SHPE - Spring08 - (Page 14)

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT T By Pat Alva-Green Thinking BIG The Magic of O ur thoughts create our reality and determine who we are as individuals. From the time we get up in the morning until the time our heads hit the pillow at night, our thoughts are guiding us and determining our journey through life. As long as you are going about your day thinking anyway, you Look at things not as they are, but as they can be. Stretch your vision. Instead of simply imagining a desirable outcome, envision the best possible outcome and then push yourself to imagine an even better one. Learn from mistakes. There are no accidents. There is a lesson for you to learn. Fall forward! Be grateful. Start every day by listing 10 things for which you are grateful. Gratitude is an attitude. This exercise changes your energy in a positive way. You’ll feel better and, as a result, attract more of what you want in life. The choice is yours to either think big or think small. The very exercise of thinking big expands your possibilities and potential. It gives you new perspective and, most importantly, a sense of hope. It moves you past the immediate problem-solving mode into the realm where anything is possible. You are what you think, so THINK BIG! I Editor’s Note: Pat Alva-Green is a certified may as well choose to “think big.” Anyone can think small, and unfortunately, most people do. In fact, most people keep themselves in the same place in life, doing the exact same thing, without significant growth or change because of limited or conditioned thinking. Are you one of those people? Take a minute to consider how you think. When you consider “big thinkers,” who comes to mind? Some think of Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffet and even Donald Trump. There are many more very successful people who do not even approach the level of accomplishment of these people. Yet in studying successful people, there seems to be a common denominator that exists across the spectrum: an extraordinary amount of self-belief and self-confidence. Thinking big is about possibilities. It’s about knowing and trusting that the potential for something great is not only present within you but also possible beyond your ability to picture or even comprehend it. The bottom line: thinking big goes beyond your particular situation. Thinking big is about taking action. Below are some suggested ways to take action and become a big thinker. Believe that you can. Adopt the “Ican-do-it!” attitude. The “how-to-do-it” will reveal itself. Seek constant personal development. Invest in yourself and keep learning. Get a mentor or hire a professional coach. Build confidence, destroy fears. The best cure for fear is action. Observe your thoughts, and next to every negative thought, place a positive one. Add value. On a daily basis, ask yourself, “What can I do to make myself more valuable? What can I do to help my team become more effective?” Set high goals. Here’s a tip: If you can achieve a goal by yourself, it’s not big enough! When in doubt, follow your gut. If you follow your heart or “gut feeling” when deciding what action to take, then you know what you are doing is right for you. It’s easier to overcome criticism and obstacles along the way when you follow your intuition. Be positive. Look for the best in yourself, in others and in all situations. business and professional coach as well as a member of the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics SHPE Professional Chapter. Her unique mentor coaching style blends more than 19 years of entrepreneurial experience and more than 27 years of corporate experience in assisting individuals and companies toward achieving their missions and goals. The author can be reached at (817) 291-0717, pgreen88@earthlink.net or www.patalvagreen.com. SHPE R Spring 2008 14 http://www.patalvagreen.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Spring08

SHPE - Spring08 Contents President’s Letter Browser Letters to the Editor Calendar of Events The Magic of Thinking BIG Five Steps to Easier Fundraising Designing Women ¡Viva Verde! The Education and Training of Ramon Flores Breakthroughs in Mobile Military Communications The Retention Doctor Success at School Begins at Home STAR Nominations Do Good Things Come to Those Who Wait? Programs & Services Regional Roundup Advertisers Index

SHPE - Spring08

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