In a world full of Debbie Downers and the Poor Little Ole Me Crowd, strive for the Positive Powerhouse you were created to be.

Introducing the “Positive Powerhouse” – individuals who radiate optimism, embrace challenges, and inspire others with their unwavering positivity. These vibrant souls light up every room they enter, infusing life with energy, enthusiasm, and a can-do attitude.

They see obstacles as opportunities and setbacks as stepping stones towards growth. With a perpetual smile and an uplifting spirit, they spread infectious joy, turning mundane moments into memorable experiences. Their zest for life is contagious, sparking a chain reaction of positivity that transforms not only their own lives but also those around them.

In the face of adversity, a “Positive Powerhouse” remains undeterred, transforming setbacks into stories of triumph. They tackle challenges head-on, armed with an unshakable belief that they can overcome anything. Through their perseverance, they prove that a positive mindset can turn dreams into reality.

The “Positive Powerhouse” doesn’t merely avoid negativity; they actively cultivate positivity. They understand that every thought, action, and word carries the power to shape reality. With unwavering determination, they choose to see the silver lining, finding beauty even in the midst of chaos.

Their optimism isn’t blind; it’s a conscious choice. They acknowledge the existence of hardships but refuse to let them define their outlook. They choose to uplift, inspire, and create a ripple effect of positivity wherever they go.

In a world sometimes clouded by pessimism, the “Positive Powerhouse” stands as a beacon of hope. They remind us that each day is a canvas waiting for strokes of positivity, and each setback is a chance to rewrite the narrative. So let’s embrace their spirit, amplify their energy, and become architects of a brighter world, one positive thought at a time.

Stay positive and keep spreading good vibes!

The other day I was reading a very interesting article concerning a shark attack that occurred way back in 1916. It played off along the North East coast of the U.S. and concerned a great white shark that had been terrorizing the New Jersey beaches.

Now everybody knows and accepts that a shark is a creature of the sea and needs salty water to survive. Therefore nobody thought that a shark may attack them in freshwater, but that is exactly what happened later that year.

This particular shark remained close to the shore and eventually swam up a river stream around Raritan Bay, attacking a couple of bathers upstream.

Shortly before the attacks occurred, a retired Sea captain, by the name of Thomas Cottrell saw this shark swimming upstream while crossing a bridge. He couldn’t believe his eyes, but nevertheless got into his boat and raised the alarm. Not surprisingly nobody believed him. “A shark in a river? C’mon, get real, It’s not possible.”

But you know what? As incredible as it seemed there was a shark in the river and all those who didn’t heed the warnings were in danger of being attacked.

Eventually this shark killed two people. The first victim was a teenager who may or may not have heard Cottrell’s warning. Shortly after this attack another man jumped in the water to look for the victim, even though he was told there is a shark in the water. He too was attacked and died from a severe loss of blood.

While reading this I couldn’t help thinking about September 11 and see the parallels between these two stories.

When asked by the U.S. Congress and the media, why “clues” which should have been picked up were disregarded, the heads of the FBI and CIA as well as members of the Bush administration replied, “We didn’t think they would use airplanes as missiles.”

Had the FBI and CIA believed that something like what happened on 9/11 was possible they might have put measures into place which would likely have prevented this from happening. But they didn’t, even though the hijackers left dozens of “clues.”

Similarly if the swimmers at the US East Coast had believed Captain Cottrell when he told them there was a shark in the river, chances are that nobody would have been killed by this shark on that day.

But because they believed it is “impossible” for a shark to be found in freshwater they disregarded the warning altogether, just as the US law enforcement agencies did, resulting in many paying with their lives.

On the other hand there are human beings who overcame extraordinary odds and accomplished great feats. Every day we hear stories of people who were told by the so-called “experts” they didn’t have what it took, yet made it regardless.

The lesson here is that anything is possible, both the good and the bad. By believing or not believing in something doesn’t mean you will not be affected by whatever happens. But it means that based on what you believe, you may take some action which may save you from something terrible or may get you out of a terrible situation.

There are many of us who are in terrible situations, including poverty, unhappiness, debt, etc. Those of us who have changed their situation, did it because they believed they could make it.

Those who don’t obviously don’t believe that they can change their situation otherwise they would have done something about it, right?

How many opportunities have you missed just because you thought it wouldn’t work or wasn’t possible. Just think what you could do if you believed that you could do anything, even realize your dreams?

What great talent do you have which you have done nothing about, because you probably believed you can’t do it.

I hope to have shown you through this short article that anything is possible. And that by just believing, “I Can,” your battle is already half-won.

Preparing for life’s work out!

