Do Your “What Ifs” Hurt or Help?

Harness Your Brain Power

Humans are fortunate to have the ability to consider consequences of their decisions and actions. The ability to figure out “what would happen if. .  .” may be uniquely human—a function of higher reasoning. Our ability to think logically and to anticipate what may happen can be enormously helpful.

That ability to think through consequences several steps ahead isn’t just a skill utilized in chess, although it certainly differentiates between good chess players and bad. The ability to think ahead to consider the consequences that might transpire in each of our decisions can actually save our lives. It is not only part of the strategy during war, it’s also extremely helpful in parenting, running a business, keeping a marriage intact, and keeping you financially solvent.

When you factor in experience and a clear understanding of the consequences for each action, you have a very powerful resource right there, between your ears (and for some of us, under your hair). The idea is that you can utilize this ability to determine the consequences of success or failure at each step, and take steps to modify your actions for a different and more positive outcome. Your ability to think about “what if” allows you to avoid pitfalls and seize opportunities by making course adjustments. Sometimes these are small adjustments. At other times they are huge: when you quit a job or leave a relationship, for example.

Unfortunately, that ability to think “what if” can completely sabotage you. If your “what ifs” focus on catastrophes, or fill you with worry and keep you from following your plans, then your “what if” thinking can sink you.

The key is to utilize your ability to think ahead to prevent you from making mistakes that will bring about catastrophic results. For example, your ability to plan and predict would (hopefully) keep you from investing all your money in ventures that are highly risky. You’d think, “I could lose everything I have,” and you have pretty good likelihood that you might be right. This is opposed to starting a business and investing in it strategically and cautiously. You might still think, “I could lose everything if this business isn’t a success,” but because you haven’t put all your eggs in that basket, you can think through what you’ll need to do to minimize that risk.

Imagining catastrophic outcomes often goes hand-in-hand with anxiety. Your “what if” thinking goes off in the worst possible direction, and doesn’t do a risk assessment to determine really how likely that outcome will be.

Certainly, unanticipated catastrophes can happen. But there is sometimes a warning and a way to prepare.  When the tornado is heading your way, take shelter, and plan ahead of time where that shelter will be. Even when there isn’t a good way to prepare, you can do what you can—practice safe driving habits, don’t drive in blizzards, ice storms, or when you’re advised to be off the roads.  Choose airlines with a good safety record. Hire people who are experienced and highly competent. Take good care of your body and your health. Choose your friends wisely. Don’t do things your better judgment tells you to avoid. (Seriously, don’t jump off that cliff just because your friends tell you to). Don’t willingly put yourself in danger. There’s almost always something you can do. Use your brain to figure it out, even if you haven’t anticipated it.

If your “what ifs” tend to derail you, you may want to get some help to turn around those negative emotions or limiting beliefs. Strategic planning isn’t just for Fortune 500 companies. Individuals can do strategic planning so that they are heading for the outcome they want to achieve. That might be financial; it might be emotional; or it might be relationship-oriented. Use your abilities to help you create a way to reach your dreams in the easiest way possible.

If you need help with this process and harnessing your brain-power, feel free to reach out. As a personal and business coach, I help teach people how to harness their abilities to overcome self-imposed limitations so that they can live happier, more successful lives without the struggle. Reach out by email: Linda@InnerResourceCenter.com or by phone: (865) 983-7544. We’ll talk about your situation and figure out what you need to make your “what ifs” work for you, rather than against you.

© 2017 Linda S. Pucci, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

Let Go of the "Struggle"

I've always been a pretty hard worker. Even as a kid I was driven to achieve. As a youngest child, I had two older sisters to live up to and with whom to compete.  I used to have a belief that work had to be difficult in order to qualify as "work." After all, that's why it's called "work," right? You needed to always put out your best effort, and you needed to sustain those efforts until you succeeded. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" was my guiding principle back then.

Work involved lots of effort, lots of time, and lots of energy to be successful. I learned how all the labor-saving devices that had been invented to try to help us manage our lives more easily had, instead, somehow created more demands on our time. Even so, I knew that having the right tools could make the task easier, whether it was cutting wood or changing a habit. That sometimes meant training and studying to learn new skills. If you weren't good at something, you spent time developing that skill.

