We all want to be happier, right?  In order to achieve that goal, we must first rewire our brain.

Here’s why. In our culture, we place so much emphasis and pride in our ability to manage numerous priorities. We rise early, tackle our work, stay late, go home, and hopefully have some energy left for family time and maybe even some fun.

“The mind is everything. What you think you become.” – Buddha

People nowadays take less vacation, work longer days, and retire at a later age. As a result, our brains are stressed and pushed to extreme limits – even unhealthy limits. In short, many of our lives are difficult.

So what can we do about this culture that’s been ingrained into the fabric of our society? Perhaps the best – maybe even the simplest­ – thing to do is to change our brains. If we can change our brains, we can change our lives!

I know – you are probably thinking that this sounds hard. Well, it’s not easy but it’s not impossible, either. And it’s certainly easier than trying to change the way our society works.

Use these 7 tips to rewire your brain for powerful life changes.

Brain Tip #1: Embrace a Positive Lifestyle

Despite of the difficulties facing our daily lives, we can indeed embrace a lifestyle of positive thinking and positive habits. Turning negative habits into positive ones requires both resilience and time management.

There are many different ways in which you can embrace a more positive lifestyle – practice affirmations, express gratitude, place inspirational material (such a quotes, religious scripture, etc.) around you, read uplifting books, meditation, exercise… just find something that helps you unwind and enjoy life. And most importantly – keep doing these things.

Embracing the positive will change your brain little by little.

Brain Tip #2: Monitor Your Self Talk

Self-talk is that continuous stream of thoughts that run through your brain every day. These thoughts can be positive, negative, or neutral. Please understand this concept: if your thoughts are continuously negative, you are going to become a pessimist. If your thoughts are positive, you are going to be an optimist. Optimism = happiness + success!

Again, what you think you become. We cannot continuously have negative thoughts and expect live a positive life.

Utilize Brain Tip #1 to start changing your self-talk and your brain!

Brain Tip #3: Take time to visualize your goals and aspirations

Jack Canfield, the world-renowned author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and one of world’s foremost authorities on success, states that the daily practice of visualizing your dreams as already complete can drastically quicken your realization of your dreams, goals and ambitions.

Visualization is a remarkably simple practice: just sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes and image your goals and aspirations as already completed. Look through your own eyes as to what you would see, feel, and hear if you met these goals and aspirations.

And you only need a few minutes each day. Visualize when you first awake, after meditation or supplication, or at another time when you are the most relaxed.

Brain Tip #4: Take action that supports your goals.

By following the first four brain tips, you should be ready to take some action! You’re embracing a positive lifestyle, watching your self-talk and visualizing your goals. Good for you!

And here’s a promise: if you take action on your goals and aspirations, your life is going to become easier and more fulfilling. You’ll probably discover that the challenge lies in staying consistent and motivated. Know that everyone feels these things, and some people drive on and make their dreams a reality, anyways!

You’re here reading this article, so you already have the determination and drive. Take action and keep going!

Brain Tip #5: Know your purpose

It may sound cliché, but life is too short to live it for someone or something else. Taking ones purpose for granted or setting it aside because of demands placed on us is wasteful and unfulfilling. After all, this is your happiness that we are talking about!

When your brain clearly understands your purpose in this lifetime, it reverberates through your entire being. The big secret is to finding your purpose.

Ask yourself two simple questions: (1) Do you know what you love doing, or can you find out? and (2) Can you make an impact doing what you love?

Brain Tip #6: Know that your brain can be changed

‘Neuroplasticity’ is an actual medical term that refers to the brain’s amazing ability to form new neural connections throughout life. That’s right – your brain can literally grow through your own conscious efforts.

A wonderful book on this is called “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life” by Dr. Daniel Amen, one of the world’s most prominent and sought-after psychiatrists in the world, whom Dr. Mehmet Oz (“Dr. Oz”) calls “One of the most gifted minds in medicine.”

Dr. Amen writes comprehensively on the fact if you make a conscious decision to make changes in your life, no matter how big or how small, you can willfully make it happen.

Brain Tip #7: Know that anything is possible

We’ve walked on the moon, created electricity, discovered flight, mapped the human genome, mass produced automobiles… all through the power of our brain. And here’s the thing… the only person who believed it was possible was the mind that first conceived it.

