Thursday, April 28, 2011

Think Positive

Positive thinking brings inner peace, success, improved relationships, better health, happiness and satisfaction. It also helps the daily affairs of life move more smoothly, and makes life look bright and promising.

In order to make positive thinking yield results, you need to develop a positive attitude toward life, expect a successful outcome of whatever you do, but also take any necessary actions to ensure your success.

Effective positive thinking that brings results is much more than just repeating a few positive words, or telling yourself that everything is going to be all right. It has to be your predominant mental attitude. It is not enough to think positively for a few moments, and then letting fears and lack of belief enter your mind. Some effort and inner work are necessary.

Are you willing to make a real inner change? Are you willing to change the way you think? Are you willing to develop a mental power that can positively affect you, your environment and the people around you?

Here are a few actions and tips to help you develop the power of positive thinking:

Always use only positive words while thinking and while talking. Use words such as, 'I can', 'I am able', 'it is possible', 'it can be done', etc.

Allow into your awareness only feelings of happiness, strength, self improvement and success.

Try to disregard and ignore negative thoughts. Refuse to think such thoughts, and substitute them with constructive happy thoughts.

In your conversation use words that evoke feelings and mental images of strength, happiness, satisfaction, dominating outlook and success.

Read at least one page of inspiring book every day.

Watch movies that make you feel happy.

Associate yourself with people who think positively.

Walk, swim or engage in some other physical activity. This helps to develop a more positive attitude.

Think positive and expect only favorable results and situations, even if your current circumstances are not as you wish them to be. In time, your mental attitude will affect your life and circumstances and change them accordingly.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

A tool for self analysis and development -- Johari Window

It was developed by American psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham , where Jo comes from Joseph and Hari from Harry. Though generally used in Management lessons to improve group and team interactions, I love it for its innovative and creative approach to self development. It is a model for self-awareness, personal development, group development and understanding relationships.


http://www.managing-change.net/johari-window-model.html

It is a window because of its design which is like a four paned window. And the regions are called the areas or Quadrants. Each contains and represents the information such as feelings, motivation, etc – in terms of whether the information is known or unknown by the person, and whether the information is known or unknown by others.


The first quadrant is the Open area, open self: what is known by us about ourselves and is also known by others about us – for e.g. name, qualifications etc.


The second quadrant is the Blind area, blind self, or 'blindspot‘: what is unknown by us about ourselves but which others know. For e,g, how we behave with others – something people observe but we ourselves may not be aware of.


The third quadrant is the Hidden area, hidden self: what we know about ourselves that others do not know. For e.g. our likes and dislikes about which we may not be very open.


The final quadrant is the Unknown area or unknown self: what is unknown by us about ourselves and is also unknown by others. For e.g. Our potential

As is clear, we should make efforts in quadrant 2 – as this is something which others know about us – How ? – take feedback from persons closest to you. Let them tell you honestly about what they think about you. That will give a very good idea on how to improve yourself.

It is also important to reduce the Hidden area (quadrant 3) about yourself – meaning if you are hiding things from your friends and family – it is bound to create trouble sooner or later. It is important to be honest in your relationships.

If you are able to manage the above two – the last quadrant will automatically sort itself out.

So, what are you waiting for? Good Luck !