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The Power of Growth Mindset in Setting and Achieving Goals

CLICK the VIDEO to WATCH NOW. This VLOG teaches 4 Steps to Develop a Growth Mindset, to help you accomplish your goals. Everyone has goals and dreams but some people choose not to set goals, for fear of failure. Unfortunately that choice can stifle progress and decrease confidence. When you learn to cultivate a growth mindset, you begin to realize that setting a goal and falling a bit short is better than not setting the goal at all. A growth mindset teaches you how to learn and grow from mistakes so that you no longer fear failure. Instead, you see it as an opportunity to grow and improve. Where there is struggle there is growth. That growth leads to strength, achievement, and increased life satisfaction. Growth mindset teaches that goal-setting is a life-long process and that there truly is joy in the journey.
Click the video below (4 min. 50 sec.)

Goal Setting with a Growth Mindset

Posted by Positivity Life on Sunday, January 7, 2018

The great news is, with a little effort, EVERYONE CAN CULTIVATE A GROWTH MINDSET! If you’ve ever self-sabotaged with a fixed mindset, it simply means you’re human. Everyone gets stuck in a fixed mindset from time to time. But you don’t have to let a fixed mindset hold you back or keep you stuck. You can switch to a path of growth and enjoy the benefits of a GROWTH MINDSET, simply by CHOOSING to work at it. To learn more about YOUR Mindset, Take the Mindset Test by clicking HERE.

To learn more about how a growth mindset can enhance YOUR life, check out this book: MINDSET by Dr. Carol S. Dweck CLICK HERE

 

Week of Gratitude – A Thanksgiving Countdown

To watch these videos and read the blog, click the photo & scroll down.
Did you know that GRATITUDE is the SECRET to ABUNDANCE?

Thanksgiving is about a week away, so, we thought it would be fun to do a short video everyday about the virtue of gratitude all of all its amazing benefits. We’re calling this video series:

“Week of Gratitude – A Thanksgiving Countdown”

T: Over the past 15 years, there has been tons of scientific research linking the practice of consistent gratitude with a host of positive outcomes for our lives. It turns out that gratitude inspires feelings of abundance and can lead to improved health, heightened happiness and overall wellbeing and life satisfaction.
Every day we’ll be sharing 1 video in our countdown to Thanksgiving. Each short video will include stories, statistics, and some science, plus engaging gratitude-building activities for you to do as an individual or with your family. We’ll also be asking you to share some of your gratitude practices and traditions so that we can all learn from each other.

Day #1

A Week of Gratitude – A Countdown to Thanksgiving

Activities for Day #1
“Pass the pumpkin” – With your family and/or friends, pass a small pumpkin around the dinner table as each person names something for which they’re thankful.
“Gratitude Journal” – Write 3 – 5 things you’re thankful for (in a journal, on your phone, or anywhere).
Research shows that expressing gratitude builds happiness, optimism, improved physical health, and stronger relationships. Expressing gratitude is most effective when it’s shared verbally or in writing (rather than just keeping all those thankful thoughts in your head).

Please watch this video (DAY 1) today, then join us tomorrow for DAY 2 (and on to day 7 which is Thanksgiving Day). Wishing you and yours a season of gratitude, abundance, fulfilling relationships and joy!

Day #2

Have you ever wondered how some people can seem to have a naturally optimistic attitude? They seem to go through life in a mindset of abundance and positivity, regardless of the challenges they may be facing. What is their secret? Watch DAY 2 to find out.

DAY 2 "Week of Gratitude – A Thanksgiving Countdown."

Day 2 Gratitude Building Activities:

First, Take a nature walk. As you walk, use all of your senses to mindfully savor the beauty all around you. This experience can enhance gratitude because it builds a sense of awe, as you come to recognize that you’re part of a grander whole. If you’re with a friend, your spouse, or a child, you can take turns naming your “gratitudes” as you walk.

Another idea is to make a cornucopia or a collage with pictures of all of the things for which you are grateful. Children especially love this activity.

Best of all, do what Dr. Georges and her son do. Find someone to serve. That way you can LIVE in thanksgiving, as you lift the burdens of someone in need.

If YOU want to live in abundance and become a “practiced optimist,” stick with us on this gratitude countdown!