And then, everything shifted. The new paradigm became utilizing your strengths and outsourcing the other tasks, whether they were hiring a bookkeeper, or someone to design your business cards, or someone to clean your house. Along with it came shocking ideas such as "If at first you don't succeed, try something different;" and "Don't push the river, it flows by itself;" and "Not everything worth doing is worth doing well." I had a hard time wrapping my arms around those concepts.

But I began to imagine: What if things didn't have to be so difficult? What if everything didn't have to be a struggle? That idea really intrigued me. As I began to unpack it, I realized that despite what I'd always believed, things that were difficult weren't necessarily more valuable. What was valuable was the outcome. Something didn't increase in value because I'd suffered, struggled and slaved over it. Maybe I put some greater value on it because of all the time and effort I'd invested, but really, that was more about valuing the process and my efforts, rather than the outcome.

The process of achieving a goal--the work involved--isn't really the same as the outcome itself. What if you could achieve the outcome without the suffering and struggle? Hmm. That idea became very appealing. I realized that I didn't get extra brownie points because I worked hard. The reward and value was in the end result.

Climbing over obstacles to your success was necessary, but it didn't have to take so long. It didn't have to be so difficult. I studied and found some tools that made things easier. I learned techniques and experimented with others until I created resources that allowed my clients to make big changes without the struggle and huge expenditure of time, energy and money.

The first step is making the decision that something needs to change.

The second step is figuring out what that "something that needs to change" really is. For most of us, it has to do with how we've allowed our history to affect us. We've held onto negative emotions from past experiences. We've created identities based on some of those experiences, and we cling to them because they are familiar, not because they're working for us. We've formed or held on to beliefs that limit us, rather than empower us. We've allowed ourselves to believe that the struggle is part of life. Sometimes, we've allowed toxic people and situations to take over our lives. We've developed and held onto habits that don't serve us well.

The third step is to imagine, yes, imagine how things could be different. What would your life be like if you didn't have to struggle? What if it just flowed. Easily. Effortlessly. Taking you where you want to go, rather than where you think you must go. Create the vision of what your life could be like. Don't worry yet about how you're going to get there. Just imagine. Fill in all the details of what that life would be like. Would there be challenges? Probably, but imagine that you just handled them without stressing about it. What if you lived your life, whatever that means to you and those you love. What if you decided what you wanted and made it happen?

You can. Having the right tools helps make it easier. Call me and let's talk about what you imagine, as well as what stands in the way. Together we can figure out what needs to happen to get there, even if you decide not to work with me. You can reach me at Linda@InnerResourceCenter.com or call me at 865-983-7544.

 © 2016. Linda S. Pucci, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

Linda Pucci is a personal/business coach and trainer at the Inner Resource Center, LLC in Maryville, TN. She helps her clients get rid of the struggle and overcome obstacles to their success. Her specialty is helping people get rid of the mindset issues that lead to self-sabotage. For more information on letting go of the struggle in YOUR life, contact her at Linda@InnerResourceCenter.com

Wealth Is a State of Mind

"Wealth is not a material gain, but a state of mind."

~Jerry Gillies

What we think and feel about our lives is really what determines if we are wealthy or not.  If you are focused on what you DON'T HAVE, you will feel poor.  If you are focused on what you DO HAVE, you will feel rich.  There will always be people who have more than you have in terms of financial wealth.  And there will always be people who have less than you have in terms of financial resources.  It isn't about how much stuff you've accumulated or the cost of the things you own, it is the quality of your life that determines your life's richness.  And the quality of your life is determined by what you think about it.

This week:  Notice those who have less than you as well as those who have more than you. (Usually the latter is pretty easy to notice).  Think about what it is that really makes your life rich.  Write down those things.  Then review your list and see how you are doing at creating real wealth in your life (the non-monetary kind).  Is there something you could do to help yourself create more richness in your life?  Set an intention to do that.  You deserve to have a rich, meaningful, authentic life!

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people overcome the mindset limitations and limiting beliefs that keep them from creating a life that is rich, both personally and financially.  She has created a 7-step process for finding your life's purpose and beginning to live it.  For more information, go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com .  

Warren Buffet's Advice

"The one piece of advice I can give you is, 

do what turns you on. 

Do something that if you had all the money in the world, 

you’d still be doing it. 

You’ve got to have a reason to 

jump out of bed in the morning."