It Takes Effort to Rewire Your Brain!

Your brain is an absolutely amazing gift, and you have something incredible waiting to be discovered. Maintain a positive attitude, create positive energy, and your brain will do the rest. What will you try to rewire your brain?

Have you ever wondered why you’re alive?

What’s your life’s purpose? Do you have a mission? Of course, the thought of a purpose gives us a great pleasure. We live our lives trying to make a living and fit in, but there’s more to it. The truth is that our sole mission is to be happy – to find success and peace from within.

We all have a definition of success: some think that it requires money, others think that it requires a beautiful family or talent, or special skills, or recognition. There are as many definitions to success as there are humans on this planet. What’s important is that you find your own way to fulfillment and live life from a place of satisfaction.

Here are 10 ways to find a life of fulfillment

1. Discover your true self

   Live your life accordingly to your inmost desires. Spend time to realize what makes your overflow with joy. Don’t give in to doubts and fears about your human abilities. Find the strength to shine your light and allow others to see you for who you really are. In order to do that, you need to spend time unveiling yourself.

   We all learned during our lives to hide parts of us in order to be accepted; allow those parts to come to the surface and integrate them. Do you have a secret passion no one knows about? Are you interested in painting but never had the opportunity to start because you thought you were not good enough? Now it’s the time to walk the path you always dreamed about.

2. Be authentic.

   The beauty of this world consists in what we perceive as parts of it: each and every human alive at the moment, nature, plants, animals, buildings and so on. Look outside yourself and learn from Mother Nature to be your true, authentic self. It teaches us how to effortlessly give birth to the most astonishing things we could have ever imagined without compromising integrity. You are a unique individual who is already equipped with all the tools to become the best version of yourself.

3. Live in the moment.

   Be aware that everything eventually fades away, disappears, or transforms. This is a harsh truth that we should all acknowledge in order to use our time most effectively. This moment that you are spending reading this article will never come back; so sink in and open your heart to these words. Fulfillment comes from this awareness.

4. Purify your mind

   Life’s true importance comes from within; all the events that you perceive as exterior to yourself are filtered through your mind. Your mental capacity of discerning one thing from another, of analyzing, synthesizing, remembering is outstanding. But in order for your mind to function correctly, it must be cleared of all impurities, such as obsessive thoughts that torment you (as self-criticism), excessive worrying, ideas that induce panic or any other negative imprint. There are so many things you can do in order to purify your mind: meditation, stress relieve therapies, walks in nature, reading a good book that uplifts your spirit, playing with kids, enjoying the beautiful company of an animal.

5. Practice Compassion

   All of us sharing this space and time on planet Earth, function internally the same way. We all struggle, get disappointed, dream, trust, love. No one is greater or lesser than you are. See in everyone you meet an individual yearning to find him/herself. Everyone is on a different path to fulfillment.

6. Take chances.

   A life lived in fear is no life at all. Find the internal guidance system that tells you when to shift. Be aware of your emotions; follow your instinct and walk your own path. Follow your calling and dissolve the boundaries of a life that doesn’t bring you joy.

7. Be responsible

   You should understand that you’re in control of your own life. When something doesn’t turn out as planned, it produces pain. In your mind, you link the pain to how you see the event and not to the event. Acknowledge that only you are responsible for the way you look at things. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

8. Create from the heart

   You are here to be happy and to create your own results in life. Master the skills you have been given and rise to your greatest potential. Dreams are ageless. Feel your dreams from the heart, decide what kind of life you want for yourself, and take the first step towards it.

9. Focus on the good in your life

   Practice being positive even in the darkest moments. Remember that everything passes and always nurture in your heart that place of joy and awe.  You can do this through affirmations, gratitude lists, or even speaking positive things to yourself in the mirror each morning.

10. LOVE

    Love as much as you can and be grateful for everything you have in your life right now. It’s important! After all, love is the reason you are alive and experiencing your growth as an individual. What’s even more important than love for others is self-love.  Self-love is the first step to building healthy relationships to everyone around you.

And those, friends, are the keys to fulfillment. Join the conversation and share your tips!

We all dream about a perfect partner who could increase our heart rate and make our heads spin daily. We all find ourselves in that space of intense desire and get easily disappointed when we attract partners with whom we simply don’t resonate. Everywhere we look, from TV commercials to movies and random banners, we get the wrong idea about what having a significant other in your life really comes down to. It can be easy to miss the fact that a relationship needs to be there not only to give and receive love but also to grow as a person.

Here are 7 signs you’re in an authentic relationship that helps you grow as an individual.

1. Your special someone gives you wings

One of their main focuses is to see you happy, free from restrictions, and using your highest potential in order to achieve your desires. This partner may gently push you ‘out there’ because he or she sees your potential and wants to see you shine. This partner encourages you on a daily basis and tenderly shifts your focus from ‘I am not good enough’ to ‘I can do it’.

2. Your partner considers communication essential in your relationship

You and him/her both, progressively practice opening up to one another. This process requires time, patience, acceptance and love. As we get involved in romantic relationships (or any kind of relationships, for that matter), most of us dissociate from our authentic self and create a false image of ourselves- that always provided the safety of acceptance. Having a true connection with someone means unveiling our true spirit and functioning from that place of truthfulness.

3. Your significant other  soothes you when you’re too hard on yourself

All individuals give in to self-criticism at a certain point; society doesn’t help as it continuously promotes the idea of more: bigger, better, newer are the leitmotifs of our daily living. No wonder in this context we often find ourselves caught in a space of negativity. When this happens, your partner doesn’t invalidate your feelings but tries to shift your perception. Looking at things from a different point of view, in difficult moments, can light up new realms for you.

4. Your partner is aware of the importance of quality time together

He/she always practices being fully present around you. As your connection deepens, both of you devote yourselves to one another and how to become one without losing your individuality.

5. Your relationship facilitates the growth of both of you

In time, you and your partner become the best versions of yourselves you have ever imagined. Your significant other boosts your expansion as a human being. And he/she teaches you to remain centered through life’s ups and downs.

6. Your relationship makes you feel safe

Nowadays, everywhere we turn, we witness dramatic events. We can easily dive into the increasing wave of negative emotions promoted mostly by the media. In these conditions, your relationship becomes that safe space of purity, tenderness, joy, and fulfillment. We are so used to the drama that we unconsciously bring it in our lives. Our romantic relationships are commonly exposed to this situation. An aware and loving partner will work on dissolving any negative vibe that could cloud your connection. He/she will defuse any tension arisen between you as a result of something that clearly has nothing to do with the two of you.

7. An authentic relationship teaches you how to love unconditionally

It breaks the walls most of us created in order to protect ourselves, leaving us opened, vulnerable and extremely sensitive. You learn how to provide for yourself and for your partner from a place of relaxation, attention, and flexibility. Most importantly, the right relationship gives you the strength to reach your greatest potential. Indeed, it does this by diving into that unique space of genuine self-love, so inaccessible to the majority of us.

Do you have a sign to add to the list?  Discuss below, and let your relationship SHINE!

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” – Buddha

Life can be very challenging. With constant demands being placed on our time, it can feel like life is happening to us, not for us. We can get caught up and allow other people and events to run our day, sometimes missing out on opportunities for ourselves.

But, there is a solution to this ever increasing problem – the power of positivity. Consciously making a decision to become a better, more positive version of yourself can and WILL transform your every day life.

Expanding your comfort zone is where growth happens.  With your continual willingness and practice you’ll begin to see more evidence of change. Making gradual small changes in your habits will create big positive ripples down the road. Soon enough, you’ll look back and be astonished at the transformation you’ve made.

And the good news is . . . with the power of positivity it just keeps getting better and better. 😉

Here are 11 Ways to Become a More Positive Thinker:

#1. Use visualization to reinforce what you want to become.

If you really want something, visualize it. Take your focus off of what you don’t want, and spend more time thinking about what you do want.  It might take some conscious effort, especially in the beginning. But, eventually you will spend more time visualizing and focusing on what you do want, that you’ll start to see it happening!

Visualization is simpler than you think.  You probably did it way more when you were a child and teenager than you do now. If you do still “daydream” maybe you think it’s something that’s not realistic for you? Otherwise you would already be there or have it.

Visualization is ALL about positive energy and replaying the story that we wish to see in our mind.

The Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle put it this way:
“First, have a definite, clear, practical ideal; a goal, an objective.
Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends: wisdom, money, materials, and methods.
Third, adjust all your means to that end.”

Athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods have sworn by visualization. So get at it and start visualizing what you want more often. 😉

#2. Express gratitude for everything good in your life.

It’s very important to realize the power of being grateful for what you have. Typically, it’s very easy to focus on what is going wrong instead of what is going right. Research shows, again and again, that people who practice gratitude on a daily basis are healthier, happier, and more effective.

Throughout the day, intentionally look for things to be thankful for. If you really want to get into the art (and success) of gratitude, create a list of five or ten things that you are grateful for and commit to that practice daily.

Gratitude is important to practice every day. If you’ve never done it, at first it may seem like a chore; that’s okay. Eventually it will become second nature and you’ll be expressing gratitude naturally all throughout the day. Especially when you find yourself going the wrong direction, switch your attention to what is going right.

#3. Place inspiring quotes all around you.

We’ve had the great fortune of living after and amongst some of the greatest human minds: William Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Norman Vincent Peale, Confucius (if you want to get old, old school with it!)…  The list is quite literally endless. Find a person or persons who inspire you the most and surround yourself with their words. This is so, so powerful.

You can also feel free to print out our posters from our Facebook page and hang them on your refrigerator, desk or vision board.

#4. Listen to uplifting music.

I’m sure this is just a reminder… but, music can uplift and inspire in ways that few other things can. Music emanates from our alarm clocks, car radios, cell phones, MP3 players, and laptops. It can make us smile, laugh, sway, dance and groove. It’s energizing, powerful, and encouraging. Listen to whatever music inspires you and watch magic happen. 😉

#5. Read motivating books.

Not the corporate drivel that your workplace or school has assigned you, but real, powerful, uplifting books. Books that will open your mind and keep you dreaming. Books that will make you appreciate and value yourself. Books that will empower and inspire you to become and do more – there are many, many literary masterpieces out there that will do this. >>Our Top 10 Positive Thinking Books That Can Change Your Life.

#6. Create personal affirmations and restate your affirmations every day until they are part of you.

We’ve written some great articles about affirmations – what they are, what they do, and a complete guide on how to use them.  If you are new to affirmations then please >>Read more here. Otherwise, we are reminding you to take full advantage of the words that are coming out of your mouth. Every word we speak is an affirmation and when we can consciously keep our focus in the positive direction we can effectively change the brain and reality.

#7. Become a student of meditation.

Meditation is not just for spiritual gurus or yogis. Meditation is a practical way to bring peace, tranquility and consciousness in the midst of our busy lives. You can practice traditional yoga or even try an exercise that puts you in a meditative state like walking, running or yoga. A good 15 minute meditation can do wonders, but even 1 minute of your time can help.  Seriously, Google “How to Meditate in One Minute”! Meditation helps ease anxiety, anger, depression, stress, and insomnia.

#8. Be around positive people.

“You are the company you keep.” This quote says it all. If you hang around and interact with negative, downtrodden people, how do you think you’re going to feel and act?

On the other hand, if you surround yourself with positive people (like other PoP members) you become exposed to positive values and ideals while reinforcing and strengthening your positive mental attitude. This is why it is so important to remain attentive of the people you surround yourself with and even more so the frequency and the length.

#9. Get some sort of exercise.

Exercise is magical. . . seriously. The benefits of a brisk walk, a jog, lifting weights, or any other kind of physical activity are astounding. The Mayo Clinic reports six major benefits to any kind of exercise. Exercising: controls weight, combats health conditions and diseases, improves mood, boosts energy, promotes better sleep and enables a better sex life. Try to aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. You can even break the 30 minutes into 10 minute intervals if time is a stretch for you.

#10. Carry a personal, powerful memento with you.

This can be a quote, a picture of a hero, scripture…anything as long as it powerfully resonates with you. Visual reminders are important for our brains, as they reinforce the kind of person that we want to be. These mementos can change your brain and change your life. Put it in your purse, wallet, and pocket; or on your desk, dashboard and end table. Look at it numerous times throughout the day for inspiration.

#11. Take on a hobby or passion.

Remember to have fun and enjoy yourself – that’s the secret to a happy life and better you. Put work and obligations aside once in a while and do something that you love. Of course, if you love your work  and it doesn’t feel like work, then BINGO  you are definitely on the right path.

Add to the List:
What habit has helped you become a better, more positive YOU?