As I pulled into the gym parking lot this morning I noticed a young dude running in place and stretching. He continued to do this while I was gathering my gear to go inside. We both went into the gym and I stowed my gear and jumped on the treadmill to get a 25 -30 minute warm-up and some cardio.

As I started to walk I looked up at the big windows in front of me and noticed the reflection of a guy behind me…..it was the same dude I noticed in the parking lot earlier.  He was still warming up! He paced back and forth waving his arms, rolling his neck back and forth. Then he went over and got a smoothie and started to drink that while he continued his warm ups.

He looked as if he dreaded the real work out so much he was happy to just spend time preparing to work out. He prepared for his work out during the full 25 minutes I was on the treadmill and was still working on that smoothie as I left for work.

Preparing For Life!

Isn’t this a great metaphor for life? Look around at the people that wait for the right time to make a move in life. They say…when the kids are out of school I’m going to, when the economy is better I will, when I get the right information I plan to…….and the list goes on.

Most people are just afraid of the risk they may have to take. It’s the risk of looking bad or the risk of failing in the process.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.” ~ Helen Keller

Life is about living and living is about risk. Remember how the world looked to us as kids? We had that feeling of wonder and amazement, ready to learn and be fascinated at every turn of the imagination. What happened? We got older and the world got more and more boring to most of us as we go through the same steps day after day.

I have one thing I’ve learned that I think is the most important for your success in life. This one thing will help you if you’re in the office or on the street. You can use this in any area of your everyday life. What is it? It’s the ability to take action! In the martial arts you can have the best skills and be in the best physical shape, but if you don’t take action it means nothing. If you’re in the ring to fight or on the street to defend yourself you must take action or be hit.

Ed Parker, the Father of American Kenpo Karate once said, “He who hesitates, meditates in a horizontal position.” You must move!

The same is true in your personal life too. Most people talk a good game about all the dreams and plans they intend but never go into action. These are the very people that will point out your failures and mistakes. They never worry about failure because they never attempt to do much in life.

 “A life without action is a life without purpose.”  You don’t need all the answers to get started!

Don’t let life pass you by while you’re preparing to live! Start today….start now!

How To Be Your Own Superhero

Ask anyone that has seen movies with a “superhero,” and you will tend to collectively hear that superheroes are tough and resilient to all things that are bad. They take on many villains in their travels and still come out winning.

We may even wish that we had their strength, especially mentally. The reality is resilience is already in you. Though we find it easier to access as children, we often forget that inner strength just needs to be dusted off.

Learning to be resilient can serve to make you stronger; with any difficulty you face, you can gain new abilities and new ways of coping with life. Knowing that you are resilient will help you grow the courage to live your life to the fullest without fear.

 Flexibility and adaptability come together with durability. The more possibilities you envisage, particularly in challenging times and difficulties, the more you encourage yourself to transcend and grow as an individual.

• Accept change – Would we really be internally happy if things never changed? That what we learn in our childhood would always be there. While there have been times of sorrow and satisfaction, each of those “stories” have made us who we are as adults.

In many cases, we can conquer what is trying to hinder us or to thwart us by one way or another. It would not be any different if we were to believe that we have the potential to be strong and that these challenges would be faced with resolve and trust.

• Not giving in to stressful thoughts – Not only can we think about bad feelings that make us worried and nervous, but we dread the negative outcome. Natural human reaction is “fight or flight” in any given scenario where the outcome is uncertain.

“What if I mess up?” “What if they do not like me?” What if. It is necessary for us to take chances to grow. By growing your resilience to negative mindfulness, the more hopeful your days become.

Medium.com reported that, “Positive thinkers make the best out of most situations, focusing on what they can control, letting go what they cannot, and search for ways to improve the situation and lessons to learn.”

• Promise yourself daily goals be met – Set realistic goals that you can reach daily, perhaps things that you can quickly achieve in the short term. This may look like organizing your closet or as simple as calling a friend.

By constantly putting off projects and tasks, the mind finds it ever harder to finally catch up, sometimes leading to depression or anxiety. If alarms are necessary, set them. If visual cues work better, try writing down your daily tasks on Post-It notes.

Place them near places you know you will see, such as besides the front door. As the Chinese proverb has written, “I hear and I forget; I see, and I remember.”

• Start today – This applies almost as much to the expectations you give yourself as to taking decisive steps to deal with problems that you wish were not there. Dealing with challenges and concerns head on helps you know that you are in charge and in control of perhaps the most difficult situation, regardless of the outcome.

By taking steps, you know that you will do anything to alleviate the problem. Being wiser allows you to achieve even the smallest task, and ultimately, each of these minor tasks adds up to accomplishing a much greater outcome.

Final Words

Take care of yourself. If you are tired, nervous, or anxious, the propensity to ignore yourself may easily be the case. In the opposite, it is important that you strive to take the best care of yourself and your own well-being. Care for your body and mind.

Remember they keep you strong and more able to deal with tough times and difficulties.

Everything that benefits you should be practiced often. Taking the time to do things to help and feed your body and your mind will certainly bring you better resilience.

As Nelson Mandala eloquently summed it up, “Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

Why Self-Confidence Matters

It often seems that confidence is elusive, like a smoky mirage. Sometimes, it feels magical and wonderful; other times it can be frustrating.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret: you can build up your self-confidence without having to resort to any crystal. ‘How?’ you ask.

It’s simple.

Start by recognizing that confidence is a skill you can learn. You set a goal and take small steps each day to work towards it.

Keep reading to find out more about self-confidence and why it matters.

What Is Self-Confidence?

Self-confidence isn’t tangible. You can’t touch it and say, “This is confidence.”

It’s something we get a feeling for when we, or others, have it.

Likewise, we can recognize when someone lacks it. Even when they try to attempt to compensate for it, we sense it and feel bad for them.

The good news is that self-confidence is a soft skill, which means you can learn it and apply it to your daily life. It’s not fixed, like your height for example. It’s mainly based on your mindset and the actions you do to follow through.

You can boost your confidence and self-esteem by trusting your abilities. Seeing yourself succeed in your mind is the first step in making better decisions. Then, when your decisions make your life better, your confidence gets a nice little boost. And round and round it goes.

Bear in mind that confidence is infectious. Even though we can’t see it, we still sense other people’s confidence levels in the way they behave and speak.

When someone is confident, they exude excitement and energy. You’re motivated to work hard and feel that same energy.

The downside is it goes both ways. When one person lacks confidence, it can deflate everyone around them. They just get the sense that there’s no point in trying.

Why Does Self-Confidence Matter?

There are different reasons why being confident can improve your life. Below, you’ll find a few examples of how it can make you a happier, more fulfilled individual.

Allows You to Take Positive Risks

We all need confidence to bring balance and a sense of direction in our lives. Making a conscious decision to develop your confidence will allow you to take positive risks. It gets you out of your comfort zone and puts you on the path to success.

The trick is understanding your own strength. You have to believe that you can master whatever skill you’re striving towards. Yes, it’ll be weird and difficult in the beginning. Yes, you’ll make mistakes along the way. So what?

That’s what life is about. This is what boosts your self-esteem and makes you better at everything you do.

Empowers You to Embrace Your Failures

We all make mistakes. We all fail and meet obstacles in our lives.

The key is to understand that failures are a necessary part of progress. Read that again and really take it in.

Often, we feel that when we fail, it’s the end of the journey. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

To fully embrace your failures, you have to think of them as detours. When you’re forced to change lanes or take a detour that doesn’t mean the entire journey is over. It just means you’re taking a different path, but you’ll get there eventually.

Now, why do some people succeed after failing and others don’t? Those who manage to learn from their mistakes. They go over what went wrong and find a way to fix it.

In other words, they use their failures to their advantage. They use them to prop them up and give them the push they need to keep going on their path.

Let’s take a second to think about Thomas Edison and Michael Jordan. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of these two names? Success? Fame? Glory? All of the above?

How about failure? You’re probably saying to yourself, ‘These are two of the most prominent members of society. They haven’t failed.’

Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but they have—many times, in fact. Yet, they’re smart enough to use their failures as stepping stones to aim higher and work harder. Imagine our much our lives would have been impacted if these two men had given up every time they failed!

One of Edison’s quotes about refining the light bulb is, “I haven’t failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Enables You To Trust Yourself

Many times, we can be our own worst enemies. We critique every move, every word, and every thought over and over again.

In moderation, it can be a great incentive to do better. Although, this only works if we treat ourselves with the same kindness and empathy, we show others. Sadly, it doesn’t happen very often.

The best way to break out of that negative self-talk is to have faith in yourself. Have faith in your decisions. Even if you made mistakes in the past, that doesn’t necessitate future failures.

Own up to your bad decision, embrace it, and move on. That’s now part of your DNA; it’s helping shape a stronger, more resilient person.

Imagine it being part of your arsenal or a superpower. Now, you’ve turned your mistake into something that can make you more resilient and less anxious.

A Final Note

Self-confidence is an integral part of who you are. Understanding why it matters can mean the difference being happy and being miserable.

Having that self-assurance can help boost your relationships and career. You’ll also be able to inspire others to become happier, more fulfilled individuals.

Why Self-Confidence Matters

It often seems that confidence is elusive, like a smoky mirage. Sometimes, it feels magical and wonderful; other times it can be frustrating.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret: you can build up your self-confidence without having to resort to any crystal. ‘How?’ you ask.

It’s simple.

Start by recognizing that confidence is a skill you can learn. You set a goal and take small steps each day to work towards it.

Keep reading to find out more about self-confidence and why it matters.

What Is Self-Confidence?

Self-confidence isn’t tangible. You can’t touch it and say, “This is confidence.”

It’s something we get a feeling for when we, or others, have it.

Likewise, we can recognize when someone lacks it. Even when they try to attempt to compensate for it, we sense it and feel bad for them.

The good news is that self-confidence is a soft skill, which means you can learn it and apply it to your daily life. It’s not fixed, like your height for example. It’s mainly based on your mindset and the actions you do to follow through.

You can boost your confidence and self-esteem by trusting your abilities. Seeing yourself succeed in your mind is the first step in making better decisions. Then, when your decisions make your life better, your confidence gets a nice little boost. And round and round it goes.

Bear in mind that confidence is infectious. Even though we can’t see it, we still sense other people’s confidence levels in the way they behave and speak.

When someone is confident, they exude excitement and energy. You’re motivated to work hard and feel that same energy.

The downside is it goes both ways. When one person lacks confidence, it can deflate everyone around them. They just get the sense that there’s no point in trying.

Why Does Self-Confidence Matter?

There are different reasons why being confident can improve your life. Below, you’ll find a few examples of how it can make you a happier, more fulfilled individual.

Allows You to Take Positive Risks

We all need confidence to bring balance and a sense of direction in our lives. Making a conscious decision to develop your confidence will allow you to take positive risks. It gets you out of your comfort zone and puts you on the path to success.

The trick is understanding your own strength. You have to believe that you can master whatever skill you’re striving towards. Yes, it’ll be weird and difficult in the beginning. Yes, you’ll make mistakes along the way. So what?

That’s what life is about. This is what boosts your self-esteem and makes you better at everything you do.

Empowers You to Embrace Your Failures

We all make mistakes. We all fail and meet obstacles in our lives.

The key is to understand that failures are a necessary part of progress. Read that again and really take it in.

Often, we feel that when we fail, it’s the end of the journey. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

To fully embrace your failures, you have to think of them as detours. When you’re forced to change lanes or take a detour that doesn’t mean the entire journey is over. It just means you’re taking a different path, but you’ll get there eventually.

Now, why do some people succeed after failing and others don’t? Those who manage to learn from their mistakes. They go over what went wrong and find a way to fix it.

In other words, they use their failures to their advantage. They use them to prop them up and give them the push they need to keep going on their path.

Let’s take a second to think about Thomas Edison and Michael Jordan. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of these two names? Success? Fame? Glory? All of the above?

How about failure? You’re probably saying to yourself, ‘These are two of the most prominent members of society. They haven’t failed.’

Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but they have—many times, in fact. Yet, they’re smart enough to use their failures as stepping stones to aim higher and work harder. Imagine our much our lives would have been impacted if these two men had given up every time they failed!

One of Edison’s quotes about refining the light bulb is, “I haven’t failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Enables You To Trust Yourself

Many times, we can be our own worst enemies. We critique every move, every word, and every thought over and over again.

In moderation, it can be a great incentive to do better. Although, this only works if we treat ourselves with the same kindness and empathy, we show others. Sadly, it doesn’t happen very often.

The best way to break out of that negative self-talk is to have faith in yourself. Have faith in your decisions. Even if you made mistakes in the past, that doesn’t necessitate future failures.

Own up to your bad decision, embrace it, and move on. That’s now part of your DNA; it’s helping shape a stronger, more resilient person.

Imagine it being part of your arsenal or a superpower. Now, you’ve turned your mistake into something that can make you more resilient and less anxious.

A Final Note

Self-confidence is an integral part of who you are. Understanding why it matters can mean the difference being happy and being miserable.

Having that self-assurance can help boost your relationships and career. You’ll also be able to inspire others to become happier, more fulfilled individuals.

Ed Parker, the Father of American Kenpo Karate once said, “He who hesitates, meditates in a horizontal position.” You must move!

The same is true in your personal life too. Most people talk a good game about all the dreams and plans they intend but never go into action. These are the very people that will point out your failures and mistakes. They never worry about failure because they never attempt to do much in life.

A man is shaped by the men he respects!

Mature, calm, and collected

Self-confident and aware of who he is

A Protector

A Provider

Not afraid to show vulnerability

Shows assertiveness

Be bold; trust yourself

Balance your life

Commit to your word

Seek knowledge

Has a vision to lead

A great sense of humor

He has a purpose