"For good or ill, your conversation is your advertisement. Every time you open your mouth you let men look into your mind. Do they see it well clothed, neat, businesswise?" Bruce Burton
Searching for a quote on relationships, I came upon this one by Burton. I struck a chord with me. Probably one of my weakest character traits; my tongue. I also thought the connection between "relationship" quotes and this "businesswise" quote was interesting. I am a walking billboard. Every word is either for good or for ill in regards to my personal relationships or professional ones.
Training my mind to restrain my words has been a life long process. Reading inspirational and motivational books has given me new words. Finding like minded positive people has given me models to follow. The change starts with you. Start by restraining your tongue. Discipline your words. Automatically you are talking less and listening more. Most people find a good listener is very "well clothed, neat, and businesswise".
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
What are you Feeding your Brain?
Do you have chores that you dislike? Any chores you do quickly, even mindlessly, or some chores that you actually enjoy? I think cooking falls into my category of dislike. Like most chores, it is a regular occurring function that requires cooking time, preparation time, and shopping skills to be completed. It is almost annoying that we need to eat regularly and that a onetime dose doesn’t suffice.
I have realized that to create the habit of positive thinking also requires regular “feeding” times as well. A one time convention of the latest motivation speaker may last a few days before our old habits force their way into our thinking. A positive thinking book may last a day giving us a fresh point of view to our problems, but old ways creep back into place. This is why I believe that if you want long lasting changes in your thinking and decision making habits then you have to feed yourself regularly. Daily at the least. Multiple times a day to break negative thinking quicker.
I am discovering more about myself by reading Norman Vincent Peale books. I have started one today that was published in 1984. Just reading a chapter a day gives me plenty on which to reflect. I enjoy all his anecdotes since he had personally met so many people and helped thousands more. He even gives “recipes” to help me learn how to feed myself. Last week I worked on fear and this week I am learning how scattered thinking is keeping me from producing the results I want.
Regularly feeding your mind nutritious “food” may seem like a chore. But just as some of the chores you do routinely out of habit, learning positive thinking skills will become something you do as naturally as eating.
I have realized that to create the habit of positive thinking also requires regular “feeding” times as well. A one time convention of the latest motivation speaker may last a few days before our old habits force their way into our thinking. A positive thinking book may last a day giving us a fresh point of view to our problems, but old ways creep back into place. This is why I believe that if you want long lasting changes in your thinking and decision making habits then you have to feed yourself regularly. Daily at the least. Multiple times a day to break negative thinking quicker.
I am discovering more about myself by reading Norman Vincent Peale books. I have started one today that was published in 1984. Just reading a chapter a day gives me plenty on which to reflect. I enjoy all his anecdotes since he had personally met so many people and helped thousands more. He even gives “recipes” to help me learn how to feed myself. Last week I worked on fear and this week I am learning how scattered thinking is keeping me from producing the results I want.
Regularly feeding your mind nutritious “food” may seem like a chore. But just as some of the chores you do routinely out of habit, learning positive thinking skills will become something you do as naturally as eating.
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