“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” ― Dale Carnegie
I love choosing questions from Quora to answer. I chose this question about how to develop a positive attitude towards reading, but you can apply this principle to just about any thing we do, so feel free to check out my answer below.
How can I develop a positive attitude towards reading?-Quora
I did not invest in reading books until I reached my forties. I never had a real desire to pick up a book until I was going through a difficult period in my life. I wanted answers and so I turned to books for answers, answers that my friends could not help me with.
I think when you take time out to examine why you do anything is the key to determining how you feel about doing it in the first place. So many times, we just jump in and start doing things without examining the “why” behind it.
- Are you doing it because it is popular?
- Are you doing it to fit in?
- Are you doing it because someone else told you that you should?
- Are you doing it because you want to learn something, and you feel drawn to do it?
The intention behind the activity will help you either stay motivated to continue or eventually cause you to fizzle out.
Here are some suggestions I would like to offer:
- Before diving into anything, take a moment to think about why you are about do it in the first place. Be honest with yourself and if you need to, write it out. What do you hope to gain?
- If it is something you must put money into it, place a cushion between the thought and the action. That helps to reduce impulsive actions.
- Regarding reading, you can look for free resources before committing to any kind of subscription or purchasing books that you might not even want to read after you buy them. This reduces the emotional energy and guilt that comes with buyer’s remorse.
- Connect with other readers and create or join a book club. It’s always more fun when others get involved.
- Don’t feel like you must stick with one genre. Lessons can be found anywhere when you are looking for them.
Whether you are looking to create a reading habit, workout regiment, or jump into a new career, take a moment to examine your intentions behind the action. By taking a moment to understand the driving force behind our desires, we are also preparing ourselves for the obstacles and the resistance that will inevitably come with that change.
In all that you do, the key to achieving your desired goal is your mental attitude towards obtaining that goal. With a positive mental attitude, you will become unstoppable!
I also would love to learn more about who you are and what you do. Feel free to connect with me through a Meetup group.
- Confident Strides Women’s Empowerment Network https://bit.ly/CSWENMeetup
- Confident Strides Personal Development Network Group https://bit.ly/CSPDNMeetup
- Confident Strides Women’s Professional Network https://bit.ly/CSWPNMeetup
Quote Source: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/attitude
To connect with me: https:///confidentstrides
We can be our own worst critics or we can be our own biggest supporter. It comes down to your self-talk. When I started writing, I would find myself saying “I don’t write like any other blogger” so for the longest time, I was afraid to share my writings. I was comparing myself to others. What I come to realize is that it’s not what others think that can make or break us but what we say about yourself to ourselves. Only you can be you!
A few years ago I used to manage social media accounts for a few Hollywood clients. I had an amazing time traveling back and forth to California to work the red carpet events. It wasn’t until one evening at an event that I had a thought : Why am I so focused on following behind people who are busy following their dreams? That’s when I decided to stop working for other people and start focusing on me. I closed down my social media business and took time out to work on and discover the true me. I must admit, it has been by far one of the best yet hardest jobs I ever done. Working on yourself may not make you rich but it does have the greatest return on investment.
I had two lovebirds for almost 13 years until one bird died last year. The one remaining bird sits in the cage and sings when he hears the outside birds when the windows and the doors are open. The cage is the only thing he has ever known. I share this because the other day on my walk, I passed an injured bird that looked like it was gasping it’s last breathe. Despite the dangers and the uncertainties that life offers there is a sense of freedom that life offers when we choose to fly. Some of us are living life safe and sound in a cage like the lovebird. If the cage door was opened, would you be willing to leave it?
For years I stuck to the axiom of “fake it till you make it”, but unless you know what you like and what brings true meaning to your life, you could end up faking it forever. Choose to take time out and discover the true authentic person you are within. Be willing to let go of the old thoughts, ideas and beliefs that have been passed on to you by others. When you discover your true self, you will no longer desire to be a cubic zirconia because know you ARE a natural diamond.
“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” ― 
Everyday we have to choice to focus on the positive or dwell on the negative. To everything there are two sides. The switch from negative to positive outlook is not easy but it is possible and it begins with your self-talk. Start here and fill in the blank…What’s the __ thing that can happen today? If your answered with BEST, congratulations!
Self-confidence is an attractive vibe. There is something about a person who enter a room and their confidence radiates. To me self-confidence means your are not afraid to share your vision with the world or needing the approval of others to be who your are. So many of us are afraid of letting our light shine. The beauty of being human is, we all have the capability to develop this kind of self-confidence that others stop and take notice of. Don’t try and change the world until you are ready to change yourself and let your light shine bright!
Everyone has a story but not everyone is willing to share their story, and that’s the sad part. Everyone can learn something from the experiences we are willing to share. There are lessons learned and insights that help paint a bigger picture of this big beautiful thing called life. Your story just may be the piece to someone else’s puzzle.
Each morning make it a priority to make time for yourself. This helps to set your intention for the day. You can do this with morning prayer, meditation or quiet time; reciting affirmations or doing a mirror exercise. The method in what you choose isn’t the point but rather the dedication to the ritual. Think of it like this, you are a car with only one day’s supply of gas. As you go through the day, the gas you have is being used to deal the people and situations. By the end of the day, you are empty. Getting a full night sleep is when you are being refueled for the next day. We all know that you can’t get very far on an empty tank.
Sweet N Social 
