Disable the inner critic with a Positive Inventory

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

As 2011 winds down we are apt to think of all the things left unfulfilled, unaccomplished or unattained. Then the inner critic grabs hold and uses these things to berate, belittle or bewilder ourselves.

An effective way to disable the critic is to spend the last few days of 2011 and take a Positive Inventory of ourselves. Focus on the things fulfilled, accomplished and attained and use these things, however small they may seem, as building blocks for the New Year.

Then make the decision to continue to build upon those with firm conviction and commitment.
The right use of Self Power is ACTION.

Affirm:
Today I take a Positive Inventory of myself so that I may take Positive Action for Positive Change for the New Year!

Have a Positive Focus Friday!
Mary Ellen Pierce
Motivating YOU with Positive Power!
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!

It's your choice

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Today is a great day! A day of unlimited possiblities. A day filled with your potential for peace, love and happiness! It is the season of Joy and Gratitude.

With Possibility, Peace, Love, Happiness, Joy and Gratitude how can your day be anything but Great!

Affirm:
     It's my choice and I choose to have a Great today!

Have a your choice Friday!
Mary Ellen Pierce
Motivating YOU with Positive Power!
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!

What's your Gratitude list today?

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Today's focus is on Gratitude. Just BE Grateful today. As you go through your day make a mental note to yourself as things to be grateful for appear.There will be lots and lots of things to give a word of thanks for and to express gratitude for.

That you awoke this morning and have another day of life. This country you live in, the job that you have, the paycheck that comes as a result of it, transportation to go places, the food that you eat, the farmers that grow the food, a roof over your head, heat to keep you warm, lights to see, modern technology to communicate with. Then you can expand your Gratitude outwards. Gratitude for family and friends, neighbors, for pets that keep you company and amuse you and comfort you. For municipal workers, everyone from the postal worker, to fire and police, to school bus drivers, to teachers, to doctors and nurses, to clergy.
When you really take the time to think about the hundreds, if not thousands of daily reminders of how blessed you really are, you will find it next to impossible to take things for granted or to focus on difficulty, misery or lack. When you stay focused today on Gratitude - for Everything and Everyone, see how truly wonderful and blissful your day becomes.
And then hear yourself say outloud "Thank You" or "I am so Grateful for ...."

Affirm:
Today I express Gratitude and give Thanks for everything and everyone that fills my day.

Have a truly Blessed and Thankful Thursday!
Mary Ellen Pierce
Motivating YOU with Positive Power!
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!

Show your Appreciation today!

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Today is appreciation Day! Start with yourself. Find 3 things you appreciate about yourself. It might be that you appreciate your sense of humor, that you did the dishes or put out the trash before you left the house this morning or it might be that you appreciate that you got gas last night so you didn't have to fill up before you went to work.
Next, start with your family, tell your spouse, your children, your parents, even your pets something you appreciate about them.
Next are the people you encounter today; your friends, co-workers, the bank clerk, grocery clerk or gas station attendant.
At this time of year when it is colder and rainy we take for granted the services that others provide for us and the effort it took to do it.

Think of the postal workers bundled up walking their routes to deliver your mail.
Think of the sanitation workers that come to take away your trash.
The Meter readers that come to read the gas meter.
The Tanker drivers that deliver fuel to gas stations or fuel to your home if you use propane heat.
The utility workers that work out in the cold to retore and repair power lines.
The store clerks that come out and bring in all the carts from the parking lot.

When you go through the drive thru have appreciation for the hardy soul that has to keep opening the window to take your money while you stay warm and cozy in your car.
Appreciation is a powerful tool and a wonderful gift that you give someone today.
So whenever you can speak your appreciation directly to that person Do it - and see the startled smile on their face grow bigger and bigger.

Affirm:
  I will look for and speak and show appreciation for everyone today!

Have an Appreciative Tuesday!
Mary Ellen Pierce
Motivating YOU with Positive Power!
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!

Letting go of Perfectionism

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought :

Perfectionism is about a feeling of not being good enough, right enough, smart enough; a feeling of having to compensate for lack. Doing the comparison game with others to see if you did more or less than they did.
Gratitude allows for the gift of Acceptance. Accepting that you ARE good enough, smart enough, doing enough. Gratitude keeps your focus on Appreciation for who You are and the things You have accomplished, the good coming into your life.
Gratitude keeps your heart open. When your heart is open you see yourself and everyone else through a softer, lighter lens. When you maintain Gratitude AND an Open Heart then Life becomes 'very good', not perfect but Good Enough.