Day #3

On Day 3 we talk about how gratitude can build resilience and inspire hope during times of adversity. We’ll also teach how to recognize and overcome roadblocks to gratitude, that can sometimes get people stuck. Finally, we’ll share activities that can help you leverage gratitude, to bring about growth during hard times.

DAY 3 "Week of Gratitude – A Thanksgiving Countdown."

Day 3 Gratitude Building Activities:

Gratitude Reframe: When facing a challenge, ask yourself, “Even though this is hard, what can I be grateful for in this situation?” OR “What strengths & resources do I already possess to help me rise to meet this challenge?”

Resilience Reflection: Write in your journal about a time when you faced a challenge. Then express your gratitude by making a list of what you learned & how you grew stronger because of it. You can help your kids do this too. Young kids can draw pictures (instead of writing).

 

Day #4

Research shows that EXERCISING GRATITUDE can bring you a host of upgrades in your physical health and overall wellbeing. After years and years of research, Dr. Robert Emmons concluded that “Gratitude is literally on of the few things that can measurable change people’s lives.”

DAY 4 "Week of Gratitude – A Thanksgiving Countdown."

So are you ready for an easy upgrade in your health? Here’s a game that will improve your health in 2 ways (exercising your muscles and exercising your gratitude)

Gratitude ball – (it can be ping-pong, four-square or basketball). It’s is an easy game where you receive the ball and then when you send the ball away, (whether tossing it, throwing it, or hitting it with the paddle), you say something you’re thankful for. Game changer rule: You can’t say the same thing twice and you can’t say something that someone else has said.

 

Day #5

Today we’re talking about Helping Kids develop Gratitude. How do we teach gratitude to children who live in a world of entitlement and abundance? Even parents who consider themselves in the lower income range tend to have far more money and luxury than they themselves had growing up. It’s normal for parents to want to give their kids a more abundant life, but how much is too much?

DAY 5 – "Week of Gratitude – A Thanksgiving Countdown"

Here are 4 ideas to help kids overcome entitlement by developing gratitude:

1. Don’t always give kids EVERYTHING they ask for.
2. Teach kids to work, earn, and save for the extra toys and gadgets they want.
3. Teach them to serve and to enjoy helping others in need.
4. Establish regular gratitude practices and routines (such as
gratitude journaling, writing “thank you” notes, etc.).
5. Give your favorite family games a “gratitude twist” to help
kids associate FUN with GRATITUDE!

Day #6

Research shows that gratitude deepens bonds and nurtures relationships. This is true in a marriage, a dating relationship, with your children, your extended family, and even co-worker connections. Everyone needs to feel appreciated. Studies show that the more appreciated someone feels in a relationship, the more committed they become to it and the more motivated they are to invest in and build it. When people feel appreciated they are more likely to continue thoughtful and generous behavior. You might call it a gratitude cycle and it begins with just one expression of gratitude.

DAY 6 – "Week of Gratitude – A Thanksgiving Countdown"

Gratitude activities to build and strengthen relationships:

1. Use specific,”others-centered” gratitude & process praise (publicly & privately).
2. Spend quality time with others and listen attentively to what they have to say.
3. Tangible “gratitudes” (flowers, chocolates, and “thank you” notes) are also nice.
4. Service is a great way to show gratitude. Doing what the other person
needs, in the moment, will be the most valuable.
5. Express gratitude to others for their support in your accomplishments & give
them credit for the part they played in your success.

Challenge: Express gratitude in 3 of the most significant relationships in your life and do it TODAY. You can choose an idea from the list we just gave you or make up your own way show gratitude. Whatever you do, make it meaningful and specific.

Day #7

Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s the recap of a “A Week of Gratitude.”

Giving thanks is not just for Thanksgiving. It’s something we should do every day. In the words of William Arthur Ward, “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” Wishing you and yours an abundance of thanks giving blessings AND Thanksgiving blessings!

Wishing you and yours a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Our Gift to you: As part of our Thanksgiving celebration, we want to share with you a special song of deepest gratitude: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” ENJOY!

Come Thou Fount – Rick Starr

The Power of Doing Something Stupid

We’re happy to bring to you this amazing interview with Richie Norton. 

