Everyone wants to be physically healthy. You want to be mentally healthy as well. The true measure of “mental fitness” is how optimistic you are about yourself and your life.

Below you will learn how to control your thinking in very specific ways so that you feel terrific about yourself and your situation, no matter what happens.

by Brian Tracy:

Control Your Reactions and Reponses
There are three basic differences in the reactions of optimists and pessimists. The first difference is that the optimist sees a setback as temporary, while the pessimist sees it as permanent. The optimist sees an unfortunate event, such as an order that falls through or a sales call that fails, as a temporary event, something that is limited in time and that has no real impact on the future. The pessimist, on the other hand, sees negative events as permanent, as part of life and destiny.

Isolate the Incident
The second difference between the optimist and the pessimist is that the optimist sees difficulties as specific, while the pessimist sees them as pervasive. This means that when things go wrong for the optimist, he looks at the event as an isolated incident largely disconnected from other things that are going on in his life.

See Setbacks as Temporary Events
For example, if something you were counting on failed to materialize and you interpreted it to yourself as being an unfortunate event, but something that happens in the course of life and business, you would be reacting like an optimist. The pessimist, on the other hand, sees disappointments as being pervasive. That is, to him they are indications of a problem or shortcoming that pervades every area of life.

Don’t Take Failure Personally
The third difference between optimists and pessimists is that optimists see events as external, while pessimists interpret events as personal. When things go wrong, the optimist will tend to see the setback as resulting from external factors over which one has little control.

If the optimist is cut off in traffic, for example, instead of getting angry or upset, he will simply downgrade the importance of the event by saying something like, “Oh, well, I guess that person is just having a bad day.”

The pessimist on the other hand, has a tendency to take everything personally. If the pessimist is cut off in traffic, he will react as though the other driver has deliberately acted to upset and frustrate him.

Remain Calm and Objective
The hallmark of the fully mature, fully functioning, self-actualizing personality is the ability to be objective and unemotional when caught up in the inevitable storms of daily life. The superior person has the ability to continue talking to himself in a positive and optimistic way, keeping his mind calm, clear and completely under control. The mature personality is more relaxed and aware and capable of interpreting events more realistically and less emotionally than is the immature personality. As a result, the mature person exerts a far greater sense of control and influence over his environment, and is far less likely to be angry, upset or distracted.

Take the Long View
Look upon the inevitable setbacks that you face as being temporary, specific and external. View the negative situation as a single event that is not connected to other potential events and that is caused largely by external factors over which you can have little control. Simply refuse to see the event as being in any way permanent, pervasive or indicative of personal incompetence or inability.

Resolve to think like an optimist, no matter what happens.

You may not be able to control events but you can control the way you react to them!

Did you know that the primary difference between the 5 percent of people who are wealthy and those who are not is that the 95 percent focus their attention and extra time on entertainment, while the wealthy 5 percent invest their extra time in education.

I don’t know about you but I want to be in the 5% group of wealthy people in the world. This is why I do my very best to focus any extra time that I have on education and building my own business.

I watch one football game per year… the Super Bowl.  (and mostly for the commercials)

The only time I watch TV is with my wife maybe once a week and we do rent 1-2 movies a week as well.

Click on the below link to read the rest of this post from Darren Hardy’s blog. It’s awesome!  You can become part of the 5% group!

Think about it: What if the time you spend…

• reading the sports page, you read a self-improvement book?
• listening to sports talk radio, you listen to an instructional CD?
• watching ESPN or Sports Center, you watch a seminar DVD or read a book?
• talking about sports scores and players, you talk about your goals and plans to achieve them?
• playing fantasy sports, you role-play your key skills training?

How would the trade of that time investment change your life scores and statistics? I’m certain it would make YOU victorious… and far happier.

Oh, and let’s not leave out the non-sports fans. What if the time you spend…

• reading People magazine and other gossip rags, you read SUCCESS magazine?
• watching E! Entertainment, TMZ or Access Hollywood, you watched a seminar DVD or read a book?
• watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians, The Real Housewives, or Jersey Shore, you read a book about YOUR reality?
• talking (or gossiping) about other people’s lives and foibles, you talked about your lessons learned in life and plans for growth?

How would the trade of that time investment change your life scores and statistics? I’m certain it would make you victorious, and far happier.

Am I saying that anytime spent on any of the above for entertainment value is a bad thing? Of course not. What I am suggesting you look at, however, is the balance between the time you spend watching other people live out their dreams and the time you spend on making yours come true.

Last tip: Practice, train, develop, focus, and work as hard at your skills and career as the people you watch and admire do at theirs. Imagine that!

(Read entire post from Darren Hardy’s blog here: http://darrenhardy.success.com/2011/02/get-in-the-game/)

The first half of 2010 is in the books. This is the perfect time to do a success checkup!

If you’re not on course for reaching your 2010 goals, or you’ve lost momentum or you never even got started, you’ve got to check this out!

The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan is one of the most comprehensive success courses ever created. The 12-month program, developed by the late personal-achievement legend, will empower you to grow and continually transform yourself while focusing on a new pillar of success each month—and you can jump right in no matter what time of the year it is!

You’ll receive regular encouragement to stay on track, take positive action and move ahead with the motivation to achieve the life of your dreams!

Click here now to view a short video from SUCCESS magazine publisher Darren Hardy talking about why he strongly endorses The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan.

Experience the power of The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan!

The following question was submitted to “Ask Donald Trump” by a Trump University member.

Question:

You have faced some really big challenges and some very difficult circumstances in your life. What activities, words of wisdom and other tools do you use to get yourself back up to remain positive? What advice would you offer to anyone struggling today?

Mr. Trump’s Response:

Your focus is very important–so be sure to focus on the opportunities, because they are always there. For example, if 90% of companies aren’t hiring, then focus on the 10% that are. I learned to focus less on the problem and more on the solution, which works. Do not allow negativity to cloud your goals or ambitions. Great things have been accomplished in hard and even tumultuous times.

When I faced difficult circumstances, I didn’t underestimate the problems but I refused to give in to them. Realize that you are very strong and very capable. Inspirational quotes help too. Here’s one from Emerson to think about when you might be doubting yourself: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” I knew I was resilient and focused on the great things I would do once I got through the hard times. I would also ask myself, “Is this a blip or is it a catastrophe?” Earthquakes, wars, tsunamis–those are catastrophes. Put things into perspective and know that within you is the power to persevere and win.

Here is a direct link to the Trump Blog where I got this post… http://www.trumpuniversity.com/blog/post/2009/08/focus-on-the-opportunities.cfm

On November 10, 1775 the Marine Corps was born!

I served from 1998-2002, most of which was at Camp Pendelton.

Birthday Message from the Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps…

Here is just a taste of what Marine Corps boot camp is like…

FROM THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA
TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI
WE HAVE FOUGHT OUR COUNTRY’S BATTLES
IN THE AIR ON LAND AND SEA
FIRST TO FIGHT FOR RIGHT AND FREEDOM
AND TO KEEP OUR HONOR CLEAN
WE ARE PROUD TO CLAIM THE TITLE OF UNITED STATES MARINE

OUR FLAG’S UNFURLED TO EVERY BREEZE
FROM DAWN TO SETTING SUN
WE HAVE FOUGHT IN EVERY CLIMB… AND PLACE
WHERE WE COULD TAKE A GUN
FROM THE SNOWS IN FAR OFF NORTHERN LANDS
AND IN SUNNY TROPIC SCENES
YOU WILL FIND US ALWAYS ON THE JOB
THE UNITED STATES MARINES

HERE IS HEALTH TO YOU AND TO OUR CORPS
WHICH WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE
IN MANY A STRIFE WE FOUGHT FOR LIFE
AND NEVER LOST OUR NERVE
IF THE ARMY AND THE NAVY EVER LOOKED ON HEAVEN’S SCENE
THEY WILL FIND THE STREETS ARE GUARDED
BY UNITED STATES MARINES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE

Do you have problems?  I know I do… We all have problems! I bet everyone reading this could make a list of the major problems in their life right now.  Well, what if we change our attitude toward the problems in our life?  I do my best to live my life everyday like this…  how about you?

“Every problem or difficulty you face contains the seed of an equal or greater advantage or benefit.” – Napoleon Hill

Change Your Attitude Toward Problems

By Brian Tracy

In flying, the word “attitude” refers to the angle of flight of your approach relative to the horizon. The way you think about a problem determines your attitude, or approach, as well. You can use three words to change your attitude and your approach to any difficulty you face.

Situation
First of all, change the word “problem” to the word “situation.” Whereas “problem” is a negative word that triggers feelings of fear and anxiety, “situation” is neutral. Instead of saying, “We have a problem,” you can say, “We have a situation.”

Challenge
My personal preference is to change the word “problem” to the word “challenge.” Whenever something goes wrong, immediately say, “We have an interesting challenge facing us today.” “Challenge” is a positive word. When you think of a challenge, you think of something that you rise to, something that brings out the best in you and others. Challenges are what make life exciting and worth living. By rising to the challenges of day-to-day life, you fulfill more and more of your potential.

Opportunity
Perhaps the best word of all is “opportunity.” Instead of saying, “We have a problem,” you can say, “We have an unexpected opportunity.” Napoleon Hill is famous for saying, “Every problem or difficulty you face contains the seed of an equal or greater advantage or benefit.” Your job is to find the benefit, and this way of approaching a problem is determined by your attitude.

Attitude
This attitude of looking for the good in every situation, of looking for the advantage or benefit in any problem or difficulty, is the way that the most successful people think most of the time. Superior people, leaders in all areas, face the inevitable ups and downs of daily life on the way to their destinations by taking complete control of their thinking and their emotions. They do this by choosing the words they use to describe a situation, their tone of voice, and their behavior in dealing with problems.

Action Exercise
A mark of maturity, a vital quality on the road to success, happiness, and balance in life, is expecting problems and difficulties as normal, natural, and unavoidable parts of life. Becoming a superior person requires accepting that when you set off toward a big, exciting goal or destination, you will experience unexpected turbulence.

Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion

Do you have a hobby you wish you could indulge in all day? An obsession that keeps you up at night? Now is the perfect time to take that passion and make a living doing what you love.  In Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion, Gary Vaynerchuk shows you how to use the power of the Internet to turn your real interests into real businesses. Gary spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. Then one day he turned on a video camera, and by using the secrets revealed here, transformed his entire life and earning potential by building his personal brand. By the end of this book, readers will have learned how to harness the power of the Internet to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. Step by step, Crush It! is the ultimate driver’s manual for modern business.

This video montage really sums up why Gary wrote Crush It! and what it’s all about…

“Gary Vaynerchuk is one of those entrepreneurs who has discovered the secret to combining passion with business. He is always an inspiration and always entertaining. You owe it to yourself to read this book!” (Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com )

“Gary is a force of nature. His authentic, raw passion and caring touches everyone. His insights into social media & his message of opportunity could not be more timely.” (Tony Robbins )

“Gary was the first person to push me on the importance of personalbrand and transparency – this was months before anyone was talkingabout it, he’s always two steps ahead of anyone else.” (Kevin Rose, Founder of Digg.com )

“Anyone looking to supercharge their career should beg, borrow, and steal to learn Gary Vee’s techniques. He reinvented the rules to build a $60-million business from scratch-on his own terms.” (Tim Ferriss, #1 NY Times bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek )

Watch this video here: http://tonyrobbinstraining.com

This is an amazing video with Tony Robbins and two Internet Marketing Millionaires!

If you want to break through to the next level of success, you really need to watch this video. Tony Robbins interviews two well known Internet marketing multi-millionaires, Frank Kern and John Reese.

They go to Tony with the problem of why many Internet marketers don’t follow through on what they learn and become successful. This leads to all kinds of lessons about human behavior, changing your state and conditioning yourself for success.

I guarantee that no matter who you are and what level you are at, you will get at least a couple gems and a lot of motivation out of watching this thought-provoking video.

From Tony…

In this interview I meet with two very successful students, Frank Kern and John Reese. Both of them are self-made multi millionaires who made their fortunes by selling products on the Internet. What’s particularly interesting about both of them is that neither had any “real” education. Neither one finished college and they both went from being broke to becoming wealthy.

And they still continue to thrive in today’s economy. So the purpose of this interview is to uncover the traits that successful people have in common. Specifically, the traits that cause them to take massive action and follow through. As you’ll see, the solution is really quite simple and available to us all.

In this video, you’ll discover:

• The “4-Square” System For Creating Massive Action TODAY.
• The number one thing that’s holding you back…and how you can banish it from your life forever.
• The subtle mental shift that millionaires use to get a financial jumpstart.
• A short exercise that destroys your nagging skepticism and builds your momentum to succeed.

Watch this video here: http://tonyrobbinstraining.com/

Steve Jobs delivering his commencement speech to the graduates of Stanford University in 2005. He talks about getting fired from Apple in 1985, life, death, and that dropping out of college was one of the best decisions he ever made…

This Tony Robbins TEDTalk is Awesome! (high-fives Al Gore in the front row)

Tony Robbins discusses the “invisible forces” that motivate everyone’s actions and the six human needs.

This 22 minute video will be well worth your time!

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers are invited to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes.