Self Improvement

Oct 25

Pathological Positivity

By DrPaul M-Power

Is there a program or process that propels us predictably to unprecedented personal power, productivity, and profit? Yes. Pathological Positivity. Our planet is plagued with a pandemic of poisonous pessimism. The popular perception of painful or perturbing problems is pathogenically paralyzing. Pathological Positivity programs and positions us to perceive positive possibilities in problems. It inspires and provokes people to apply positive principles and practices even in paralyzing predicaments. Pathological Positivity isn’t just a program or philosophy, it is a personal preference. It is a programmed proclivity to purposefully opt for the positive from a plethora of possible perceptions. This promotes powerful productivity and profit. Pandemic, pestilent and pernicious pessimism is pummeled into powder as professionals apply and promote pathologically positive paradigms. The payoff is phenomenal prosperity. What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. – Ralph Waldo Emerson Image courtesy of twobee/FreeDigitalPhotos.net about…

Oct 03

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Questions in Disguise

By DrPaul M-Power

Questions are power tools of change. Power tools work best when plugged in and turned on. Sometimes the questions we ask are not really questions. My friend and creative editor, Tom Cantrell, called me on this recently when he asked, “Was that a question, or a statement disguised as a question?” Here’s a common example: “How can I be happy with all of this going on?” That’s not a bad question, if it is used as a question. Normally a question like this really means, “I can’t be happy with all of this going on” – it is a statement disguised as a question. Another example is in my last message – “What could possibly be good about this?” Another great question, if you stay plugged in to the question. “Nothing could possibly be good about this” is the statement that sometimes gets into that question’s disguise. Plug in the power – turn it back into a question and get…

Sep 04

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That’s Good!

By DrPaul M-Power

The motivational master, Earl Nightingale promoted Pathological Positivity when he suggested that we learn to habitually respond to even devastating circumstances by saying “that’s good” – then engage our marvelous minds to discover or create what’s good about it. As a psychologist, I see the power in this strategy. Our mind will dutifully fulfill our commands and requests. If we ask our mind to find out what is bad about something we can certainly find supportive evidence. If, on the other hand, we ask our minds to find out what is good about something, our minds will get to work on that. “What could possibly be good about this!?” Well, that’s not a bad question – get busy finding a legitimate answer instead of assuming that there couldn’t be one. life loans It’s our attitude in life that determines life’s attitude toward us. ~ Earl Nightingale

Jul 17

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Positive On Purpose

By DrPaul M-Power

Sometimes I am accused of being pathologically positive, like Pollyanna from the 1960 Disney movie. Is this a compliment or a criticism? I wasn’t sure so I rented the movie. I remember as a child liking the movie. It seems that when I got older, I joined in with the other popular opinions that it was just corny and, well, pollyannaish. Watching it this time, I really paid attention to what Pollyanna was doing in light of my positive psychology practice. Here is a kid who was orphaned at an age when she could understand what was going on. Unquestionably a huge and painful adversity. Her father had been a minister, and taught her a game that she liked to play whenever something difficult or unpleasant was happening – the glad game. The game is that you intentionally look for something to be glad about related to your situation. It is…

Jun 14

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Head For Higher Ground

By DrPaul M-Power

December 26, 2006 was the date. An earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean caused a shift in the earth’s plates that led to a displacement of the sea itself. The waters withdrew from the shore in preparation for an enormous tsunami to follow. Those who saw and recognized the signs immediately began to retreat for higher ground – they knew what was coming. There are plenty of signs around indicating that our world is in danger – everything from economic indicators to crime rates. There is ample reason to believe that we need to head for higher ground. Identify the higher ground in your life and invite others along. Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by others doing it. ~ James Arthur Baldwin

Sep 17

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What Doesn’t Make Sense

By DrPaul M-Power

During a morning run this week I came across this sign for a golf course. I quickly identified the golf bag and clubs on the right and the red rock outcropping on the left, but I couldn’t quite make out what that white item was attached to the cliff – it didn’t make sense to me. As I continued to study what didn’t make sense, suddenly the white thing became a shirt on a man and the red rock cliff became a couple. It all made sense to me as I finally made sense out of the part that didn’t. In our lives there are often things that don’t make sense. Take a closer look at those things, and often the very things that don’t make sense to us bring the whole picture into context. In science, mistakes always precede the truth. Horace Walpole

Jul 12

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Watch Your Language

By DrPaul M-Power

The language that we choose makes a big difference, and can completely change our experience. I got two great examples last night as I was reading John Maxwell’s Failing Forward. Do your challenges in life make you bitter or better? Does adversity lead to breakdowns or breakthroughs? Then this morning with one of my clients we were discussing letting go. Letting go is different from giving up. If what you want is not yet in your hand, and your hand is clenched so tightly around what you already have, how can you receive what you want? Letting go is often the crucial step toward receiving what you want, because it opens your hands, heart, and mind to what can be. consumer financial protection legislation Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene. RAMPARTJUICE.COM/SSFM/CAT/ Arthur Christopher Benson

Jun 01

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Weeds Thrive Too

By DrPaul M-Power

After a very rainy May here in Utah, my little garden is thriving and growing well. I also have a weed patch in a neglected spot that is thriving and growing well. Our minds are like the fertile earth, ready and willing to return an abundance of whatever we plant and cultivate there. But be careful – weeds are default. If you don’t intentionally plant productive and positive thoughts, you may soon find the place overgrown with weeds of negativity, fear, and doubt. Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don’t count on harvesting golden delicious. – Bill Meyer

May 24

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Cultivating You

By DrPaul M-Power

I’m working on getting something of a garden going this spring, which requires a lot of cultivating, weeding, tending, watering, and nurturing of the seeds and plants in order to have a harvest. My friend, Garrett Gunderson hosted a phenomenal event in Salt Lake City last week where he pointed out that the key to wealth creation is to cultivate yourself. Take care of and invest in yourself, and you will thereby create your results. You are your greatest asset! In the absence of clarity of your soul purpose you cannot discern the difference between distraction and opportunity http://cepke.net/pay-day-loan-company – Garrett Gunderson

Apr 19

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Whatever Doesn’t Look Like That

By DrPaul M-Power

I was just looking at this chain that I whittled out of a family sized bar of Ivory soap. The most common question I get about this after people marvel that I would have that much extra time on my hands is, “How did you do that?” The answer is simple, I just cut off everything that doesn’t look like that. Our lives tend to accumulate a lot of extra baggage from time to time. Get a clear picture of what you want your life to look like, and start cutting off whatever doesn’t look like that! Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. Lou Holtz Please leave your comments here – be part of the discussion. Dr. Paul

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