ATTITUDE

There is no secret formula for developing a positive outlook. You simply have to be aware that such an attitude is desirable (that's positive in itself), and go after it with determination. Learn to recognize negative thoughts and feelings so you can replace them with the positive. While this may sound glib and over-simplified, it is the easiest and most successful way of developing optimism. Because a positive frame of mind is so much more powerful than a negative one; negative thoughts and emotions cannot long survive a positive effort to change them.

The Calm Technique is a great vehicle to instil positivity in your day. Begin your day as early as you possibly can with fifteen to thirty minutes of the Calm Technique. On completion, sit in that relaxed state for a few minutes and tell yourself how you're going to vibrate with positive energy all through the day. Picture yourself going through the day with a smile and boundless enthusiasm. Picture yourself looking only for the good in people you come in contact with. You will be amazed at how great an effect these couple of minutes can have on your day.

It may sound obvious, but as well as having the correct attitude, you need to maintain some sort of interest in your life. That means you need to be interested in your occupation as well as your leisure. You might think it easier for thosr in the glamour professions to maintain interest in their work than it is for the labourer, or the housewife, or the unemployed. It may well be. Nevertheless, you owe it to yourself to be interested in what you do. If you have the most boring task in the whole world to perform, then be interested in the way you perform it. So, while the task may be boring, your performance can be interesting, especially if each thing you do, you do completely. You concentrate only on the task at hand, and let nothing distract you.

As far as your leisure time is concerned. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you how to maintain interest and variety there.

Finally, laugh more. Laughter is unequalled as a therapeutic act. It relaxes all muscles, tensions and anger. Learn to see the funny side of life and your problems will vanish accordingly. Recognize the humorous side of your own personality and actions and you cannot be self-centred (bear in mind that 'self-centred' is completely different from 'centering, to come in contact with self'). Laugh more and you'll stop taking yourself and your life so seriously.

The Calm Technique will have a positivw effect on your attitude. The Calm Principle can add interest to your daily routine. Work on your attitude; laugh more; be interested in what you do; maintain a moderate diet and a sensible exercise programme; use the Calm Technique every day and you will get everything you want out of life: peace, health and happiness. No other way can ever compare. 

-- This excerpt was taken from The Calm Technique by Paul Wilson