As I discuss in my book, LIES That Limit, personal beliefs – what we think and say is possible and probable – shape and define our daily lives.  You have the power to talk yourself into a good life, or you can focus on conversations or self talk that take away your energy and optimism.  It all comes down to making conscious choices about how you want to engage and experience life.

If you want to limit your sense of optimism, hope, inner peace, drain your energy and zest for life, focus on your problems.  See what’s wrong.  Talk about what’s lacking.  Succumb to whining and complaining.  If you want to break through barriers, expand your options, and move forward with enthusiasm, confidence, even joy, you’ll need to shift your focus.

Intentionally put your energy into looking for what’s working well.  Thinking about all the evidence of success that surrounds you, shift your conversation to discussion of the best you can imagine. Need a helpful tool?  Follow Today Show’s Hoda Kotb’s example by using the 5 things she does every day to nurture her happiness.  Among them is, each day, write down three things you’re grateful for, or consciously recall something great that happened to you.  These two actions will help you train your brain to focus on the positives – even at work.   An added benefit to including meditation to the mix is that it has brain-healing benefits that reduce anxiety, stress and lessen your reaction to sensations that induce fear.

Consciously choose to give your attention to what you appreciate and value.  You’ll place yourself on the fast track to creating more of what’s good, right, desirable.

Make choosing to be happy a daily goal.  Complain less.  Appreciate more.  Focus on your positive possibilities.