| "Strategies for Success" | | | | down in a quiet place take a deep breath, close your |
| Believing in Yourself.by: | | | | eyes and imagine the postive outcome so that it is a |
| Jo Portillo Ed.D, CRC, LPC | | | | part of you. Sometimes, we have beaten ourselves |
| Julian has the lead in the school play and has been | | | | for so long that the only thing that will help is time and |
| practicing for days. His grandparents are making a | | | | BREAD. |
| special trip to see him, and he is feeling so pressured | | | | B Breath (pay attention to the pattern, slow, even, full |
| and stressed that he is about ready to give up. He | | | | breaths are the best) |
| begins thinking that it will be an impossible task to | | | | R Release (relax your muscles and release the |
| memorize all his lines. Worrying about all the work he | | | | tension) |
| still has to do, he says to himself "I'm going to mess up | | | | E Exercise (a good workout to refocus your energies) |
| the lines anyway, so why bother, I can't handle the | | | | A Attitude (focus on your positives, no matter how |
| stress." The more he starts to doubt himself the | | | | hard it can be, remember everyone (has unique and |
| harder he finds it to memorize his lines. | | | | special qualitites ) |
| Occasional fears or feelings of inadequacy are a | | | | D Diet (fruits,veggies, and pasta are inorder not chips, |
| normal part of life, something to deal with and | | | | cookies and candy) |
| overcome.The journey of life provides us with tension, | | | | Keep a journal. |
| stress,and fatigue, any of which can trigger | | | | To review lessons from the past and to brainstorm |
| inappropriate negative thoughts and emotions. Thinking | | | | new ideas for the future. |
| negatively when under stress is commonplace. But | | | | Focus on the positives. |
| watch out! | | | | In your journal write a sentence about the situation that |
| F E A R has a sneaky way of taking over and it can | | | | has you worried. Now list all the things that are for you |
| be hard to escape the 'I just can't do it' syndrome. | | | | reaching your goal. It may surprize you how many |
| "You must believe in yourself. You must have fortitude, | | | | positive things you really have going for you. |
| self-confidence and courage." Abraham Lincoln | | | | Success and satisfaction in life hinges on planning |
| The key to being extraordinary -- a winner -- is to | | | | which, often starts with wishful thinking. The hard part |
| have desire and a goal from which you refuse to be | | | | is turning those wishes into reality. Positive thinking is |
| deterred. That desire fuels your dreams and the | | | | just the beginning. Positive Action is integral to personal |
| specific goal keeps you focused. Convincing yourself | | | | satisfaction. We don't have to like a job to get it done, |
| that you are capable is the first step in reaching any | | | | but we do have to do it to get it done. |
| goal and realizing your dreams. | | | | (Positive Action) |
| "All things are possible to those who believe." Mark | | | | See problems as challenges and opportunities for |
| 9:23 | | | | learning. |
| " Whether you think you can or think you can't- you | | | | We all learn to walk by taking one step at a time, and |
| are right." | | | | with practice we increase our confidence and lessen |
| Henry Ford | | | | our fears. |
| Attitudes and persistence can help us become who | | | | Become pro-active rather than re-active. |
| we want to become. | | | | Ask yourself, "what other way is there to understand |
| Knowing who you are, where you would be happiest, | | | | this?" |
| and developing a series of | | | | Build Commitment to Positive Action by making a plan. |
| "I can do it!" strategies won't guarantee you the lead | | | | Break Big Tasks Down into Smaller Pieces and get |
| role in the next blockbuster movie, but it certainly puts | | | | started. |
| you on the right track. An important first step in | | | | Do the part you hate the most first to get it out of the |
| changing negative attitudes is in looking for the best in | | | | way. |
| yourself and the situation. Stay focused to maintain | | | | Set Deadlines for Yourself (write them in your journal) |
| your positive attitiude. Find humor in the situation. Humor | | | | Take personal responsibility. |
| in any form can help you resist negative attitudes. | | | | It maybe necessary to do the thing that you fear the |
| Remember, FEAR can trick you into believing that | | | | most in order to put that fear to rest, so that it can no |
| you're a failure whether you really are one or not. | | | | longer control you. |
| "Attitudes are more important than facts." Dr. Karl | | | | Identify areas where you need more knowledge and |
| Menninger | | | | skill. |
| All things are possible for those who believe and take | | | | Learning is not always accompanied by glory and |
| action. Deep down we all hope that our destiny is not | | | | feelings of bliss. Sometimes the most significant |
| to be average and homely. FEAR can get in the way | | | | learnings are experienced with the same relish as |
| of our true mission in life. | | | | fingernails scraping the blackboard. |
| (False Expectations Appearing Real) | | | | Lifelong learning embodies both good news and bad |
| Everyone talks a good game, but the winner goes out | | | | news: The good news is that it enriches life and is one |
| and does something. Individuals with positive attitudes | | | | of the greatest sources of success and satisfaction; |
| believe they have within themselves the ability to do | | | | the bad news is that it is not always easy...and there |
| anything. No matter what life hands them, their ability to | | | | isn't really a choice. |
| think positively can pull them through most situations. | | | | Take responsibility for your life, maintain your integrity, |
| (Positive Thinking) | | | | avoid becoming so selfish that you lose sight of the |
| Learn to deal with fear: | | | | principle of giving to others, and balance the personal |
| People worry so much about failing that their fear | | | | and spiritual priorities in your life. The most important |
| paralyzes them, draining the energy they might | | | | promises are the ones that you make to yourself. |
| otherwise be using to grow. | | | | When you keep your word to yourself, you harness |
| Develop a self-empowering mindset. | | | | the power of believing you: |
| Get in the habit of expecting the best and believing | | | | Can do it |
| that 'you can do it.' Channel your fear into enthusiasm. | | | | Deserve it |
| Visualize success. | | | | Can Achieve it |
| When those negative thoughts start taking over, sit | | | | "Never give up, never give up, never give up. |