Positive Attitude - Life Choices

By Terry Orr

 Life is about choices – each choice has consequence’s – good and bad – we need to make those decision –our attitude while making those decision are critical in the thought process – and have a positive attitude certainly helps to make the right decision more often. 

Last year, our article “Positive Attitude – Can Do” focused on the importance in thinking positive (http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/2012/10/positive-attitude-can-do.html).  

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.” ― Walt Whitman

“Life is a bowl of cherries. Some cherries are rotten while others are good; its your job to throw out the rotten ones and forget about them while you enjoy eating the ones that are good! There are two kinds of people: those who choose to throw out the good cherries and wallow in all the rotten ones, and those who choose to throw out all the rotten ones and savor all the good ones.” ― C. JoyBell C.

“What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity.” ― J. Sidlow Baxter

“Always strive to aim for the highest peak of the goals in life you have set, this way if you manage to reach even half way toward a goal, landing in the middle is not such a bad place to end up.” ― Victoria Addino

“The worst disability in life is a bad attitude.” ― SupaNova Slom

Wake up Early ~ One of the best ways to help you maintain a positive attitude is to create the habit of waking up early.

Exercise ~ Very few things in life leverage your time as much as exercise.

Plan Your Week and Day ~ Having a clear plan to your day and to your week can go a long way to helping you maintain a positive attitude.

Understand that Things Won't Always Go as Planned ~ If you plan and expect everything in life will go as you planned, you will be quickly disappointed.

Be Thankful ~ Take some time and be thankful.

 Remember – wear your smile each day – maintain your positive attitude – and enjoy each and every day of your life.

Thoughts for Today

International Boost Self-Esteem and Expect Success Month

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By Terry Orr

Self-esteem is a term used in psychology to reflect a person's overall emotional evaluation of his or her own worth. It is a judgment of oneself as well as an attitude toward the self. Self-esteem is also known as the evaluative dimension of the self that includes feelings of worthiness, prides and discouragement. One's self esteem is also closely associated with self-consciousness. (Source: Wikipedia)

Confidence is generally described as a state of being certain either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. Self-confidence is having confidence in oneself. Arrogance or hubris in this comparison, is having unmerited confidence—believing something or someone is capable or correct when they are not. Overconfidence or presumptuousness is excessive belief in someone (or something) succeeding, without any regard for failure. Confidence can be a self-fulfilling prophecy as those without it may fail or not try because they lack it and those with it may succeed because they have it rather than because of an innate ability. (Source: Wikipedia)

According to Psych Center - Have you wondered about what self-esteem is and how to get more of it? Do you think your self-esteem is low? Do you know how to tell? Do you know what to do about it?

Self-esteem answers the question, “How do I feel about who I am?” We learn self-esteem in our family of origin; we do not inherit it.

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Interesting and favorite quotes:

“Believe in yourself and the world will follow suit.”

― Tadahiko Nagao, Kokology: The Game of Self-Discovery

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”

― Norman Vincent Peale

“How would your life be different if…You stopped allowing other people to dilute or poison your day with their words or opinions? Let today be the day…You stand strong in the truth of your beauty and journey through your day without attachment to the validation of others”

― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

“You're always with yourself, so you might as well enjoy the company.”

― Diane Von Furstenberg

“People simply feel better about themselves when they’re good at something.”

― Stephen R. Covey, The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

“I exist as I am, that is enough,

If no other in the world be aware I sit content,

And if each and all be aware I sit content.

One world is aware, and by the far the largest to me, and that is myself.”

― Walt Whitman

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Self-esteem and Expect Success Tips:

Count Your Blessing – All too often we fail to appreciate what we have.  Take a few minutes each and every day and give thanks.

Help Others – Is always a good thing to do and frequently you will feel better too

Be True to yourself – You are unique, one of a kind – keep that in mind.

Learn how to relax – Lots of ways to do this…find a few that are just right for you.

Volunteer – Pitch in and help

Smile – Is good for you and those around you.

Laugh – Laughter is the best Medicine – no doubt about it!

Think Positive thoughts – Find the up side of things and keep them your central focus!

Have Fun - Do something that you really enjoy!

Exercise – We hear it all the time to exercise and benefits in doing so – and it works!

Give Someone a Hug – An emotion that really helps. It is a simple act – but an important one.

Get Help – There are times we simply need to get help – Do It!  Best advice I can offer you and yes, been there done that – and it made a huge difference.

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Take another look into that mirror, smile, think positive things and enjoy your day!

References and Links:

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/how-to-raise-your-self-esteem/

http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/self_esteem.html

Healthy Weight Week – Excellent Info

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By Terry Orr

Of all the articles that I have read over the years and counsel received - this is probably the best advice one can share!