Richie is the bestselling author of The Power of Starting Something Stupid as well as the #1 Amazon download Résumés Are Dead and What to Do About It. He is an international speaker and consultant for the corporate growth and personal development industries, a social entrepreneur, and CEO and Founder of Global Consulting Circle. He is also the owner of Prouduct Inc. a company that helps source products for companies so they can focus on their business.

Richie has been featured in Forbes, Businessweek, Young Entrepreneur, Huffington Post and other national publications both in print and online. The 2013 San Francisco Book Festival named The Power of Starting Something Stupid the winner of the business category and the grand prize winner of all book categories in its annual competition. In 2010, Pacific Business News recognized Richie as one of the Top Forty Under 40 “best and brightest young businessmen” in Hawaii.

Richie has shared the stage with bestselling authors such as Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen M.R. Covey, author of The Speed of Trust and Kevin Rollins, former CEO of Dell Computers.

Richie received his MBA from the world’s #1 ranked international business school, Thunderbird School of Global Management.

In this episode, Richie talks about:

  • His personal story about the death of his son and the death of his brother-in-law, and how these tragic events affected his family’s approach to life.
  • Being Intentional in creating income for the family, but still being there for the family.
  • One of the important principles that came of his son’s passing, which he calls Gavin’s law – “Live to Start, Start to Live.”
  • How to step into (stupid) ideas that you have and lean into your fears.
  • Why starting something stupid is the smartest thing you could do.
  • That life matters, life has purpose, and we are meant to be happy.
  • How to build a project and get small wins when you start something stupid.
  • How positivity plays into success.
  • What part vulnerability plays in starting something stupid and how to be vulnerable in a small way while creating your idea.
  • How to crush fear by breaking it into small pieces. We are all scared of something. It’s how we work with fear that is the real question.

Gratitude in ALL THINGS is the secret to JOY in LIFE!

Intentionally CHOOSE to MAKE GRATITUDE Your WAY of LIFE!

Gratitude is a powerful life intervention. Studies show that people who frequently experience and express gratitude are happier and healthier than people who don’t.

For more on GRATITUDE, please check out these Positivity Life Posts and Podcasts:

Positivity Life Podcast with Bruce Van Horn (Season 1 Episode 15)

“How to Stop Worrying and Start Living and Seeing Life’s Challenges as Gifts.”

Positivity Life Podcast with Colleen Georges, Ph.D. (Season 1 Episode 8)

“Seeing All the Good in Self, Others, and Life.”

Positivity Life Blog Post “Gratitude, The Secret to an Abundant Life”

S1-E15: Bruce Van Horn – Choose to See Challenges as Gifts

Season 1 Episode 8 : Seeing all the Good in Self, Others, and Life

Gratitude, the Secret to an Abundant Life!

Relationship Tips From Couple Married 81 Years

It seems that everyone these days is looking for happiness. Yet many don’t know where to find it. A 78-year Harvard study shows that the #1 predictor of happiness in life is the quality of your relationships. It also shows that loneliness kills. With so many years of research pointing to quality relationships as the precursor to happiness, perhaps we need to take a longer and closer look at the lives of those who’ve found true happiness through long, fulfilling, relationships.

Dale and Alice Rockey were married 81 years. The video tells about their love story and their incredible marriage that spanned 8 decades. It’s interesting to note that the reporter in the video stated , “They leave behind no formula, no easy path for getting marriage right.” When I heard him say this, I wondered how he could’ve missed it. Their formula was played out on the video through their words, actions, and body language. Watch the video and see if you can find the 4 steps on the path of Marital Success which this sweet couple left behind.

A storybook romance's final chapter

Did you discover the Rockey’s 4 Steps to Marital Success? If not, watch it again. It’s a beautiful thing to see.

Here’s their formula – according to my observations:

  1. Sense of Humor and Playfulness. How many times did you count them laughing and joking with each other? Their playfulness was inspiring! It would seem that their longevity is partly due to their daily fun and laughter. Confirming perhaps that “Laughter is Still the Best Medicine.“ Research shows that “Humor is Healing” (not just for the body, but also for the mind, the soul and for relationships).
  2. United in their faith. The saying “Couples who pray together stay together” appears to be a valid statement when you consider the Rocky’s 81 marriage. Each of their 5 sons are also still very happily married (to their original spouses).
  3. Service and Kindness. You can see that performing daily acts of kindness was a way of life for the Rockeys. Did you notice Dale helping Alice with her chair?
  4. Affection and devotion. After 81 years, the Rockeys are still holding hands. It’s easy to see that they enjoy being together and that they truly are Best Friends Forever.

