The power of positive people

The power of positive people makes my day

By Philip Carrigan


In sport, they call it being ‘in the zone’. The athlete is totally focused on the moment. He or she has a single-minded purpose, an unstoppable drive, and they rise to the zenith of their powers. Their mind is absolutely focused and leaves no room for doubt.

How do we get in the zone for work? As we face a major project, how can we be in our best frame of mind when it matters? What can we do to bolster personal motivation? How can we foster a positive attitude?

Legendary motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once remarked: “Motivation is like bathing, it needs to be done on a daily basis otherwise we begin to smell.” If we are not constantly checking and developing our attitudes we can easily develop a case of “stinking thinking”, he says.

Everyday we are bombarded with images and sounds, which on any given day, seep into our subconscious. Do they affect our behavior? Clearly the world’s big companies think so, as they spend billions of dollars on advertising campaigns. If the images we see affect our buying habits, wouldn’t it make sense to control the stimulus?

Research shows that images and sounds dramatically affect the rest of our day. I’ve switched on CNN in the morning and heard a Lou Dobbs tirade, which has stayed with me throughout the day and affected my attitude, relationships and productivity.

On the other side of the coin, when I tune into my favorite song early in the morning I bounce through the day, thinking: “Wow, I’m in such a great mood.”

If we are what we eat, then we are what we see and hear.

James Allen's timeless classic, As A Man Thinketh proposes that people have the power to change their lives by changing the way they think.
“The most powerful Law of the Universe is the law of attraction,” he writes.
“When you're focused on thinking about what you want, you're attracting to yourself what you want. Success and happiness therefore depends first and foremost on what you're thinking. If you are to be successful, you must manage your thoughts.”
Directing our thinking and monitoring what we see and hear can alter our attitudes. We can tap into those who inspire. Reading stories or watching films about feats of remarkable human endeavor can alter our attitudes, relationships and performance.

Between a rock and a hard place, (Atria Books, 2004) is a good example. Aron Ralston was an American mountain climber who was trapped under a rock and was forced to amputate his lower right arm with a pocketknife. If he did not, he would have certainly perished in the wilderness. After reading his brave account, I thought: “If he could endure such pain, then what do I have to complain about?”

I embraced Ralston’s inspirational story and its power motivated me. This power flowed into every aspect of my life, including my work, and helped me focus. These positive messages always put me in the zone.

Our world is full of amazing human achievement and by tapping into these great experiences and renewing our minds each day, our workplaces, and the world at large, become better places to be.

What methods do you use to stay focused?

What suggestions do you have for others to stay motivated?