Feeling Good - Make the Choice

Humans are decision making animals. From the moment you wake up until the moment you fall asleep you make choices. What to wear, what to eat, to floss or not you are making decisions, consciously and unconsciously, all the time. However, people suffering with negative thoughts, feelings of low self worth and a negative Attitude believe they have no choice in how they ultimately feel about themselves. This is just not so! How you feel about yourself is a direct reflection of what you choose to think and the actions you take throughout each day. If you choose to think about something upsetting like war, famine, people losing their homes or your personal disappointments you will feel bad. If on the other hand, you consciously focus your attention on the wonders of life - including the beauty of nature, loving friends, a majestic sunset and the gratitude you for the many gifts of life your Attitude will be embraced by feelings of joy, love and contentment. Negative feelings come from negative thoughts. You can look at the present moment and view it with distaste, resistance and dissatisfaction or accept it as is. You can use it as a gateway to make a different choice. By thinking and doing something different, you give your brain a message that says, I am person who chooses to be happy. I take control of my Attitude, thoughts, and actions. There are many ways to make this choice. An easy way to start is by creating a "Pleasure List”. Write a list of things you enjoy doing. Things that give you pleasure. Write the list now so that you can refer to it when you need to transform your Attitude from unhappy to happy. For example I like to. . . • Walk on the beach • Spend time with my dog • Watch TV • Read a great novel • Go to the gym • Talk on the phone with a friend • Listen to music • Take a bubble bath Next time you feel bad, take out your list and do something on it and then notice how you feel. (For the expanded Pleasure List Exercise and Worksheet go to: http://www.self-esteem-experts.com/self-esteem-activities-pleasurelist.html) I have used this powerful, yet simple, exercise many times to change the way I feel. It has made a profound difference in my life and the lives of our clients. For a list of Self-Esteem exercises check out http://www.self-esteem-experts.com/self-esteem-activities.html.