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A keen martial artist I discovered that my performance was not purely a reflection of training, diet and rest. I discovered that positive influences were crucial to my competition success. I learnt that positive influences had to become a cornerstone of all aspects of my life. It took me years to realise this and years to change it. I tried to surround myself with like minded people the old adage comes to mind. “You can choose your friends, but you cannot choose your family”. I needed some extra help and discovered a world of help at the local bookshop.

Seven years on my life has changed. My house is full of inspirational books, articles, pictures and goals I have set myself for this year, five and ten years. For anyone new to personal development and even the seasoned scholar (how many times have you revisited a book only to find a gem of information you cannot believe you missed), here are five great tips I regularly read and am sure every inspirational and motivational speaker believes in.

1. Monitor Your Inner Conversations
The downward arrow or spiral of thought is a classic concept in cognitive psychology and often discussed in books combating depression. Whether you suffer depression or not, we are all subject to the negativity our minds produce and if we are to truly succeed in this life, we need to overcome those shackles.

Chosen to lead a new project at work your self doubt kicks in. You have been drawn into the downward spiral. Before you know it, you are telling yourself you cannot possibly do it, that you are a fraud and other people are better than you. It can spread into the rest of your life, damage your self-esteem and make life a misery. There is no logic, no sense and the spiral sucks in every other aspect of your being and self worth. This is a gross simplification and as a young man, I experienced it first hand.

Controlling the thoughts that run through your mind, choosing not to take notice of the negative, illogical thoughts that appear from nowhere. Replacing the negative thoughts with positive thoughts, positive visions.

Remember the saying “if you can hold it in your head, you can hold it in your hands?” Well the same applies to negative thoughts. Keep an eye on them and kick them out.

2. Decide What You Want – Then Write It Down
What do I mean? I mean do not simply get up, go to work, watch TV then repeat. You are not a machine. To coin a Les Brown phrase (paraphrase) “A dog can only be a dog” you can be anything you want to be. More than a third of UK individuals claim to be unhappy with their jobs and their hours.

So how do you decide? Start by noting your five biggest achievements, your five proudest moments. Next, make a list. Write down everything you want to achieve, everything you would like to do. Then separate them into one year, five and ten year lists. Straight away you can start to see how your think. If you have lots of one year goals and no ten year goals you need to start thinking longer term. If you have no short term goals, well how do you achieve a long term goal? How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time and the larger long term goals need smaller ones to help you along and keep you motivated.

Ok so what I am getting at is goal setting. Personally I found Jim Rohn’s goal setting methods very good. Les Brown says, write them down and check them three times each day. The important thing is that you write them down and review them regularly. Another proven method.

3. Take Action
As obvious as it seems, make this one a motto regardless. How many times have you said “I’ll do it tomorrow?” Ever heard of “Analysis Paralysis?” When you think, plan or simply wait of the right moment you are not taking action. All the planning and best intentions in the world will not change your current situation. If you are waiting until you have more time or have more money. Forget it. Get going now.

The past does not exist, the future does not exist. Only this moment now exists. This moment right now, as you sit at your computer reading this. Right now there is just you and I. Everything that happens from here onwards will be sculpted by this moment. By the action you take right now. Have a quick look around and be “present”. Eckhart Tolle talks about this in his book “The Power of Now”. It is fantastic book and discusses the impact of negative thoughts too. I highly recommend it.

I could put all three points into one simply sentence. Become a positive, goal setting doer. Changing your life is as simple as that.

I love Mahatma Ghandi and I love this quote “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

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