~Warren Buffet

You need to have passion for what you do every day.  That is what sustains you when times are tough or when you are facing tasks that are a challenge.  If you do what you love, you bring to your job creativity, enthusiasm, energy and joy.  That is contagious and communicates itself to your clients or customers. If you really have a passion for your career and are willing to commit yourself to the expression of that passion, you'll find a way to make it successful.

This week: Think about what got you interested in the job you currently hold.  Is there passion there, or was there passion at one time?  If you've lost it, think about what you'd need to be able to recapture it.  If you are doing something that you are not passionate about, is there something else you need to be doing? If so, figure out what the first step might be in moving into that.  Don't get scared--you don't have to make a jump right now.  Just consider what small thing you could do to move you in that direction.  Sometimes it may be just acknowledging your dream.  What's your dream?

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert at helping people discover their passion and overcome the obstacles to making it happen.  She specializes in helping her clients over mindset limitations--those limiting beliefs and attitudes that keep you stuck.  For more information about her services, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/



It's All in How You Think About It

"Being challenged in life is inevitable,

 being defeated is optional."

~Roger Crawford

It seems that it is inevitable that challenges will occur in our lives. Changes happen and we must be able to roll with them.  We have to be able to adapt and accommodate.  If we are unwilling to change, we set ourselves up to be defeated.  It is all in how you think about it. Challenge and change can bring you to some new and exciting places as long as you are open to it.

This week:  Take a good look at your life.  What are the inevitable challenges you face?  Do they require you to change your approach?  Do they require you to think about things differently?  What changes would help you meet those challenges?  If you could change how you think about something, would it turn defeat into success?  What is ONE SMALL THING you could do right now that would help you change your thinking and meet this challenge.  Take that step.  Then figure out what the next step would be.  Before you know it, you'll be on your way.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people overcome the limiting beliefs and mindset limitations that keep them stuck.  She uses the resources she's developed in 32 years of practice to give you the right tools to resolve challenges quickly so that you can move on. For more information, go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com .

Your Life Needs to Fit YOU

"The shoe that fits one person pinches another; 

there is no recipe for living that suits all cases." 

~Carl Jung

This is such a great reminder that "one size does not fit all" when we are talking about your living your life. We often look at the way we think others are living and either envy it or judge it, but the key to a fulfilling life is to make sure your life fits YOU.  We each must make decisions about what is important to us, and those need to be our own.  Don't like the way you are living?  Change it. But make sure it fits YOU.

This week:  Do some thinking.  Ask yourself "Am I living my life for me?  Does my life really fit me? Or have I gone along to please others or because I think they somehow have the magic answers?  If you find that you are not living your life for you, consider what you would need to change in order to make it fit you better.  Make a list.  Now begin, this week, with ONE SMALL THING you can do to make your life your own.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people create authentic fulfilling lives.  She recognizes the uniqueness of each individual and creates programs that fit that individuality. Linda specializes in helping people overcome "mental clutter"--those negative emotions and limiting beliefs that keep people stuck.  For more information, go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com . 

Believe in Your True Self

"There is but one cause of human failure. 

And that is man's lack of faith in his true Self."

~William James

We so often sell ourselves short.  We believe that what needs to be done is beyond our abilities.  We allow past experiences to mold our beliefs and keep us from stepping up to tackle challenges again.  If we really believed in our true Self, what could be possible?  Your true Self is all the potential you hold inside you, even though you haven't realized it yet.  It is the dreams you dream; the hopes you have, and the desire to be more than you express in your every day life.  We block ourselves from believing in our true Self by hanging on to beliefs that might have once been true but really no longer serve us.  Beliefs like "I'm not good enough," or "I don't deserve," or "I don't know enough."  If you can begin to allow your true Self to shine through, you can achieve anything.  Don't you owe that to yourself--and to others?

This week:  Notice when you block yourself with mindset limitations.  What really stands in the way of your success?  If you are finding excuses in the economy, or some limitation you think you have, be honest with yourself.  Ask yourself:  "How am I blocking my true Self?"  Be honest about who your true Self really is, what he/she is really capable of.  Now think of one SMALL thing you can do to allow yourself to express your true Self.  Do that one thing this week.  Notice what happens to your faith in yourself. 

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people overcome mindset limitations and other "mental clutter" that blocks their success and happiness.  When you let go of those negative beliefs and mental clutter, you may room for your authentic Self to express all those things of which you are truly capable.  For more information about her solution focused approach and variety of services she offers, go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com . 