Did YOU observe any other steps in their formula for a successful marriage? We would all do well to follow the example of this most amazing couple! And if we do, perhaps one day we can echo their words:

DALE: “What a wonderful ride we’ve had!”

ALICE: “[81 years] It does sound like a long time.”

DALE: “Well, it has been! A GOOD long time!”

Final Message: RELATIONSHIPS! Invest your heart and soul in them! They are the source of happiness, the fountain of youth, and the much desired secret of THE GOOD LIFE!

For more relationship building articles, click here.

To help you build more POSITIVITY IN YOUR LIFE, check out our FREEBIE!

Positivity Can Transform Your Life!

The word “positivity” has been around for over 350 years, yet many people think it’s not a real word. It’s interesting to note that “positivity” is not as popular as its (much younger) sister word, “negativity.” While most people understand, what negativity means, there are still some who don’t fully understand the meaning of the … Read more

Embracing Your Innate Strengths

Hello, it’s Teresa here with some ideas that I hope will knock your socks off because today I’m talking to you about Shoes, (AND Strengths).

As I sat in my closet (actually it was my daughter’s closet – you can see her recently worn bridal gown bag hanging up behind me), I started thinking deeply about shoes and the various types we all wear. Some shoes work best for working and others are best for play. Somehow it got me thinking about the innate core strengths each of us brings into this world. So here are a few of my thoughts (or you can just watch the video below).

Embracing Your Innate Strengths

First off I picked up my “A to B shoes.” They’re my trail runners, my powerful – get the job done, climb that mountain shoes. The have extra tread and a curved toe that helps me push off and run fast – even in rugged terrain. These are my “power shoes.”

The shoes I wear most are my “connector shoes.” They are built to be comfortable & allow me to connect with others without worrying about my feet. They are very supportive. I can Work hard in these shoes to meet the needs of those I’m serving in my daily work as a teacher.

Then there are my “go out on the town and have a good time shoes.” These shoes are classy, flashy, fun & sassy! I would never wear these on a trail run – but then again would I wear my trail runners out for a classy night out on the town with my husband. These are my “FUN shoes!” My “let the good times roll shoes!”

Finally, there are my “peaceful shoes.” They are the next best thing to being barefoot shoes. They’re comfortable, relaxed, and very practical. My feet feel at peace in these shoes.

People are like shoes. We all have innate core strengths and we usually feel most purposeful in life when we share our gifts, talents and strengths with others. It’s important that we also appreciate and value the innate gifts and strengths of others.

Unlike shoes, people can develop strengths in other areas. Although I feel most comfortable in my “connector shoes,” I can choose to develop the character strengths found in my “A to B power shoes.” It’s also important that I allow myself opportunity to wear my “fun shoes” every once in awhile. This rejuvenates me and reminds me that life is to be enjoyed, not just endured. And then there are those times when I just need to take time to be at peace. I shouldn’t expect myself to be serving others ALL the time. Sometimes I just need to be still and be comfortable. And that’s when I slip on my “peace shoes.”

My message:
Embrace and value your core strengths, appreciate and value the strengths of others and be willing to increase your character by trying on a different kind of shoes, in other words be willing to have a growth mindset and strive to stretch yourself to develop strengths in other areas. That’s how your build CHARACTER.

In a nutshell, love your shoes, love others’ shoes and try on a new pair every now and then, just for the fun (and the growth) of it.

To find out more about YOUR innate core strengths, take the FREE Hartman Personality Profile Test, Click HERE.

To learn more about The Power of Strengths, Click HERE.

8 Pathways to a Life of Meaning and Purpose

Throughout the ages of time, people have sought to discover the meaning and purpose of life. A wealth of research in Positive Psychology suggests that happiness and meaning are, essential elements of well-being.

Roy F. Baumeister, author of “Willpower” and “Meanings of Life,” noted, “Humans may resemble many other creatures in their striving for happiness, but the quest for meaning is a key part of what makes us human, and uniquely so.”

Read more8 Pathways to a Life of Meaning and Purpose