During Healthy Weight Week, hide your scale, do not peek at a height and weight chart, and avoid body mass index (BMI) calculations. Love yourself, love your body. Change your thinking and focus on these goals:

·        Accept your weight and embrace who you are.

·        Set realistic health guidelines for yourself.

·        Focus on positive lifestyle changes.

·        Appreciate yourself. Create positive relationships with family, friends, and food.

·        Change your thoughts: Erase negative thoughts and begin positive self-talk: "I am beautiful.”

·        Enjoy your eating experience by eating a variety of foods. Do not diet or obsess on food, weight, or calories. Eat when hungry, stop when full.

·        Move your body. Enjoy a hobby or turn up the tunes and dance.

·        Relax. Take time out for yourself.

If you enjoy Healthy Weight Week, don't stop at one week, make lasting lifestyle changes forever! [Source: Shape]

References and Links:

http://www.shape.com/blogs/weight-loss-coach/national-healthy-weight-week-self-satisfaction-key

Joys of living with ADHD

Accentuating the Positive

By Terry Orr

(ADD/ADHD-er)

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Multi-tasking at its best, once you learn how to harness the power of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – I have rarely considered this a negative in my life (I see the glass half full).  In fact, just the opposite – because most folks simply are unable to do what ADD/ADHD folks can do.  So let’s take closer look into these special abilities.

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Last September we covered ADHD from a clinical and non-clinical perspective:

• Symptoms;
• Signs and Test;
• Treatment;
• Medications;
• Behavior Therapy; and
• Some well-known people who are ADD/ADHD.

10 Most Positive Things about ADHD (by Bryan L. Hutchinson). In my research for this article I was thrilled to find Bryan's Web/Blog site (www.adderworld.com) “Positive Thinking of ADHD” chucked full of good information on ADD/ADHD.  A summary of these ten are provided below, you can download the complete package at Bryan's site:

• Passion: Passion is energy, it is enthusiasm and it is intuitiveness.  Passion is life, it is ever constant.
• Creativity: Creativity is found in all people, not just those of us with ADHD; however, it does seem that people with ADHD have a way of thinking which makes what we create stand out as unique and distinctive.
• Dynamic: I believe people with ADHD are dynamic by nature. Dynamic people vibrate with energy and exude a kind of poise, which is too often misinterpreted.
• Resilient: We have had to be in order to keep on, keeping on!
• Playful: One of our most charming qualities is our playfulness.
• Entertaining: I personally believe that most all entertainers are ADDers! We are natural born entertainers.  It’s not an art form for us, it’s a way of life.
• Overachiever: One of our most underrated, least talked about traits is our desire to achieve, to do well and live a successful life.  Too many think we live by an excuse for our behavior and are unwilling to strive. The fact is: we are constantly striving!
• Imagination: If there is one thing I love about my ADHD mind above all others, it is my vivid imagination. When I dream it is like watching a movie in my head, with the intricate sounds, vibrant colors and ever so subtle movements.
• Hyper-Focus: I like to think of my hyper focus as my personal super power, which gives me tremendous advantages when I have it under my control.
• Positivity: Is a trait of ADHD?  Perhaps not officially.  It is for me, finally! {This has been for me as long as I can remember}

Bryan also has published three books (which I purchased over the weekend and downloaded on my iPad):

• One Boy's Struggle: A Memoir: Surviving Life with Undiagnosed ADD;
• The Brilliant Reality of ADHD; and
• Adult ADHD Can Be Sexy!

And has a fourth book in the works, “10 Things I Hate about ADHD”.

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In our recent post Positive Thinking (link) is an update to last year’s very successful article (link) on that same topic we shared information on the importance of being positive in every part of your life.   These are a nice Segway into - 

The Positive Characteristics of ADD / ADHD

People with ADD / ADHD also have many positive traits that are directly tied to their active, impulsive minds:

• Creativity – People with ADD excel at thinking outside of the box, brainstorming, and finding creative solutions to problems. Because of their flexible way of thinking about things, they tend to be more open-minded, independent, and ready to improvise.
• Enthusiasm and spontaneity – People with ADD are free spirits with lively minds—qualities that makes for good company and engrossing conversation. Their enthusiasm and spontaneous approach to life can be infectious.
• A quick mind - People with ADD have the ability to think on their feet, quickly absorb new information (as long as it’s interesting), and multitask with ease. Their rapid-fire minds thrive on stimulation. They adapt well to change and are great in a crisis.
• High energy level – People with ADD have loads of energy. When their attention is captured by something that interests them, they can have virtually unlimited stamina and drive.

