Saturday, January 8, 2011

Did You Know .... Low Self Esteem and Materialism is Connected?

By Dr Robert Anthony

Researchers have found that there is not just a correlation between low self-esteem and materialism, but also a causal relationship where low self-esteem INCREASES materialism and materialism can CREATE low self-esteem. They also found that as an individual's self-esteem increases, their interest in materialism decreases. In a study primarily focused on how this relationship effects children and adolescents, Lan Nguyen Chaplin (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and Deborah Roedder John (University of Minnesota) found that even a simple gesture to raise self-esteem dramatically decreased materialism.

"By the time children reach early adolescence and experience a decline in self-esteem, the stage is set for the use of material possessions as a coping strategy for feelings of low self-worth". The paradox that findings such as these bring up, is that consumerism is good for the economy in the short run, but bad for the individual in the long run, especially for young people.

Most of us want more income so we can consume more stuff. However, several separate studies show that as societies become richer, they do not become happier. Statistically people have more material possessions and money than they did fifty years ago, but they are actually less happy. In fact, the wealthiest countries have more depression, alcoholism and more crime than they did fifty years ago and yet we have more material goods to purchase than ever
before. This paradox is true of Britain, the United States, Australia, continental Europe and Japan.

The real reason people want whatever is currently "hot" or "in style" is because they believe it will contribute towards their satisfaction and happiness in life. The word "believe" is the key here. People believe that buying more and more things, especially name brand clothes and cars, will make them happy, when in fact research has shown time and time again that this simply isn't the case.

The point here is if you believe that when you get enough "stuff" you will be happy, you are setting yourself up to be very disappointed. So instead why not be happy NOW?  That's right! Cut out the middleman (all that stuff you think will make you happy when you get it) and just be happy NOW. A radical idea, wouldn't you say?

Today will bring you a new awareness, a lesson or a manifestation that you are making progress - IF YOU LOOK FOR IT!  No matter how large or small, please record it in your Evidence Journal. It will only take a few moments and will AUTOMATICALLY put you in the Flow.

Dr Robert Anthony's Self Confidence Creator

Books by Dr Robert Anthony:
The Ultimate Secrets of Total Self Confidence: Master the Simple Step-by-Step Principles and Change Your Life

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Be All You Can Be!

By Hannah du Plessis

Success has to do with attitude. I have never seen a destructive attitude producing a winning result, Have you?

What is attitude? It is your heart and mind set. What you believe. You either have a winning attitude, or a destructive (losing) attitude. A winning attitude produces a winning result. A destructive attitude produces a losing result. 

Which areas of your life are you successful in? Which areas need work? 

Check your attitude in both areas. Then consciously decide on a winning one. 

Don’t limit yourself with your attitude. Turn it around.

Be All you can be.

Repeat these affirmations to yourself throughout your day.
  • I have an awesome attitude.
  • I am determined to succeed.
  • I work hard and smart.
Books on Motivation:
100 Ways To Motivate Yourself: Change Your Life Forever

Simple Acts of Moving Forward: A Little Book About Getting Unstuck
 
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Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Attitude is Everything!

By Hannah du Plessis
If you want to be successful in life, there are three important areas you have to work on:

The Basics in your chosen field

People skills and 

Personal growth

When you focus on developing these three areas, success is inevitable. In the third area; Personal Growth, you will find that sooner or later you have to deal with the topic: Attitude. Just why is attitude so important for success? You just have to look at successful people to determine what they have in common. Yes, you guessed it: A positive attitude! Yet, there are many people who fail. Statistics tell us that 95% of new businesses fail in the first year.

Why is it so difficult to have a positive attitude? Here are possible reasons:

  • The society we live in is basically negative. Psychologists say that 96% of the average person’s conversations to himself are negative. For example: “I am stupid.”
  • As we grew up, we have been ridiculed by people we should trust, like our parents, teachers and friends. Examples: “You are not wearing that, are you?” “You look fat.” “Why don’t you act more like your brother/sister?”
  • We have been subject to unfair and unrealistic comparisons of experiences. Either one of your siblings experienced or achieved something and you were expected to do the same, or you saw a friend or colleague achieve something that you tried at and failed.
  • We confuse failure in life with failure in a project.
How do you fix your attitude?

  • Learn to say the right words
  • Read the right books
  • Listen to cd’s or tapes about the attitudes that need changing
  • Hang around positive people
  • Do the right things (going to a war movie is not the right thing)
Do the things that fix your attitude and it will change your beliefs. Beliefs are very powerful things. They control our behaviour. From our beliefs, we get our attitude. Our feelings come from our thoughts. If you want to change your behaviour, go back to your thoughts. Here it is again:

Your thoughts affect your feelings
Your feelings affect your attitudes
Your attitudes affect your beliefs
Your beliefs affect your behaviour

Attitudes that can help you:

  • Your attitude at the beginning of a task will affect the outcome more than anything else
  • Your attitude towards others determine their attitude towards you
  • You are where you are and what you are because of the dominating attitudes in your mind
  • Attitude is a choice
Which Attitude are you choosing today?

Get Motivated Today!

 Books on Attitude:


Attitude Is Everything: Change Your Attitude...and You Change Your Life! 


Attitude Is Everything for Success 


Attitude Is Everything (10 Rules for Staying Positive) 

Dr Robert Anthonys Advanced Formula For Total Success 

Beyond Positive Thinking: A No-Nonsense Formula for Getting the Results You Want