Cathy Liska Positiveness means maintaining a state of positive expectations about people and situations, including a positive state of energy in your thoughts and emotional patterns. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s book, The Power of Positive Thinking, was published over 40 years ago and it continues to sell well because it contains such a universal truth: the attitudes we hold help to shape the reality we experience. During coaching certification, coaches learn about the impact of being positive.
Having a positive attitude isn’t something you just tack on to your old personality. That positiveness isn’t external like a new suit. It comes from deep within you. It has to or it would get wiped out with the first sign of a countervailing negative force.
The first aspect of positiveness is built on having your own positive life philosophy, on knowing what strengths you have, and on surrounding yourself with other sources of positiveness.
Many of us haven’t taken the time to consider what our own life philosophy is. If you haven’t, it doesn’t mean you don’t have one. You’re just operating from it unconsciously. By life philosophy, I mean, in simple terms, something like: I know I’m here to live up to my potential, make a contribution to society, and have a good time. Someone else might say: I’m here to serve God through being of service to my fellow human beings. Another philosophy might be: I’m here to show others that despite physical handicaps, you can lead a productive life and enjoy what you have.
Your personal philosophy can contain a vision such as: I’m here to save the planet from environmental destruction. Or, I’m a valuable member of a company that’s improving the way human beings communicate with one another. Your philosophy acknowledges who you are and what your purpose is for being alive. A truly positive philosophy, one that’s motivating, encompasses more than just you. Again, if you haven’t formulated one, your unconscious personal philosophy might sound something like: “I’m here to make it through the day, day after day, until I die.” Or, “I’m here to grab as much as I can of material possessions and thrills, because you only live once.” Having a well-articulated personal philosophy gives you a sense of purpose and it can help you get through rough times as well.
Working with a certified professional coach is an opportunity to intentionally define and live your life philosophy.
Come back for the second and third aspects of positiveness in the next blog.
Dr. Tony Alessandra has a street-wise, college-smart perspective on business, having been raised in the housing projects of NYC to eventually realizing success as a graduate professor of marketing, internet entrepreneur, business author, and hall-of-fame keynote speaker. He earned a BBA from Notre Dame, an MBA from the Univ. of Connecticut and his Ph.D. in marketing from Georgia State University (1976). Known as “Dr. Tony” he’s authored 30+ books and 100+ audio/video programs. He was inducted into the NSA Speakers Hall of Fame (1985) and Top Sales World’s Hall of Fame (2010). Meetings & Conventions Magazine has called him “one of America’s most electrifying speakers”.
Dr. Tony is also the Founder/Chairman of Assessments 24×7. Assessments 24×7 is a global leader of online DISC assessments, delivered from easy-to-use online accounts popular with business coaches and Fortune 500 trainers around the world. This is the assessment dashboard provided to all CCC coach training graduates.