You'll Never Fly If You Don't Ever Jump

"You've got to jump off cliffs all the time 

 and build your wings on the way down."

~Ray Bradbury

O.K., you don't LITERALLY jump off cliffs, but you have to be willing to take chances, to escape the things that hold you back.  And sometimes you can't just stick your toe in and expect it to make a difference. You have to be willing to "jump off cliffs" and escape the bonds of your own fear, your own limiting beliefs, and own self doubt.  And when you try to tackle this stuff it may seem like jumping off a cliff, it is so far outside your comfort zone.

But here's the deal.  If you don't ever jump, you'll be like a bird that stays in the nest forever.  You'll eventually be left behind and may starve to death.  When everybody else has built wings and you're still standing on the cliff or staying in the nest, you might feel nice and safe, but are you really?  Sometimes you'll discover new skills, new creativity, new ideas (new wings) when you move outside the safe and familiar.

This week:   Think about what is holding you back.  Is there some area in your life where you're trying to just stand there and be safe?  Are you holding back in your career?  Are you holding back in relationships?  Are you afraid to jump?  Really be honest with yourself about what holds you back.  Is there some way you can jump and build your wings on the way down?  If you can, take one small baby jump this week and notice what happens.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people overcome the obstacles to their success and happiness.  She specializes in helping people let go of limiting beliefs and negative emotions from the past--that "mental clutter" that keeps people stuck.  For more information or to find out how to get rid of all baggage in as little as 4 days, go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com and find out how Personal Breakthrough Intensive Sessions work . 

What Does Your Inner Voice Say?

"The loudest and most influential voice you hear is

your own inner voice, your self critic. 

It can work for you or against  you, 

depending on the messages you allow."

~Keith Harrell

We all have an internal critic inside commenting on our thoughts, behavior and emotions.  Sometimes we call it our "conscience" as when it warns us against doing something wrong.  Sometimes it is the voice of a dissatisfied parent or someone else significant from our past.  Sometimes it is our own voice, judging us.  If you are a perfectionist, that inner voice will NEVER be satisfied.  If you instruct your inner voice to give you credit for doing something that is difficult for you, or for making the effort, you will encourage yourself to try harder and do better with your next effort.  If your inner voice is always critical, you'll find yourself resisting doing things you might succeed at.  When all you get is critical, you'll find yourself giving up.  You might even begin to believe that you "aren't good enough" or that you "don't know enough."  Tame that inner voice so that it works with you instead of against you.

This week:   Pay attention to your "inner voice."  With each message, evaluate "Is this true?"  You may discover that if you are truthful you will recognize that you are too hard of yourself.  Would you talk this way to a child?  Would you talk this way to your spouse?  Would you talk with way to an employee?  If not, why are you being so critical of yourself?  Ask yourself "What is the best way to get the best performance?"  At least ONCE during the week, modify that inner voice to be supportive rather than critical.  Pay attention to the difference--which way brings better results?

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert at helping people overcome limitations to their success and happiness.  She finds that many people carry around a lot of "mental clutter"--those negative emotions and limiting beliefs that block their success.  If your inner voice is too critical, find out how a Personal Breakthrough Intensive Session can change that.  For more information, go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com .

Stretch Outside Your Comfort Zone

"Do one thing everyday that scares you."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

I love this quote because it reminds me to continue to stretch myself every day, to confront the things that scare me.  When we face the things that make us uncomfortable we gain confidence.  We may not always be successful, but we have faced down the fear.  Face your fear and do it anyway.  Most times the things we are afraid of are in our heads.  We allow ourselves to be blocked by those limiting beliefs--those mindset limitations--that tell us that scary or terrible things will happen.  We already allow ourselves to be affected by those fears, even when the things we are afraid of have not happened.  

This week:  Uncover something that you've been afraid to do EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Yep.  Do one thing every day that scares you.  It doesn't have to be huge or earth-shattering.  We all have lots of little fears along with those big ones.  So start small.  Pick something you've been scared to do and do it right now.  When you have done it, breathe a sigh of relief.  You did it!  Now write down what you will do every day for the rest of the week.  Face those fears, big or small.  At the end of the week notice how you feel.  Once you've done something you were afraid of, do you continue to be scared of it?  If so, that's O.K., but keep practicing! 

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert at helping people confront their limiting beliefs and the things they believe block them.  She helps them stretch themselves to achieve goals they had not thought  possible using her solution focused approach.  For more information or to see how a Personal Breakthrough Intensive Session could help you blast through fear completely, go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com .   

You Are More Than You Think You Are

"You are much grander than you think you are."

~Asara Lovejoy

While it is certainly true that many people hide their brilliance behind a veil of false modesty, the reality is that none of us (not even the most arrogant) can really capture how much we are truly capable of.  No matter what you think you really are, you are always something more.  In part this is because we are not able to completely understand all that we are and can be.  We have not yet thought of ideas and creations we will manifest, nor  dreamed the dreams we will make come true.  All of that potential swims around in some sea of our unconscious until the time is right to emerge.  You don't have to toot your own horn and brag about how grand you are and can be.  All you need to do is to keep open to the possibility that you may not yet know how grand you are.

This week:  Take some time to look back at your life so far.  Notice in particular if there were times when you limited yourself with how you thought about your capabilities.  Acknowledge that maybe those limitations weren't really true.  Think about times when you overcame obstacles or achieved more than you thought you could.  Think about dreams you may have given up on because you didn't think something was possible.  Now think ahead to the future.  What would you want to do if you knew it was completely possible?  What would you do if you knew you had all the resources you needed?  What would you be if you could be anything?  Open yourself up to all the possibilities.  Now, devise some ritual that will help keep you open to your own possibilities.  What could you say or do that will remind you that you are much grander than you think?  

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert at helping people stretch beyond their mindset limitations.  She specializes in helping people let go of negative emotions and limiting beliefs from the past, and often utilizes intensive sessions over a 4 day period to help people break through in some area of their lives.  For more information, go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com . 

What Are You Thinking?

"Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in 

the mind through repetition of thought."

~Napoleon Hill

This can be either very helpful or not very helpful.  If you are thinking empowering thoughts, and repeat them often enough, you can be empowered.  You can create ideas and plans that inspire you.  You can allow purpose (and passion) to move you forward toward great things--just by thinking those thoughts repeatedly.  AND if you are thinking thoughts that limit you, those thoughts will just as surely keep you from getting the outcome you were seeking.  What are limiting ideas or thoughts?  Ideas that contain a negative--for example, when you think about what you DON'T want, rather than what you DO want.  Thoughts that focus on failure, anxiety, worry, memories of bad experiences, self doubt, fear, guilt, hurt, sadness, or anger.  If you are going to be putting ideas, plans and purposes in your mind through repetition of thought, why not make them empowering ideas rather than liming ones?

This week:  Sit down with a piece of paper divided into 2 columns.  At the top of one column, put "Empowering"; at the top of the other column, put "Limiting".  Now spend some time brainstorming.  Identify those thoughts you think regularly and repeatedly.  Write it down in the column it belongs in.  Does it empower you or limit you?  Continue you doing this until you have captured them all (or at least the most frequent ones).  This may take you a few days.  Then look at the "Limiting" column.  See if you can reword them so that they are 1) positive 2) empowering and 3) could be true (you have to be able to believe that the belief could be true, even if it isn't quite true yet).  Practice REPEATEDLY saying the empowering thoughts OUT LOUD this week.  Do you get more confident about it the more you say it.  If not, practice changing your body language and say it like you MEAN IT!  

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert at helping people overcome mindset limitations that block their success and happiness.  Many people stockpile negative emotions and limiting beliefs from past negative experiences (what Linda calls "emotional clutter") and it keeps them stuck.  For more information about how to change this, go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com . 

Ask for What You Want

"The winds of grace blow all the time. All we need do is set our sails."

~ Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Sometimes we sit and wait for good things to happen, and sometimes we are disappointed that we are not getting what we had hoped for.  At the same time, in order to get what you want, you need to declare it--you need to say what you want and be ready to receive it.  Once you declare your intention, you "set the sails" toward making it happen.

This week:  If there is something you would like, state it as an intention.  Come right out and say "I want _______."  Tell someone "I'm going to do what I need to do to get ___________."  Breathe a deep breath into that intention.  Enrich it with your breath and energy.  Feel that desire and intention throughout your whole body.  Notice if there is any ambivalence.  If there is, try changing your words until you can say them without any resistance.  Now notice what happens.  At the end of the week notice if you are any closer to achieving that intention. 

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert at helping people achieve goals they had not thought possible using her solution focused methods.  She specializes in helping people get unstuck from the negative emotions, limiting beliefs and other mindset problems so that they can achieve their highest dreams. 

Change Your Thoughts and Beliefs to Change Your Perception of the World

"Every thought you have makes up some segment of the world you see. It is with your thoughts, then, that we must work, if your perception of the world is to be changed."

~A Course in Miracles

Our thoughts are very powerful.  We each view the world in terms of our thoughts, feelings and perceptions, which have been based upon our experiences in life.  We act as if our thoughts are true, when, in fact, they may be distortions filtered through our experiences.  If the world is not as you would like it to be, and if your life is not the way you would like it to be, you first need to examine your thoughts, your beliefs and your feelings.  You can change your perceptions if you choose, but you need to be willing to look at what you think and believe. 

This week:  Challenge yourself to examine your thoughts and beliefs. Are there things you think or believe that limit you?  Write these down.  You don't have to change them right now, but understand clearly how they limit your success and happiness.  What would you be able to do if you thought or believed something different?  If this is too difficult to consider, look at how the beliefs and thoughts others have limit them.  It is often easier to see limitations in others than in ourselves.  Notice how the way people think impacts their perceptions of the world and their experiences.  This week, identify ONE limiting belief or thought that you would like to change.  Write it down.  Every time it comes up, challenge it.  Ask yourself, "Is this really true?"  Ask yourself, "What would I need to believe instead that would empower me?" 

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert at helping people change limiting beliefs quickly and easily with her solution-focused techniques.  Her business, the Inner Resource Center, LLC helps people find the best resources to help them transform their lives and move forward toward greater success, meaning and happiness.  For more information, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ or http://www.emotionalclutter.com/ 

The Fastest Way to Gain Productive Energy

"Sometimes the greatest gain in productive energy will come from cleaning the cobwebs, dealing with old business, and clearing the decks."

~ David Allen

As the year draws to a close, it is great time to clear the decks and move old things out of the way. Getting rid of emotional and physical clutter may be one of the most important things you can do for yourself this year, especially if you REALLY want to move forward in your life and career.  These old "cobwebs" may be old beliefs, old negative feelings toward someone or some situation, or the physical clutter that makes it hard to know what resources you even have.  When you get rid of the clutter both from within and without, you gain room for greater energy to produce your dreams. 

This week:  Start moving out the physical clutter you've held on to.  Give things you no longer need away.  Ruthlessly throw things out.  Look at your inner world as well.  What old beliefs have you been holding on to that no longer serve you?  Do they keep you from trusting others?  Do they keep you from trusting yourself?  If so, this week create a plan for getting rid of them.  Are you holding on to old feelings and disappointments from your past experiences?  If so, be determined to let these go as well.  If you don't know how to do this, THIS WEEK, find resources that can help you do it.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people let go of "mental clutter"--those negative emotions and limiting beliefs from the past that may have kept you from being as successful as you deserve.  (Don't believe that you deserve success?  Then you definitely have mental clutter in this area).  For more information, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ .

Believe You Can

"I don't think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it."

~Mike Ditka

The importance of belief is everything.  If you believe you cannot do something, you are absolutely right, you won't be able to do it.  If you believe you can, you have created the possibility of success.  That's all it takes--just the possibility.  Once you conceive of the possibility of being able to do something, you open the door to making it happen.  Too often we limit ourselves with our beliefs.  You make not know if you can achieve it or not, but when you believe it is possible, achieving it is no longer an unrealistic expectation.  You will just have to test it out.

This week:  Think of a time in your life when you believed you could do something, even if you didn't know how to do it yet.  What happened?  Were you successful?  If so, what make you successful.  Write down these circumstances as they will give you a hint at some resources you've used in the past that have made you successful.  If you were not successful, why not?  What would you have had to do differently to succeed?  What beliefs, talents, skills or knowledge would you have needed to be able to do it?  Those also provide hints about resources which can help you become successful.  Now, ask yourself what you have been postponing or avoiding because you haven't thought it was possible.  What might you get if you changed that belief? 

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and certified trainer with more than 30 years of experience helping people achieve goals they had not thought possible.  She specializes in helping people get rid of limiting beliefs that block their success and happiness.  For more information about her services and to learn about free resources, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ .

You Create Your Life By How You Live It

"Everything you see happening is the consequence of that which you are."

~Dr. David Hawkins

We create our lives by how we live them.  If our lives are filled with drama, it is because we have been living that drama and buying into it.  If you are unhappy and dissatisfied, it may be because you have been focused on that unhappiness and dissatisfaction.  When you begin to change your focus and begin to change your thinking, you can begin to change how you are living, and your life circumstances change as well.

This week: Notice where your focus is.  Are you focused on the negative?  If so, is it translating into how your life is turning out?  What do you really believe about yourself?  If you are focused on all that you are lacking, do you also find that your life is lacking?   Really look at how your life is a reflection of yourself.  If you don't like how your life is going, what do you need to change about yourself?  Identifying it is the first important step.  Once you identify what you would like to change, begin to make a plan for changing it.  Ask for help from others if you need it.  The time to create the life you want is NOW.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people create lives that are congruent with their life's purpose.  She specializes in helping people overcome limiting beliefs that sabotage their happiness and success, often in transformational intensive sessions.  For more information, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ . 

Make Things Happen

"My father instilled in me that if you don't see things happening the way you want them to, you get out there and make them happen."

~ Susan Powter

Many people are good at recognizing when things are not going the way they would like.  They identify all the things that are wrong--in politics, in business, in the economy, in their relationships, in their life.  But too few take action and responsibility for making changes.  If you find yourself complaining about things not happening the way you want them to, get out there and make them happen.

This week:  Identify something that is not going the way you would like, one specific thing.  Now, think about what change you would like to see.  What could YOU personally do to help make that change?  What action could you take?  Brainstorm solutions and write down your ideas.  Then go back and pick ONE thing you can do this week to begin to change the situation.  Although you might think that your action "won't count," recognize that if everybody took some small action, there would begin to be a solution.  Do something, just for this week. 

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and trainer at the Inner Resource Center, LLC.  She is an expert in helping people take actions toward their goals, and at her clients create transformational change quickly.  She specializes in helping people overcome the limiting beliefs that sabotages their success and happiness.  For more information, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ .

Change Your Negative Thinking to Change Your Life

"What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds."

~Dr. Wayne Dyer

Many people don't realize that how they think about things helps shape what happens.  They dwell on all the things that could go wrong, they focus on the negatives, and then are dismayed when life keeps giving them lemons.  If you want to change how your life is going, change your thinking.  Focus instead on possibilities, opportunities, and all that is positive. 

This week:  Focus on things that are going in the direction you would like.  They don't have to be perfect, just headed in the right direction. Notice when you think negatively, and immediately change that negative to something positive.  It doesn't have to be "pie in the sky" positive, just add words to make it true.  For example, you might change "I never reach the financial goals I set" to "I haven't reached my financial goal yet, but I"m determined to do it."  Give yourself credit for what you have done so far.  Like any muscle, your brain will get stronger as you stretch it.  Focus on what you want to have happen, and what you are doing to make it so.  You are in charge of your life, and can really begin to see that fact when you change your thinking.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people change negative and limiting beliefs.  She has developed a powerful program to help her clients move beyond negative emotions and limiting beliefs that have been stockpiled from negative past experiences.  Her Life Moments Makeover System-TM allows people to make very significant life changes in 4-5 days.  For more information go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ .

Don't Limit Youself; Dream Big

"We can't think narrowly. We have to think in the biggest possible way."

~ Alice Waters

When you think narrowly, you limit yourself.  You keep yourself from achieving all that is possible.  But when you dream big, you create the possibility that you can achieve things that you may not have dared believe possible. 

This week:   Spend some time looking at how you limit yourself through your own thinking.  Identify some area where you have been limiting yourself.  Once you identify this area, or the particular thoughts that are limiting you, expand your thinking.  Consider the possibility that you may be able to achieve what you thought was impossible.  You may not yet know how, but just consider that you could possibly make this dream come true.  Once you do this, you may be surprised at the ideas that come to you about how to achieve it. 

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people overcome limitations and achieve dreams that had not thought possible with her solution focused approach.  She has over 30 years of experience helping people overcome "mental clutter"--those negative emotions and limiting beliefs that block success and happiness.  For more information go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ .