Still not convinced? Here are five findings that prove the power of positivity.

1. Optimism can lead to longevity. Several studies have confirmed that those with a positive attitude often live longer than their gloomier counterparts. A study performed at Wagening University in the Netherlands examined nearly a thousand men and women. The predicting factor of their longevity was their agreement with the statement – “I still have goals to strive for.” When subjects were tested nine years after the original survey, the death rates of the optimistic men were 63 percent lower than those who had not agreed with the optimistic statement. Women were 35 percent lower. Scientists believe that optimists who have more to live for often make more positive lifestyle choices that may help prolong their life.

2. Optimism can boost sales. A study of the sales personnel at Metropolitan Life Insurance were tested for optimism and success ratios. Those who scored the highest level of optimism sold a whopping 37 percent more life insurance than those who were identified as pessimists. Not too bad for your bottom line, right?

3. Optimism may improve your ability to do business in other ways. One of the most dreaded parts of running a business is collecting from delinquent customers or clients. But a 2000 study done on debt collectors in a large, competitive agency found that the most successful collectors in the agency were shown to have much higher scores in the areas of optimism, independence, and self-actualization. All great traits that can boost your success in business and in life.

4. Optimism nurtures healthy relationships. According to author and Harvard medical professor Dr. George E. Vaillant, our greatest source of resilience comes from our internal capacity for optimism. In his famous book The Wisdom of Ego, Vaillant writes that the healthiest, most resilient people possess “both the capacity to be bent without breaking and the capacity, once bent, to spring back.”

5. Optimism is contagious. A physician and social scientist at Harvard Medical School studied nearly five thousand people and their connections with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers over the course of twenty years. The outcome? According to the study, which was published in the British Medical Journal last year, our next-door neighbor’s joy increases the likelihood that we will also be happy by up to 34 percent. The study also found that our level of happiness impacts not only those in our immediate circle, but also people two and three degrees removed from us.

Optimism allows us to successfully navigate life’s greatest challenges. Remember, we have the power to be aware of our thoughts and to choose optimism every single day.

© 2009 Ali International, LLC

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Self-made multimillionaire entrepreneur and Inc. 500 CEO Ali Brown is devoted to creating financial freedom for women globally through the power of entrepreneurship. To learn how to create wealth and live an extraordinary life now, register for her free weekly articles at www.AliBrown.com

I began “forgetting” my homework and stopped studying for tests so I could fit in with the popular crowd. Then my Spanish teacher cornered me privately to ask why I was holding myself back. I burst into tears, but she made me realize that my actions were only hurting my future, not helping me become popular. That conversation still serves as a reminder to me that there’s nothing wrong with being true to yourself and letting your own light shine. In fact, that can lead you to even greater success.

Many smart, successful women once shared this same fear of being seen as conceited. Even Oprah Winfrey recalls a time in third grade when she earned praise from a teacher and the other students whispered, “she thinks she’s so smart.” Although Winfrey hated to be seen as full of herself, she has worked through those feelings because she understands the truth about hiding your light.

Too much humility can hurt your business.

I see many adults, especially women, still struggling to let their light shine (or not trying at all). One of my coaching clients, whom I’ll call Kristy, has a six-figure business, but she shared with me her desire to grow her business to even greater heights. Each session, we’d outline steps that would help her grow her business, and she’d agree to them. Then we’d meet again, and she’d admit that she hadn’t moved forward. Something was holding her back. As we dug deeper, we discovered that Kristy’s fear of being called too big for her britches or overly ambitious kept her business from taking off.

Only when I convinced her that achieving success and helping more people was her destiny did she agree to truly step it up and work toward her goals.

It’s time for you!

Every one of us is born with a gift to share with the world. Many people choose mediocrity, because that makes it easier to fit in at school and in the wider world. But mediocrity does not lead to success. If you’ve begun to feel restless or wonder if there might be something more out there, it’s not too late.

I’ve found that allowing myself to shine has come more from letting things go than from taking more things on. Ponder these questions: what doesn’t fit you anymore? Your current business? Job? Friends? Activities? Responsibilities? Hobbies? Clothes? Let go of what doesn’t feel like the true you, and soon you’ll find your true self emerging.

I now realize that my (and everyone’s) true purpose is to be filled with all of who I am. To truly shine brightly.

© 2009 Ali International, LLC
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This article courtesy of Ali International, LLC. Self-made multimillionaire entrepreneur and Inc. 500 CEO Ali Brown is devoted to creating financial freedom for women globally through the power of entrepreneurship. To learn how to create wealth and live an extraordinary life now, register for her free weekly articles at www.AliBrown.com

Today was such a morning.

It started with a wonderful leg workout – I’m in the midst of a Bodybuilding.com rotation from their Transformation series. It’s a “Women Over 40” workout, a four day per week weight routine with two days of upper body and two days of lower body. I’m finding that I really enjoy this particular rotation and, even better, am seeing some results! I also had a half hour training session with my personal trainer, Harry. Harry led me through some total body exercises and finished me off with some grueling ab work.

But, ah, I had promised Samantha a run, so, when I arrived home she and I set out to conquer the 2.5 mile nature trail nearby.

Sam’s pace is a good quicker than mine so I let her run on ahead. Gorgeous day. Autumn is just beginning to touch the air and the leaves and most of the mud from yesterday’s rain had dried up.

I started out at an even slower pace than usual and realized pretty quickly that this would not be a full 2.5 mile run for me – I was simply too wiped out from my earlier workout. So, when a couple appeared on the path with an adorable yellow lab mix, I had to stop to greet him. He had the gangly long legged look of a colt and the face of a puppy with oddly “old soul” eyes. The couple and I chatted a bit, about art and local museums, and when I set out on my way again I was refreshed and able to pick up the pace.

I finished up my run – alas not 2.5 miles but at least a respectable mile and a half – and stopped at the pond to watch a fellow feeding the ducks and geese. And there, right before my eyes, stood a glorious blue heron. I’ve never seen one so close up and he was a sight to see. The gentleman shared his bread with me and I fed the birds as well before heading on home – feeling wonderfully refreshed and grateful for the blessings of life.

I owe a debt of gratitude to a woman by the name of Bernadine Blakely, who introduced me to the enduring joy of fitness nearly 30 years ago.

Bernie was a senior level administrative assistant at the hospital where I worked as a secretary to the director of the communications department back in the late 70’s. Working at the hospital was an entirely new experience for someone who had worked in the political arena practically since birth, yet oddly not. Hospitals are so self-sustaining that they’re almost like working in a small city, with the accompanying office politics.

She was a petite good-looking blonde with crystal blue eyes and a compact figure. Bernie dressed with an elegant Jackie Kennedy style and had a serene countenance and graceful charm coupled with a wicked sense of humor that drew men and women alike to her.

Despite our ages difference – she was roughly twice my age and had a daughter my age – Bernie and I hit it off instantly, often getting together for lunch in the hospital cafeteria or to go out drinking after hours. When she suggested a run one evening near her home (we lived within a one mile radius of each other), I said sure.

Physical fitness hadn’t really played any role in my life. At twenty-two I was blessed with a naturally good figure, thanks to youth, good genes and a pack and a half a day cigarette habit. I came from a family so sedentary, I used to joke, that they were practically comatose.

And while Bernie wasn’t blessed with youth, she was as trim and firm as I imagine that she’d been at twenty.

And she’d had four kids!

I showed up in jeans and tennis shoes. She didn’t remark on my inappropriate attire and we set out to run her neighborhood.

Man! That woman could run!

But she was almost twice my age and I wasn’t going to drop out so I kept going. I ran a mile my first time out and I felt terrific.

I couldn’t believe how fantastic running made me feel. I was hooked and began buying running shoes and running clothes and a little walkman so I could have my music. I ran every morning when it was still dark outside. Cold or hot, rain and snow, for years I ran at least a mile every morning and usually a mile or two in the evening as well. And I liked the way that I looked so much that I began adding more exercise into my daily routine – a half hour of light weight lifting every evening while I watched reruns on TV.

After I moved to Philadelphia I had any number of great running partners and, at one point, was running five miles a day, at least five times a week.

I’m 52 now and I still run, usually 2.5 mile stretches (the exact length of the nature trail near my home), sometimes just a mile or so, and only 2-4 times a week.

Running clears my head, reduces tension and lifts my spirits.

I lost touch with her years ago.

But I don’t think that there has ever been a time when I have gone running without remembering Bernie and saying a silent “thank you” to the woman who inspired me in many ways.

I think that I may have subconsciously recognized it and, until she went off to kindergarten, her days were highly structured (something that wasn’t terribly typical for free and easy laid back me but was something I instinctively felt was right for her). Until she went off to school, she had a nap every day after lunch lasting two to three hours. Meals were on a set schedule and even her bedtime story time consisted of a set number of books of the same genre.

It might sound rigid, but it worked well for her personality.

After she started kindergarten, Samantha’s “Issues with transitions” as I called it grew. If she had a doctor’s appointment that would necessitate my pulling her out of school early she would experience a great deal of anxiety for days leading up to the appointment (”Mommy will I have to get a shot?” would be the constant refrain.) As spring break or Christmas break or any break approached she would show signs of anxiety.

It didn’t concern me a lot because, as soon as the transition passed she would revert to her smiling, cheerful self.

For all the weeks leading up to the start of the new school year, Sam would be in high anxiety mode. When she would arrive home after starting a new school year, it was back to smiles.

The “transition” anxiety was something that I dealt with in a matter of fact way.

But as she grew older, Sam’s anxiety grew.

High school proved especially tough.

She hadn’t been in high school very long when Sam was hospitalized for a week at a state facility. Her panic attacks and anxiety level had reached a crescendo.

We left the hospital and began weekly therapy and an exhausting round of medications.

I quit my job to stay home with Samantha.

A medication would seem to owrk for aperiod of time and then would lose its effectiveness. Others had horrible side effects including hair loss and constant sleeping.

And I never was keen on drugging my teenage daughter. Who knows what will emerge about the dangers of a drug … twenty or thrity years down the road?

So, in addition to the therapy with a wonderful psychiatrist from the Children’s Hospital in Pennsylvania, I began studying nutrition and using cognitive resources like Lucinda Bassett’s program and Mike Dooley’s Infinite Possibilities (not technically an anti-anxiety program, but one that really seemed to soothe her).

After a few years – and a period of home schooling – Samantha stabilized but she still suffered from time to time with anxiety attacks.

She didn’t want to be on prescription medications. She didn’t like the way that they made her feel.

The cds and tapes that we’d listened to in the past seemed to lose their effectiveness.

We found, through trial and error, that Kava Kava helped her tremendously.

Still, whenever she experienced a transition, her anxiety would return.

We both wondered if she would spend the rest of her life just coping with her problem – and never really solving it.

As her girlfriends entered college and moved forward, it became harder and harder for Sam.

Then, after searching – again – on the web for some relief, I stumbled upon a program specifically for sufferers of panic attacks. I researched it quite a bit before I ordered, even emailing some of the testimonials (I’ve never been an impulsive shopper). It sounded too good to be true.

But I’d already spent a small fortune in meds and doctor’s visits and other programs.

There is always the tendency to go with what the “experts” say rather than trusting your inner instincts about what’s right. But these days the experts are skewed towards pharmaceutical remedies, which rarely turn out to be real “remedies.”

Many folks have probably never ordered an ebook or eproduct in their life, but I have had great success with quite a few. When someone else has actually experienced the issues you are trying to resolve, often they have new insights into what works. So I ordered the Panic Away program.

What can I say? It’s been almost a year now and Samantha finally seems to have resolved her “transition” issues and anxiety. She has not had a panic attack in all this time, despite several major transitions in her life!

I only wish that I’d found the Panic Away program years ago.

It’s easy to get started with positive life changes.

 I should know.  I’ve started many times.

 I bought Anthony Robbins’ Get the Edge three years ago and began following it conscientiously … until I was about three quarters of the way through.  I can’t remember what got in the way of my finishing it. 

 I’ve set goals.  I’ve made life plans. 

 Somehow I always hit a detour.

 In January I made a vow that this year would be different.  I wrote up what I wanted for my life – in terms of income, career, my home, health and fitness and relationships.  Every week I set two habits towards those goals. 

 So far so good. 

 Sure, some habits have fallen by the wayside.

 Some, like meditating every day, didn’t quite work for me as daily habits.  I now meditate once to three times a week.

 Others I just determined didn’t really help me in achieving my goals (like trying a new dietary supplement every day that didn’t benefit me).

 Overall, though, my self-designed Life Changing Plan is working well.  My youngest daughter and I are closer.  My home is more organized and welcoming.  My diet and exercise has improved tremendously.  These past few weeks I’ve launched two new blogs and done quite a bit of marketing on my ebook!

 This week, though, I hit another detour.  For nearly the entire week I’ve felt on the verge of that God-awful flu going around.  Sometimes I suspect I’d be better off getting the bug and getting rid of it!  Instead I’ve been fighting it and feeling run down, headachy and nauseous. 

But I’ve remained true to my habits.  2009 will be different!

After three days housebound by both the snowstorm and a mild flu, I emerged today to get in a terrific weight workout at the gym, run some errands and spend the afternoon/evening with Abigail. 

Like most parents of teenagers, I am constantly striving to improve communications with my daughter. 

One of my daily habits – created early on in my routine – was to tell Abbey every day how much I love her. 

After watching how she communicated with her friends – by constant phone texting – I made it a point to send her an “I love you” text every morning when she’s on the schoolbus. 

That one little gesture, though, seems to have opened up new doors in our relationship. 

I also make it a point to spend some one on one time with her every week.  

Today we took the train in to the city with one of her best friends to see the Philadelphia Flower Show. 

It was a fabulous day.  We started off at Philadelphia’s famous Reading Terminal Market – quite probably my favorite place in all of Philadelphia, not counting the Art Museum – where we browsed quite a bit and had dinner. 

Then it was on to the Philadelphia Convention Center. This year’s theme was Bella Italia and acres of gardens, plants and marvelous floral designs awaited us.  

Exhausting (don’t wear heels!) but a great bonding experience!

No school for Abigail.  She watched Cold Case and Seventh Heaven all day (her latest faves).

I didn’t have to worry about getting to an office, braving the traffic or the mass transit.  

In fact, I stayed in bed until almost 8:00 – almost unheard of for me.  Actually I got up, did a few of my habits, and returned to bed to listen to about 30 minutes of inspiration/motivation.

Today’s choice was The Secret audio book recorded by Rhonda Byrne.

I’ve listened to it already three or four times.  The message always resonates with me although, while I think visualization plays a role in achieving your dreams, I do have a hard time believing that it is the be all and end all of achieving the life of your dreams.

Know what I mean?

Today I recalled a story that reminded me of the lessons of The Secret though.  It was the early 1960’s and I had recently entered first grade at Holy Angels School in Arcadia, California.  My parents had made the trip to California from Michigan by car, taking our time and stopping at various attractions on the way like Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.  We’d finally settled in Arcadia and I’d quickly grown to love Southern California.

One afternoon just my mother and I were alone shopping in downtown Arcadia when I saw the sign in Hinshaw’s department store announcing an art contest.  It was a contest for children between the grades of kindergarten and 6th grade.  Entrants were to paint a picture of their mother and the winning picture would be on display in Hinshaw’s main window and would receive a $50 gift certificate (quite a bit of money in those days!).

I remember getting so excited after I went home, envisioning my picture in the store’s window – and what I’d buy with the $50 gift certificate!

After awhile, though, my enthusiasm waned.  I couldn’t seem to get down on the paper the image that was in my head.  I started over and over again.

Finally, as the date grew closer for turning in entries, I developed my best work.

But, it still didn’t satisfy me.  I remember exclaiming in frustration “I’ll probably get third place!”  I didn’t even want to turn my painting in.  But my mother insisted.

You guessed it.

Several weeks later we got word that I had won third place.  My picture, of my mother holding my baby sister, would be displayed in Hinshaw’s window along with the first and second prize winners.  

I got a gift certificate for $10.  The exquisite miniature standing stuffed poodle that I bought with it was something I treasured for years.

What if I had never wavered in my belief that I would win First Prize though … ?  

Maybe there is something to this visualization after all!

This blog is all about habits – and creating and keeping good, productive habits. 

What about those bad habits though? 

Habits that don’t enrich your life.  Habits that waste time and make achieving your goals more difficult. 

Habits like constantly checking email (how many successful internet marketers check their email hourly?  Not many, I’d warrant.) or constantly gravitating back to negative thought patterns or chatting with a friend online, only to notice when you say “ttfn” that an hour and half has passed?  Or playing online Scrabble (as angry as I was at Hasbro for their lawsuit against the Argwalla brothers, in a way it’s a good thing that Scrabulous is no more … I was spending waaay too much time playing Scrabble with folks all over the world.  The ics game isn’t nearly as much fun and limits me to a mere 3-4 games a week sheerly by means of its rather antiquated software)?

Will setting and keeping two new habits a week help to eliminate those habits? 

I’m not very far into my very own 2 habits a week self-help program, but so far, I’d say that it has been helpful with the second habit.  Perhaps having a more organized house and feeling better physically is helping to keep the negative thought patterns at bay. 

The email problem?  I’m still checking it too frequently.  Within the next few weeks I will have to add in a habit of checking my mail only at specified times of the day (can you tell I’m not quite ready for that one yet?). 

For the week of March 2^nd, my two new habits will be: 

1. Listening to (and documenting) motivational, self-help, empowering talk every morning at 6:00 a.m. for 30 minutes.  
2.  Studying internet marketing – whether it is a book or a program – for at least 15 minutes every weekday.

 I’ll report back to you next weekend!