this exercise,
the more happier you will become, and the routine of it will
eventually become your natural state of mind. So, practice,
practice, practice!
But the important thing to remember about your attitude is
that you do have a choice. And by choosing to have a positive
attitude, you've the made the choice for success and happiness.
Make
a list and check it twice
Review your gift list with a fine tooth comb and examine your motives.
Do you really need to give your boss a gift? Or is it a bribe? Are
you trying to impress a new boyfriend with your wealth and style?
Competing with the Jones for Parents of the Year? Pare down your
gift list to an acceptable minimum, and get creative about gift
substances that still embody the spirit of the season. Consider
a sincere card - you know, with a real note inside, a hand-made
gift or perhaps some quality time spent together. Hey, from where
I sit, the best gift is YOU. Plan accordingly.
Create a budget
Oh, that blasted ''b'' word!! You can keep it simple, however. Review
your gift list, then assign a maximum amount per gift. Throw in
the costs of entertaining, baby-sitters, travel, postage, party
clothes...add them all up and take a good long look at the number.
Still feel like hanging out under the mistletoe? Next, get real
about what you can truly afford this year, and adjust your spending
plan accordingly. For a reality check, pull out your bills from
last year. That ought to be a fairly inspiring experience.
Bang the card slowly
Remember, the rule is to spend cash whenever possible, but if you
use credit cards, resolve to pay your holiday bills within two months.
If you must card it, use your lowest interest rate card, and stick
to your budget closely. Avoid the high interest rate department
store cards, a better choice is your debit card, or even an old
fashioned check. Most stores still take them, and the physical act
of writing out a check slows you down and gets you back in touch
with how much you're spending.
Know when to say when
The holidays are addicting. The pressure to create visions of sugarplums
for loved ones is intense. But, the quest for perfection can get
expensive, not to mention depressing. All those little decorations,
stocking stuffers and holiday doodads can send you way over the
budget. Less is more, unless it's your money or mental health we're
talking about. Then more is better. Got it?
Shop around for bargains and plan ahead
The earlier you do your shopping, the less you'll pay for shipping
or substitution, the more time you'll have to make something, and
the happier you'll be. Don't forget to factor in gas, parking and
baby-sitting when you calculate the cost of gift-giving, it really
adds up. Sometimes, a catalog or website is a better choice.
''Christmas is about celebrating the birth of our savior.'' - Whitney
Houston, Singer/Actress
''On Christmas, I get to spend quality time with my family.'' - Brandy,
Singer/Actress
''Christmas is the time of year in which I celebrate the gift of life
given to me by Jesus Christ.'' - BeBe Winans, Gospel Singer
''To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the
Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child
wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manager.'' - Luke 2:11-12
by Lynn
Norment
Tis the season
to be jolly, or so goes the opening line of a well-known holiday song.
But for many people, most notably single men and women who find themselves
alone on yet another Christmas Day or New Year's Eve, the holidays
are anything but a time of joy.
For most it is a time of introspection, self-analysis and resolution,
processes that for some singles can lead to depression and despondency.
But melancholy and gloom do not a happy holiday make. Instead of sitting
around bemoaning a lost love or the lack of a mate, take positive
steps to make your holiday a time of joy and celebration, a period
of giving and sharing. Not only will you start the new year off with
a positive attitude, but you just might meet that special someone.
At the very least you will have a great time and spread a little joy
to those around you.
Here are some tips that can guide you to a happier holiday.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: During the
holidays, many people reflect on the past year and start making resolutions
for the new one. But instead of pondering the positive aspects of
their lives, most think about the thinks they don't have: a mate,
the ideal job, the desired salary and lifestyle. Single people should
not sit around talking about ,' I don't have a man or woman.' That's
not how to spend your holidays. You should be counting your blessings
and thinking about how you don't have anyone worrying you or pulling
you down. Everything that we need for happiness, we have already been
given. If you recognize what you have, then what you don't have will
become less significant, or at least it will be put in perspective.
SEEK THE COMFORT OF FAMILY: Most
singles realize the importance of spending the holidays with family
and other loved ones, and some wouldn't dream of being anywhere else
at this special time of the year. Family, faith and friends are the
three things that really make the holidays pleasant. Those are things
money can't buy.
THROW A PARTY: Many singles who
find themselves separated from their families decide to throw a party
during the holidays to bring all their single friends together. Christmas
is the celebration of the greatest single person that ever lived.
One way to celebrate, is to give a dinner, a lunch or a brunch for
other single people to uplift the spirits of everyone.
HOLIDAY GETAWAYS: A number of
singles decide to spend the holidays, or at least part of them, in
an exotic location. Travel is the perfect antidote for holiday blues.
Travel eliminates the anxiety of deciding with whom you will actually
have Christmas dinner; your family or your date's. You end up not
disappointing people or being on someone else's schedule when you
really want to be on vacation. If you go away, you eliminate all of
that.
RENEW THE SPIRIT: A number of
single men and women emphasize the importance of keeping religion
and spirituality in the holiday. Get a group of friends together and
celebrate the New Year in a house of worship. There is no better way
to bring in the New Year.
SHARE WITH OTHERS:
The holidays are a great time to spread a little joy to the
less fortunate. Many churches, social service organizations and homeless
shelters need volunteers to help distribute food during the holidays.
Or consider adopting a senior citizen, a needy child or a family to
devote your attention to during the holidays. By spreading a little
joy to others, you certainly will lift your own spirits.
ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE: The holidays
are not a time to be mean and bitter, but that is exactly the demeanor
that some singles exhibit at this time of year. Instead, adopt a more
friendly, outgoing and confident attitude. When you have a positive
attitude, others will be drawn to you.
Christmas
Riddle Jokes (humor)
How
do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas? Fleece Navidad!
If athletes get athletes foot, what do
astronauts get? Missile toe!
The three stages of man: He believes in Santa Claus.
He doesn't believe in Santa Claus.
He is Santa Claus.
What did Santa say when his toys misbehaved?
Toys will be toys.
What did the grape say to the raisin? 'Tis the season to be jelly.
What do elves learn in school? The Elf-abet!
What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? Frostbite.
What do you have in December that you don't have in any other
month? The letter ''D.''
Why did Santa Claus take his Christmas
tree to the dentist? To get a root canal.
Why does Santa have 3 gardens? So he can ho-ho-ho.
Christmas
Quiz
1. What American
state was the first to make Christmas an official holiday?
a. Connecticut
b. Alabama
c. Alaska
d. North Carolina
2. When was Christmas first celebrated?
a. The year after Jesus was crucified
b. Around 100 AD
c. In the 4th Century
d. 1935
3. Why was December 25th chosen as Christmas Day?
a. That's when Jesus was born
b. To compete with a pagan celebration
c. That's when Christmas trees are in season
d. That's when the Bible says to celebrate it
4. How did Xmas originate as an abbreviation for Christmas?
a. Atheists refused to accept ''Christ'' as part of the word
b. The early popes were lazy so they tended to shorten everything
c. The Greek word for Christ is Xristos d. From Latin terminology
for any holy day
5. What relation was the Christ Child to John the Baptist?
6. True or false: The date of Christ's birth is noted in the Book
of Matthew in the New Testament.
7. When and where did the Salvation Army Christmas collection kettle
originate?
8. Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?
9. Why is ''O, Come All Ye Faithful'' a Christmas carol but ''Deck
the Halls'' not?
10. Where did the Grinch steal Christmas?
Answers: 1. b. Alabama 2. c. In the 4th Century
3. b. To compete with a pagan celebration 4. c. The Greek word for
Christ is Xristos 5. Second cousin. Luke tells us John's mother
Elizabeth was Mary's cousin. 6. False. The Bible never mentions
a specific date for the nativity. 7. In an effort to solicit cash
to pay for a charity Christian dinner in 1891, a large crabpot was
set down on a San Francisco street, becoming the first Salvation
Army collection kettle. 8. The ancient Norse associated mistletoe
with their goddess of love 9. A true Christmas carol has to have
a religious theme. 10. In Whoville.
Living
Successfully motivates, informs and entertains to help
make life more fulfilling and fun!
Each issue offers inspirational messages and quotes, success tips,
entertainment, humor and more.
The newsletters purpose is to inform, inspire, and empower people
to live successful lives---personally and professionally.
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