Affirm:
    Today I Am Grateful to be Me and I AM good enough and I AM okay with Me!

Have a Very Good Friday!
Mary Ellen Pierce
Motivating YOU with Positive Power!
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day, in Every Way!

Your Positive Power Check List!

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Position yourself for Success! Let's go through the checklist:

*Positive Attitude                                  Check!
*Positive Thoughts                                 Check!
*Positive Feelings                                  Check!
*Positive Actions                                   Check!
*Picture the day YOU want                     Check!
*An Attitude of Gratitude                       Check!
*Perform Random Acts of Kindness          Check!
*Encourage Others                                 Check!
*Laughing & Enjoying the Day                  Check!

Okay you're all set to have a Successful Day!

Affirm:
   I use Positive Power and set myself up for Success in all I do today!

Have a Positively Successful Wednesday!
Mary Ellen Pierce
Motivating YOU with Positive Power!
Get Jazzed and Joyful About You Every Day in Every Way!

Yes I Can - A to Z

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Today is a "Yes I Can" A - Z Thursday! Just use the statement Yes I Can! and follow it with the letters of the alphabet. Here is my list:

Yes I Can...Adopt a Winning Attitude Today!
Yes I Can...Be Bold Today!
Yes I Can...Cheer myself on Today!
Yes I Can...Design my new business card Today!
Yes I Can...Eliminate Ego Excuses Today!
Yes I Can...Focus on the Finish line Today!
Yes I Can...Give Gratitude to all Today!
Yes I Can...Help someone else Today!
Yes I Can...Invite Inspiration In Today!
Yes I Can...Just do one thing at a time Today!
Yes I Can...Keep Kindness in mind Today!
Yes I Can...Learn something new today!
Yes I Can...Make Up My Own Mind Today!
Yes I Can...Nip Negativity in the bud Today!
Yes I Can...Open Myself to all Possibilities Today!
Yes I Can...Prove I can Do It Today!
Yes I Can...Quell my fears Today!
Yes I Can...Recycle, Reuse studio supplies Today!
Yes I Can...Stick to my Schedule Today!
Yes I Can...Think before I Talk Today!
Yes I Can...Use my timer to get more done Today!
Yes I Can...Visualize Success in my Goals Today!
Yes I Can...WOW myself with results Today!
Yes I Can...eXtract my Best from Me Today!
Yes I Can...Yell Oh Yes I Can! to myself Today!
Yes I Can...Zestfully apply myself Today!

See what you can come up with, then post your list where you can see it and make today a
Yes I Can Thursday!
Mary Ellen Pierce
Motivating YOU with Positive Power!
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!

Challenges provide Gratitude moments

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Whatever challenges you are facing today know that you are strong and capable and you will get through it. And for every challenge you face there is always an opportunity for more knowledge, more experience and more valuable lessons.
There is also the opportunity for Gratitude. Gratitude is a powerful skill that turns regrets and remorse into a Grateful Heart and Mind. Gratitude allows you to move forward in spite of fear and failure. In every challenge lies a gift or a blessing that would not be found without a perspective of Gratitude.

Today challenge yourself to find things to be Grateful for. Then see what Blessings unfold for you!

Affirm:
   Every challenge provides me with Opportunities, Blessings and Gratitudes!

Have a Grateful Tuesday!
Mary Ellen Pierce
Motivating YOU with Positive Power!
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!

the Antidote is Gratitude.

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Gratitude is the antidote to worry. Worry is fear about the future, what will happen later today, tomorrow, next year. Gratitude is about the right Now. So when you find yourself worrying about anything, STOP! and become grateful. Find gratitude in the small things, the big things, the everyday things, the simple things.
Have Gratitude for waking up today, for having transportation, for having a job, for the sun shining, for the health you do have, for the friends and family that surround you, for food on the table, a roof over your head, a pet that loves you, a child's laugh, the sun glistening off the water, the ability to think for yourself, for fresh air, for living in a free country, for your senses of sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, a sense of humor, that yesterday is done and today is a brand new canvas.
Today realize that you cannot be worried or fearful when you are thinking and focusing on all the things you are grateful for.

Affirm:
     Today my attitude of gratitude keeps me in a positive and worry free space!

Have a Lots to be Grateful for Wednesday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Keep a Thankful Focus

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a day traditionally for Turkey, Ham, Stuffing, Family and Football.