Famous People with ADHD

Bill Cosby	Jim Carey	Whoopi Goldberg
Will Smith	Paris Hilton	Vincent Van Gogh
Orville & Wilber Wright	Benjamin Franklin	Thomas Edison
Abraham Lincoln	John F. Kennedy (father and son both)	Walt Disney
Samuel Clemens	Emily Dickenson	Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Positive Characteristics of People with Attention Deficit Disorder:

Ability to find alternate paths to overcome obstacles; Able to take on large situations; Adaptive/collaborative; Adventurous, courageous, lives outside of boundaries; Always finding alternate routes to any given location; Always willing to help others; Ambitious – you want to be everything when “you grow up”; Artistic; Attractive personality – magnetic due to high energy; Being able to see the big picture; Being able to see the patterns in the chaos; Being intuitive towards others’ difficulties; Broad focus – can see more, notice things more; Can create order from chaos; Can do many projects at once; Can make people feel they are heard; Can see the big picture; Can talk about several things at one time; Can think on my feet; Career variety; Centre of attention; Comfortable talking in front of groups; Comfortable with change and chaos; Compassion for others and for themselves; Conceptualizes well; Confidence; Constantly evolving; Courageous; Creates connections easily; Creative; Creative writing; Creative – musical, artistic, “dramatic”; Down to Earth; Good in a crisis; Good at customer relations; Dedicated; Detail-oriented; Determined to gain more control; Eager to make friends; Eager to try new things; Empathetic, sensitive; Energetic; Entrepreneurial; Excellent organizers using journals and reminders (notes etc.); Flexible – changes as the situation requires; Fun guy to be around; Goal-oriented; Good at conceptualizing; Good at motivating self and others; Good at multitasking; Good at problem solving; Good at public speaking; Good at understanding others/mind reading – empathetic; Good conversationalist; Good delegator and good at organizing others; Good in emergency situations; Good listener; Good looking and aware of it; Good people skills; Good self-esteem, energetic; Great brain-stormer; Great multi-tasker; Great self-company; Great sense of humor; Great storyteller; Great with kids (central figure around kids); Hands-on workers; Hard worker; Has friendly relations with their family; Has the gift of gab; Helpful; Helps others who are also in trouble; High energy – go, go, go; Humor, very healthy, quick picking up ideas; Hyper focus !!; Hypersensitive – very empathetic and good at non-verbal communications; Idea generator; Imaginative; Impulsive (in a good way) not afraid to act; Initiators; Intelligent; Intuitive; It’s ok to not finish everything; Learning as much as I can to help children and others with ADHD; Less sleep is good (midnight to 6 am); Like to talk a lot; Likes learning new things; Look at multidimensional sides to a situation; Lots of interests; Loves to cook and be creative; Magnetic; Master idea generator; Mentoring others/helpful; Mentoring people with low self-esteem; Modesty; Move on fast – never hold a grudge; Multitasks well; Never bored and rarely boring; Never intimidated to try new things; Non-linear, multi-dimensional/edge of chaos; Not afraid to speak mind; Not contained by boundaries; On stage and ready; Optimistic; Outgoing; Passionate; Persistent; Philosophical; Holistic thinking; Playful; Pragmatic; Problem solver; Profound; Quick thinking; Quick witted; Relates to people easily; Resistant; Resourceful; Saves money in the short term by forgetting to file tax returns; See and remember details – recount them later; Sees the big picture; Socially adaptive and flexible; Spontaneous; Stabilizer during difficult situations; Stable; Successful; Takes initiative; Tenacious; Theoretical; Think outside the box; Thinks two meters ahead of the world; Thinks big, dreams big; Thorough; Tolerant; Trusting, Unconventional; Unlimited energy; Unorthodox; Versatile; Very creative, able to generate a lot of ideas; Very hard working to compensate – workaholic; Very intuitive; Very resourceful; Very successful; Visionary; Visual learner; Willing to explore; Willing to take risks; Willingness to help others; Witty; Won’t tolerate boredom; Works well under pressure; and Worldly.

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Whew!  That’s quite a list of Positive Characteristics and surprisingly is spot on for me in all but four.  How many of them accurately depict your characteristics?

References and Links:

• http://adhdandmore.blogspot.com/2009/02/positive-characteristics-of-add-adhd.html
• www.adderworld.com
• http://web4health.info/en/answers/adhd-positive-aspects.htm
• http://suite101.com/article/positive-aspects-of-adhd-and-add-a6201
• http://www.realage.com/managing-adult-adhd/using-the-benefits-of-adhd-to-your-advantage