Today many of us will spend the day and or this evening getting ready for tomorrow; going to the grocery store, making travel arrangements, cleaning house, baking and cooking ahead of tomorrow's dinner feast.
How much time will be spent on Thankfulness, Gratitude and Counting Blessings? When was the last time you actually wrote down a Gratitude list for this time of the year? When was the last time that you asked others at the dinner table to take turns and to share one of their Blessings with everyone?
What would your Holiday be like if the focus was on Gratitude, Thankfulness and Blessings instead of worrying if you got a big enough turkey? Or If there is enough time to get everything done? Or how long should you stay after dinner? Thinking about getting to bed early enough to get up for the day after Thanksgiving holiday Sales?
What if you just relaxed, slowed down a little and enjoyed the Holiday for what it is supposed to be about- thankfulness. What if you counted everyone that crosses your path today and tomorrow as a Blessing sent to you this Holiday as an opportunity for you to say Thank You to them all?
What would that Holiday be like? Find out for Yourself!

Affirm:
    This Thanksgiving I keep my focus on being Thankful, Grateful and Counting all my Blessings.

Have a truly Thankful Holiday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day, in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Start Thanksgiving early

Happy Friday!

There is all the media hype about Black Friday starting early. Why even last weekend the sales hype was already in full gear. So that made me think.
Why not start giving the gift of Gratitude and Thankfulness early too? Start saying Happy Holidays to everyone you meet. How about saying a simple "Thank You" to people who probably don't hear it a lot. Like the postal carrier, the sanitation workers, policemen, firemen, teachers, grocery store clerks, employees who go out and get the carts from the parking lot. You could even say "Thanks" to the customer who takes their cart back to the cart corral instead of leaving it in the parking lot.

There are so many ways to express gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation. This weekend why not challenge yourself and others to see how many different ways that you can find to extend the gift of Thankfulness to as many people as possible.
Then on Sunday evening or Monday compare notes over a cup of coffee to see how many creative ways everyone came up with to spread Gratitude and Thankfulness.
And see how wonderful it feels to make a difference in someone's life by making a big impact with small and simple feel good gestures.

Affirm:
    This weekend I will focus on spreading Gratitude and Thankfulness as I prepare for the Holiday.

Have a Thankfully Grateful Weekend!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Let's follow Art's example!

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

"Things turn out best for the people that make the best out of the way things turn out."

I first heard this quote from Art Linkletter and it has stuck with me for years.

And Art Linkletter should know. He was abandoned as an infant and later adopted. He literally took the phrase "when life hands you lemons make lemonade" to heart. As a young boy he used to take the best of the discarded lemons from a fruit factory and sell them to help raise money for his adopted family.

He was two months shy of his 98th birthday when he passed away this past May, of simply old age. He had been married for 75 years, wrote several books and he still traveled all over the world as a motivational speaker and advocate for living your best life after 60 and ran 4 businesses!

When a reporter asked how he did it he responded:
"Do the best you can every day. Help someone else whenever you can. Communicate the truth from a grateful heart and always keep a sense of humor. And exercise your mind, spirit and body on a regular basis."

So today let's follow Art's advice and his life example!

Affirm:
    I keep the clear intention of being the Best Me today and I use Grateful thinking, a Helpful Heart and a Sense of Humor to communicate my Best to all I encounter!

Have your Best Tuesday yet!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

The Gifts of Challenges

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Whatever challenges you are facing today know that you are strong and capable and you will get through it. And for every challenge you face there is always an opportunity for more knowledge, more experience and more valuable lessons.
There is also the opportunity for Gratitude. Gratitude is a powerful skill that turns regrets and remorse into a Grateful Heart and Mind. Gratitude allows you to move forward in spite of fear and failure. In every challenge lies a gift or a blessing that would not be found without a perspective of Gratitude.

Today challenge yourself to find things to be Grateful for. Then see what Blessings unfold for you!

Affirm:
    Every challenge provides me with Opportunities, Blessings and Gratitudes!

Have a Grateful Tuesday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Weekend Checklist

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Position yourself for a Great Weekend! Let's go through the checklist:

*Positive Frame of Mind                   Check!
*Connecting with others                   Check!
*Positive Feelings                             Check!
*A Sense of Adventure                      Check!
*Positive Actions                              Check!
*An Attitude of Gratitude                 Check!
*Random Acts of Kindness                 Check!
*Taking Time for Myself                    Check!
*Laughing & Enjoying the Day           Check!

Okay you're all set to be Positively You and Enjoy A Fabulous Weekend!

Affirm:
    I set myself up each day for a Great Weekend!

Have a Positively Enjoyable Weekend!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!